I'm all fired up.

I just read this story titled about abandoned pets resulting from mortgage foreclosures.

Apparently, due to the increased rate of foreclosures, many people are abandoning their pets once they move out of the house. But, instead of dropping them at a shelter, they just leave the pets at the home or in the yard.

That is despicable. I really don't even have words for how some people treat pets.

Some thoughts:
1. If you can't afford to feed your family, probably shouldn't get a pet.
2. If you can't afford your house payment, probably shouldn't get a pet.
3. If you have no concern for life, you probably shouldn't get a pet.
4. If you come into circumstances where your income is drastically reduced, take your pet to a shelter-they are not hard to find or come by and it's free to drop them off.

Under the law, pets are basically treated in a similar fashion to the television in your home. They are considered "chattel" (i.e. personal property). Thus, while there are some laws regarding animal cruelty, those laws have minimal penalties and are rarely enforced.

Abandoning an animal because you have to move should be a crime-and a crime with an actual penalty.

I really didn't mean to be offensive. I just think it's nuts the way are mistreated and neglected when hard times strike-be they financial or otherwise.