In searching the news, I found some stories about pets being abandoned during bad economic times, but I chose instead to share these two stories that reflect the opposite...
More people hanging onto their pets
Grand Junction, Colorado -- Mesa County Animal Services officials braced for the worst last year as the effects of a national recession rolled across the Grand Valley. Worried that history would repeat itself, animal welfare agencies assumed animal owners would again abandon their pets as they had in the 1980s. During those bleak economic times, shelter workers would arrive each day to find a new batch of pets left at their doorstep, often tied to the front fence.
But that largely didn’t happen in 2009 in Mesa County and animal officials believe it’s because people’s ideas about their pets are changing.
“People are understanding that their animal is part of their family,” said Penny McCarty, director of animal services.
Story from Grand Junction Sentinel (Colorado) - Rest of the story at: gjsentinel.com
The US Postal Service will release a new series of stamps in April to bring attention to homeless pets. Here's the story:Pets still pampered in a tough economy
Indianapolis -- Spending on pets is expected to reach $47.7 billion in 2010, a 16 percent jump since the recession began in December of 2007 and 83 percent more than even a decade ago, when spending was $26 billion.
The tough economy, while it has halted spending on some things, actually has made things more cushy for some pets.
Their companionship often helps Americans get through that layoff or tight budget, said Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association.
-more at indystar.com
Dogs save lives every day. It's true. Any day I decide to write this column, I can search the news and find stories about pets saving humans. Number #1 would be saving them from a fire. But there are many other ways - as the story below reveals:New stamps will feature once homeless pets
On April 30, the Postal Service will issue a 44–cent, Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet stamp series.With the 10 stamp designs — five cats and five dogs — the U.S. Postal Service hopes to raise awareness of the need to adopt shelter pets. The pets depicted on the stamps were photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce near her home in New Milford, Connecticut. All had been homeless at one time; all but one had been adopted when they were photographed. The stamps were designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC.
rest of the story at ohmidog.com
Dog of valor saves the dayOK, like everything to do with politics, the last story is sure to rile folks up on each side of the issue. FYI:
Wisconsin - Six-year-old Milky Way, a Jack Russell terrier/corgi/Chihuahua mix has been called a hero after getting help when her owner suffered a stroke and collapsed on the bathroom floor in December.
Milky Way, owned by Priscilla Elit of Rushford, was named one of the top ten finalists for the Humane Society of the United States' third annual Dogs of Valor Awards after being nominated by someone who saw a television news story about her.
Like most other nights, 64-year-old Elit made her way to the bathroom to take her evening medications.
Her sister, Julie, also her housemate, had already gone to bed for the night.
"I don't remember collapsing," Elit said. "I just remember trying to push myself up and couldn't, trying to talk and couldn't."
However, little Milky Way, who had been at her owner's side, bolted across the hallway and feverishly began scratching on Julie's door.
When Julie opened the door, she heard her sisters faint cries for help and found her lying on the floor. She immediately called 911.
more at The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
(Illinois) State House OKs ban on primates as pets
SPRINGFIELD IL -- People are going bananas over state government's bleak budget, but Illinois lawmakers spent Friday monkeying around. The House voted 105-2 to join 21 other states that prohibit people from owning primates as pets in a move driven by last year's highly publicized mauling of a Connecticut woman by a friend's pet chimpanzee.
"Keeping primates as pets threatens the public health and safety as well as animal welfare," said Rep. Dan Burke (D-Chicago), the bill's chief House sponsor. "There's an attack risk. There's a disease risk.
"Even though Friday's vote was decidedly one-sided, Republicans balked at the thought that such a bill was necessary when the General Assembly's time could be better spent debating how to overcome historic budget problems.
"We got a $13 billion budget deficit, and we're dealing with monkeys?" said Rep. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), who voted against Burke's measure. "It's not like you got a lion on the loose."
read the rest of the article at the Chicago Sun-Times
