Seeking solace from a sour economy, some pet owners are opting to surrender their animals to shelters, while others find that keeping dogs and cats bring comfort in a harsh financial storm.
Some people are moving out of homes and into apartments that won't allow cats, said Tracy Haas, Lycoming Animal Protection Society board of directors vice president. She said other residents give up their pets when they serve overseas in the military.
"We have seen more cats come into our shelter over the past year as the economy turned downward and even before that because of the war or because they don't have anyone else to take care of the cats," Haas said.
Other people are opting to keep their pets, according to Victoria Stryker, executive director at the Lycoming County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"People are keeping their pets because they're such a bright spot in their lives," Stryker said.
About 100 animals, including 50 dogs and 50 cats, can be housed at the Reach Road site. The shelter is far from overflowing, according to Stryker.
Dog and cat counts are at about half-capacity.
"We have 25 to 30 dogs and about 20 cats," Stryker said.
However, SPCA numbers started to upswing last month.
Stryker's facility took-in 166 cats last month, 51 more than it did for the same month last year. The 134 dogs accepted amounted to 16 more than a year before.
More cats were placed with adoptive homes, while more animals were euthanized.
Last month, 60 dogs and 43 cats were adopted, according to Stryker. That compares to 64 dogs and 24 cats in March 2008.
Animals are euthanized for different reasons at the SPCA. Stryker said euthanization is more common for cats than dogs.
Euthanized cats can be feral or inflicted with health problems, but Stryker admitted some cats are put to sleep when there's no space for them.
Overly aggressive or sick dogs also can be euthanized, but Stryker said her organization doesn't tend to run out of dog shelter space.
The most effective method in preventing euthanization is through decreasing reproduction.
"You can prevent the problem with spaying and neutering," Stryker said. "That's the only effective way to prevent euthanization of these animals."
Leaving cats to run wild in the wilderness is a mistake, according to Stryker. They can't be fed and cared for by humans only to suddenly be left in the wild to fend for themselves.
"Euthanization is a kinder thing to do to animals than have them fend for themselves outdoors," she said.
Stryker said the local SPCA euthanized 114 cats last month, 30 more than a year before. She said 33 dogs were euthanized last month, nine more than a year before.
Haas said her South Williamsport no-kill cat shelter is "pretty much filled to capacity," housing close to 85 cats.
"We've definitely seen an increase on our intake," Haas said.
The LAPS shelter has been accepting about 15 cats a month, finding adoptive homes for most, but not all.
"For the 15 we take in for a month, we're probably adopting out 12 or 13," Haas said.
She hopes the numbers soon will even.
"Hopefully, if that balance stays, we should be able to ride the wave until things settle down with the economy," Haas said.
