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Pets become victims in tough economic times
  
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Wyoming shelter sees 16 arrivals in just six weeks
by Mark Nicklawske
Regional Editor
WYOMING — The pets come in boxes, wet animal carriers or leashed to the ashtray outside the door and they keep coming in unheard of numbers.
The Northwoods Humane Society has had 16 dogs and cats abandoned in its parking lot and driveway in the last six weeks, the biggest outbreak of unwanted pets in recent memory. Organizers believe the increase is directly related to the tough economic times.
“Coming to work each day is beginning to scare our employees,” said Northwoods Humane Society Executive Director Brenda Zelinka, who issued a press release and plea for help last week. “We never know what we will find.”
Zelinka said a dog was found in a carrier outside the Northwoods building the morning of Oct. 20. The crate was wet and the dog was cold so it was clear the animal had spent the night outside.
Another dog was left in a carrier at the end of a driveway during a Northwoods board meeting. A note said the dog wasn’t compatible with new children in the home.
Earlier workers found a box filled with five kittens.
“We’re just full with animals. We’ve never had this many animals abandoned here,” said Zelinka, who has worked at the shelter for eight years. “We don’t have enough room for all of them.”
Northwoods has been forced to euthanize some pets due to lack of kennel space. The non-profit organization is housing 141 animals in their Highway 8 building, pushing its capacity limits to record levels.
Northwoods officials believe the banking collapse, high unemployment and record number of home foreclosures has forced animal lovers to abandon their pets.
“Good people are losing their homes, the places where they live, and they just don’t have any other options,” said Zelinka. “It’s not a good situation for anyone.”
Zelinka said while an economic recession is forcing people to give up their pets, it’s also preventing people from adopting new animals.
“That’s the other part of the puzzle,” she said. “People don’t have the expendable income to take care of another pet. They’re watching their expenses, waiting to see what will happen with their jobs. We’re all a little scared until this election is over and things start to turn around.”
“We’ve got lots of nice pets and they just sit here waiting for a new home.”
Zelinka said it is illegal to abandon pets and anyone caught doing it is violating state law. She asked pet owners to seek out friends and family if they are unable to care for a pet or take the animal to a larger shelter.
The public is asked to help Northwoods Humane Society by making a cash donation or adopting a homeless pet. For more information visit the Northwoods Website at www.northwoodshs.org or call at 651-982-0240.
The Northwoods Humane Society has had 16 dogs and cats abandoned in its parking lot and driveway in the last six weeks, the biggest outbreak of unwanted pets in recent memory. Organizers believe the increase is directly related to the tough economic times.
“Coming to work each day is beginning to scare our employees,” said Northwoods Humane Society Executive Director Brenda Zelinka, who issued a press release and plea for help last week. “We never know what we will find.”
Zelinka said a dog was found in a carrier outside the Northwoods building the morning of Oct. 20. The crate was wet and the dog was cold so it was clear the animal had spent the night outside.
Another dog was left in a carrier at the end of a driveway during a Northwoods board meeting. A note said the dog wasn’t compatible with new children in the home.
Earlier workers found a box filled with five kittens.
“We’re just full with animals. We’ve never had this many animals abandoned here,” said Zelinka, who has worked at the shelter for eight years. “We don’t have enough room for all of them.”
Northwoods has been forced to euthanize some pets due to lack of kennel space. The non-profit organization is housing 141 animals in their Highway 8 building, pushing its capacity limits to record levels.
Northwoods officials believe the banking collapse, high unemployment and record number of home foreclosures has forced animal lovers to abandon their pets.
“Good people are losing their homes, the places where they live, and they just don’t have any other options,” said Zelinka. “It’s not a good situation for anyone.”
Zelinka said while an economic recession is forcing people to give up their pets, it’s also preventing people from adopting new animals.
“That’s the other part of the puzzle,” she said. “People don’t have the expendable income to take care of another pet. They’re watching their expenses, waiting to see what will happen with their jobs. We’re all a little scared until this election is over and things start to turn around.”
“We’ve got lots of nice pets and they just sit here waiting for a new home.”
Zelinka said it is illegal to abandon pets and anyone caught doing it is violating state law. She asked pet owners to seek out friends and family if they are unable to care for a pet or take the animal to a larger shelter.
The public is asked to help Northwoods Humane Society by making a cash donation or adopting a homeless pet. For more information visit the Northwoods Website at www.northwoodshs.org or call at 651-982-0240.
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