Throwing dogs to the curb

Animal organizations, kennels throughout Israel report rise in number of dogs abandoned by owners due to economic situation alongside sharp drop in donations

Reuters | Published: 03.03.09, 13:54

The deepening economic crisis is leaving its mark on man's four-legged friends, and animal rights associations throughout the country have been feeling its effects in recent weeks with a growing number of people abandoning their dogs in the streets or at various organizations' doorsteps.

"People are worried about their bank account, and it's hard for them to deal with caring for a dog as well," said Janet Hansen, director of Kibbutz Lehavot HaBashan's kennel in the north.

"People come to us with tears in their eyes and give up their dog. They say they just can't feed it anymore," she added.

According to Hansen, in October the kennel housed 190 dogs, and now holds 240. "In regular months I get about five dogs, and a similar number, more or less, is adopted. Now more dogs are coming, and almost nobody wants to adopt," she said.

Hansen, who feeds, shelters and neuters the dogs, could not recall such a dire situation at the kennel since the Second Lebanon War, when many dogs were also abandoned.

"It saddens me," she said, "I cannot understand how people – even if their situation is difficult and they have to cut expenses – decide to get rid of their pet.

"It can't be that a person doesn't have enough money to feed a dog. People aren't dying from hunger yet – but they get rid of their dogs first."

"Last Saturday 10 dogs were dropped off at the shelter near Ramla," said Eti Altman of the Let the Animals Live association. "We tell people that we don't have room for a single dog – so they just tie them to the fence and drive off.

"Just today our car made a special trip to pick up seven puppies from Sderot and five from Ashkelon. People whose dog gave birth already know that in the current situation, there is no point in trying to find adoptive homes for the puppies, so they just throw them in a cardboard box in the streets.

Young couples can't take dogs with them

"We get a lot of calls from people who have trouble paying for spaying operations or other treatments for the dog. We try to help and refer them to our veterinarians who give a discount, sometimes we pay part of the cost of the surgery – just to keep them from dumping the dog. We don't always succeed."

Alongside the increase demand in housing and aid, animal associations are also suffering from a sharp drop in donations. "Many donors have canceled their standing orders," Altman said. "Even standing orders of NIS 10 a month – less than a serving of falafel."

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Tel Aviv is also all too well acquainted with the trend. "Last week we had a wave of 15 dogs given to us in a day," said Elad Aboav, the society's spokesperson.

"Lately we feel the gap between the number of dogs dropped off and the number of dogs leaving us growing."

Aboav also said that "most of the people that bring us dogs are single or young couples that were fired from their jobs and had to move out and go back to live with their parents, who are not willing to accept them with a dog".