With the economy taking a downturn many people are having to make the choice between putting food on the table and keeping their dog. And in most cases the dog is the loser. An organization in Portland, OR has started a food bank for dogs. F.I.D.O (Friends Involved in Dog Outreach) is a volunteer organization that started in 2005.
Clackamas County dog owners facing financial difficulties can get one month’s supply of dog food for up to 4 dogs. FIDO asks that owners be prepared to show proof of residency, and they ask that all dogs be spayed or neutered. Owners whose dogs are not spayed or neutered will not be turned away, but they will be given information on low-cost spay/neuter programs, microchipping, and rabies vaccine clinics.
Along those same lines…
Many formerly wealthy dog owners are giving up the pooch after losing their jobs. It’s a trend being seen all over the country and moreso in areas of large unemployment. Areas where people routinely used their expensive pure-bred dogs to display their wealth – cities like New York or Los Angeles are seeing an increase in those pure-bred dogs showing up at breed specific shelters. It’s especially sad that these people choose to give up their dogs because in many cases they still have money…the dog was just a status symbol for them.
