The current housing crisis affects not only the families, but the family pets as well.

If a decision has to be made, it is obvious that someone is going to pay their bills before the pets see a vet or get cared for.

These animals are
silent victims.

How can YOU
make a difference these families and their pets?

The Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling, Mass has seen a dramatic increase in pet surrender calls due to the foreclosure problems faced by home owners in the region. "Our Shelter receives hundreds of phone calls each day and virtually every other phone call is for a pet surrender due to moving and/or foreclosure—we are truly overwhelmed and saddened by the increase. It stresses out our staff, resources and supplies," states Leigh Grady, executive director. "This housing crisis affects not only the two-legged family members but the four-legged as well. If a decision has to be made, it is obvious that someone is going to pay their bills before the pets see a vet or get cared for. These animals are silent victims," Grady adds.

The precise number of pets surrendered due to foreclosures is unknown, because there is no nationwide standard for reporting and because many owners who surrender animals at shelters tell personnel only that they are "moving" and give no specifics.

Nationally, shelter staff are concerned that pet owners, worried that their animals will be euthanized at a shelter, are setting them loose or leaving them in empty houses and garages with some food and water. Often the abandoned animals aren’t found for days or weeks and are dead or dying, they say. And ultimately the survivors wind up in a shelter anyway.

As for the pets set free or abandoned they just can’t survive on their own and are often injured in fights with predators or other animals, hit by vehicles or infected with diseases.

"Honestly if landlords would allow pets they will see an increase of potential renters and renters who are more willing to stay long term and who will take better care of their property—most renters will even pay a little more per month to be allowed to keep their pets! If you’re a landlord or housing manager, you can play an important role in preserving the bond between responsible pet owners and their companion animals by instituting a pets-allowed policy," Grady continues.

The Humane Society for the U.S. has a huge list of resources for landlords and renters on their website www.hsus.org and there are many resources to get you started on a successful search for an animal-friendly apartment. The Shelter in Sterling recommends having a plan of action if there is ANY concern that someone might have to move. "Have a backup plan for a potential move with pets by researching properties that allow pets NOW. Don’t wait until the last minute—we often receive calls from pet owners who are moving TOMORROW—we just can’t help. We’re filled to capacity and can’t take more, you have to plan ahead," Grady finishes. 

National Apartment Locators:

» To learn more about the Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling, log on to our website, www.sterlingshelter.org, or call 978 422 8585.

We need help with
the "kitten season!" 

SPREAD the word on these organizations and resources to help those in need!

Become a foster parent to a kitten or cat in need.

Read more on how you can help!

You’ve heard of the "dog days of summer", what about "kitten season?" No, it’s not a fifth season—it’s the time of year when cats give birth thereby flooding animal shelters across the nation with homeless litters. Kitten "season" is really three seasons in one, starting in spring, peaking in late spring or early summer, and ending in fall.

"In our area, kitten season lasts from early spring through late October or early November," states Leigh Grady, Director at the Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling. "We are actually seeing kittens earlier this year and much more of them. Coupled with the slow adoptions and HUGE increase in surrenders due to foreclosures and families being forced to move, we are swamped with kittens, cats, dogs, and puppies! Adoptions are still happening but the pets seem to wait for new homes a bit longer than years prior"

So why does kitten season occur? The warm weather coincides with female cats’ heat cycles and when female cats go into heat, male cats come running from near and far. Cats’ reproductive hormones are very powerful.

No matter where the cats are, they don’t have far to go. "Every city and town in the nation has an over-abundance of unsterilized cats, both owned and unowned", says Grady. "A frenzy of mating takes place each year."

Typically, the adult cats feel the most immediate effects, as they are often overlooked by potential adopters when kittens are in abundance. "During kitten season, it becomes more difficult to place adult cats. Even when people come in with the intent to adopt an adult, their heads are turned by the cute, active kittens, and the adult cats are passed by. As our struggle to accommodate as many cats as possible, the risk of illness also increases. Close quarters can promote stress and stressed cats can and do get sick—germs spread and much like a day care center—one cat gets sick and right down the line it goes," Grady says. Thankfully, the Shelter in Sterling hasn’t had any real illness issues this kitten season but each week brings a new challenge.

"The animals aren't the only ones who feel the effects of stress. The burden often carries over to our staff that feed and care for them all day, every day. Our resources are depleted—we go through hundreds of pounds of cat litter and food each week—and our vet team is swamped as they attempt to cope with the overwhelming number of kittens—not to mention all the OTHER animals in our care. Since our shelter maintains a 100% compliance rate on spaying and neutering (thanks to a partnership with the VCA Animal Hospitals), we are doing upwards of 30 surgeries PER DAY. Thankfully our vet staff is highly skilled and our veterinarians are experts in pediatric surgeries! Our shelter in Sterling also assists several other open admission shelters throughout Massachusetts with THEIR cat/kitten overload. Some of these shelters have 50 or more cats/kittens surrendered in ONE DAY. Just yesterday we accepted 36 kittens from a shelter that might otherwise have to euthanize them because there just ISN’T another cage, and that’s just not fair for the shelter that got dumped on and not fair for the kittens that might die because their owners aren’t responsible enough to spay their cats! These animals were born in to a world where the odds were already stacked against them…at least our shelter is giving them a second chance and these kittens WON’T be contributing to the overpopulation problem, they are already sterilized," Grady adds.

An End in Sight?

With the current housing crisis that families are facing and the "kitten baby boom", the Shelter would greatly appreciate some help. Would you consider becoming a Foster Parent/Family for a cute little furry friend until their forever home can be found?

» If you are interested in becoming a Foster Parent/Family, please contact the Shelter at 978 422 8585.

On behalf of all our furry friends, thank you!

Over 800 MILLION cell phones are in use worldwide.

 

Americans threw away more than 100 million cell phones in 2006.

DONATING (recycling) the cell phones could have SAVED ENOUGH ENERGY to POWER approximately 194,000 U.S. HOUSEHOLDS for one year!

 

The Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling, Massachusetts is a non-profit organization and no-kill shelter. The Shelter provides humane sheltering and care for stray, unwanted, abused and neglected animals. The staff is dedicated to finding good homes for adoptable pets and we continue to promote responsible pet ownership to improve the quality of life for the animals and people in our community.

The Shelter is supported entirely by donations from private individuals and through mandatory surrender and adoption fees. The Animal Shelter, Inc. does not receive support from the United Way or from federal, state, or local governments.


In June 2004, the Shelter started collecting old cell phones AND receipts from Shaws markets in an effort to raise money for the Shelter programs. Please drop off or mail these items to us as a donation. Not only will it help the environment, but also our programs!

Want to help the Shelter? Have you considered our Recurring Giving system. This convenient system allows you to automatically make a donation to the Sterling Shelter every month via credit card or checking account. This is an extremely powerful fundraising method that can allow the Shelter to save thousands of additional animals every year with a donation as small as $2.00 per month from you. Thank you for your support!