Animal Rescue: Mortgage Crisis And Pets

Sometime ago, we blogged about how the subprime meltdown which is causing families to lose their homes (and yes, two adults of any gender or sexual orientation are just as much of a family as any adult(s) with multiple sproggen) was also resulting in homeless pets. Very sad.


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Today, a ray of light shone our way, and we thought we'd like to share it with you. The New Hampshire Eagle-Tribune reports that the Salem Animal Rescue League (SARL) is taking in animals whose people are losing their homes. They will keep the animal either at the shelter or in foster care for a reasonable period of time and the owner can reclaim the pet as soon as they find alternative housing.

That's just wonderful! We here at Casa de Los Gatos, twofoot and fourfoot alike, always worry about what would happen if we - temporarily or permanently - lost our comfy home. During the last major wildfire in this area, we were temporarily homeless, and back in those days we had only two gatos to deal with. Now we have five. It's not easy decamping en menagerie on someone else's doorstep; especially if they have gatos or perros themselves.

Our previous adventure was marked by a great deal of animosity between Ramon Rivera Shadowdancer and our temporary hostess' Siamese (whose name I confess I've forgotten). In addition, there was a very interested if somewhat foolish dog who really really really wanted to be friends with Ramon (who didn't mind dogs too much except that he and the Siamese were trying to rip each others' innards out, and the dog was, so to speak, in the way) and Ms. Faridah Peeples, who always did despise dogs with a feverish passion, and was often caught in the act of punching the poor fellow's nose full of holes.

Things were not helped in the least by Ramon's putting dents in a metal door in an attempt to acquaint his fearsome claws with the Siamese's intimate anatomy. Not that the Siamese was in the least reticent about his feelings: he had a yowl that could wake the dead, and used it well. In all, a terrible time was had by everyone except the two cats (Ramon and the Siamese), who managed to keep their juices flowing as the rest of us lay in bed taking pills to kill the headaches. Oy, gevalt, oy vey is mir!

So knowing that SARL is helping people through the most wrenching emotional part of this housing crisis is a real relief to us at Casa de Los Gatos. Ramon and Faridah are long gone, but the worry lives on.

FWIW, SARL has done some very innovative things to assist pets and their people: taking in animals when their owners escape domestic violence by going to a shelter; delivering pet food to seniors who were noted to be sharing their meals with their pets; and the like. So if you'd like to help the innocent beasts who suffer as a result of the invisible hand that is giving American homeowners the finger right now, you can. Here's how:

How to Help

Donations can be made online at www.sarl-nh.org. Click on the Donate tab. Or by check mailed to the Salem Animal Rescue League, 4 SARL Way, Salem, NH 03879.

It's good to know these things. The gatos at La Casa are resting easier already.

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