Pets are also hit by economy.
BREITUNG TWP. -- As our nation continues to struggle in a sour economy, people are finding more and more ways to cut back. And though they may have once been considered part of the family, man's best friend, when it comes down to a decision of whether to feed Fido or put food on the table, many Americans are facing the tough choice of getting rid of their pet.
"There have been some people where their house is being foreclosed and, sadly, they had to turn in their pets," said Spring Lake Animal Shelter manager, Diane Luczak. "It's very sad."
Forty percent of households in the United States own a pet. However, the price of caring for a dog is over $1,400 a year. For a cat, it's nearly $1,000. Those prices have led to overpopulation at shelters and animals being abandoned on the street.
Though they're not at capacity, the Spring Lake Animal Shelter is still seeing its fair share of animals being turned in. For instance, a mother cat and her seven kittens were found abandoned at Iron Mountain's waste disposal plant on Easter Sunday.
People who are choosing to keep their pets are often saving by not keeping up on routine veterinary care, which can be detrimental to your pet's health. Experts suggest talking to your veterinarian to try to make payment arrangements.
"Some vets will take a payment plan, some you can apply a credit card just for veterinary care," Luczak said.
One of the most important things you can do to control the pet population is to spay or neuter your pet. If you are in a position to adopt, animal shelters in Michigan put adoption fees toward the procedures.
According to the American Pet Products Association, shelters across America have seen a 40 percent increase in animals being turned in. This means that 60 percent of the animals they receive have to be euthanized due to lack of room and fewer people adopting.
It's a problem that doesn't seem to be going away, however, donating money or supplies to your local shelter can help ease the burden.
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