Economy's bad on pets, too

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Economy's bad on pets, too

Photos from animal adoption at Petsmart to illustrate effect the bad economy is having on pets. Shelters report increase in surrenders, decrease in adoptions.

Rocky is one lucky little pooch: Greg and Joy Thomas of Jonesboro decided to adopt the terrier/daschund mix from For Paws Rescue at PetSmart in Fayetteville. Shelters and rescue groups say the economy has caused an decrease in adoptions and donations, and an increase in abandoned and surrendered animals.

Cindy Appel (left) of For Paws Rescue hands adoption papers to Joy Thomas. "When we first started, the adoptions were really high," Appel said. "Now adoptions are a third of what they used to be." For Paws was created three years ago.

Newly adopted Rocky gives a goodbye kiss to Cindy Appel. "The last six to eight weeks, it's become dump city. It's awful," she said. The group has collected an assortment of pets in recent weeks, including two abandoned pugs, a Yorkie and some purebreds.

Fayette Humane Society volunteer Denise Harrison checks on Wendy, a whippet mix. In addition to worrying about the survival of more animals, groups are worried about their own survival. Facilities are nearing capacity, and resources are being stretched.

Compounding the problem is "kitten season," the time of year when shelters are nearly overwhelmed with litters of cats. "I am worried about kitten season," said Fayette County Animal Control Director Miguel Abi-Hassan. "It starts about mid-spring. In about six weeks, we'll start seeing the first litters."

This little one was one of several kittens brought by a humane society volunteer to the adoption event at Petsmart in Fayetteville.

Fayette Humane Society volunteer Felicia Williams offers up a spot for the kitten to snuggle.

Donna Causey (left) secretly glances over from filling out paperwork at her daughter, Courtney Causey, 15, as Courtney cradles her new kitten she plans to name Mandi as they adopt the lucky feline from the Fayette Humane Society at the regular Saturday adoption at Petsmart in Fayetteville.

Fayette Humane Society volunteer Korie Wingate holds mini-pinscher Zack. Petsmart reports that in-store adoptions are down nationwide.

Greg and Joy Thomas pick out dog food and other supplies for Rocky. Pet owners are expected to shell out more than $43 billion on their pets this year, according to a forecast by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

Christin Moody, 7, her cousin, Cory Bowles, 14, and Christin's brother, Gregory Moody, 5, all of Fayetteville, pet a hound/mastiff mix named Suzie Q that is up for adoption from the Fayette Humane Society at the Fayetteville Petsmart's Saturday pet adoption.

1/11

Rocky is one lucky little pooch: Greg and Joy Thomas of Jonesboro decided to adopt the terrier/daschund mix from For Paws Rescue at PetSmart in Fayetteville. Shelters and rescue groups say the economy has caused an decrease in adoptions and donations, and an increase in abandoned and surrendered animals.

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