The Gulf Oil Spill and Pets

Here’s a PERFECT example of how our environment affects people and animals (and vice versa). We all know that the oil spill in the Gulf is a disgrace. No matter how much BP ends up paying in damages it does not replace the wildlife and sea creatures that have (at best) been affected and more likely perished.

Of course there is also the loss of livelihood for so many people in the gulf region. How awful. No, worse than awful. Devastating. This week I read that this human loss extends to the family pet.

The Gulf Oil Spill is affecting the people there so badly that they can no longer afford to pay their food or vet bills and they are relinquishing their pets to the local shelter.

According to Randi Kaye, author of the article… “ We went because we wanted to see how the oil spill in the gulf is affecting the family pet. It’s not just pelicans and turtles and dolphins that are feeling this. While the family pet may not be covered in oil, too many of them are now homeless because their owners, mainly fisherman, can no longer afford to take care of them. They are out of work and behind on bills, so now as many as 80 dogs a month are ending up in shelters, given away by their owners.”

Here’s the worst part…

“The shelter we visited is not a no-kill shelter and almost every cage was taken. The dogs we saw today only have about 2 or 3 weeks, if they’re lucky, to get adopted. If they don’t get a second chance, these pets will likely be euthanized. And they never even had a drop of oil on them….”

Not only does the animal suffer, but the owner who relied on their companion animal suffers a financial loss and now their lack of companionship.

Read the whole heartbreaking article here:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/category/randi-kaye/


Here’s how you can help:

The Louisiana SPCA just set up a fund. (Yes, BP should be paying for this. But in the meantime, while they’re not, we can make donations. See info below).

If you’ve been thinking about helping the relief efforts of course there are other Wildlife organizations like Defenders of Wildlife doing amazing work. Here’s their site: http://www.defenders.org/programs_and_policy/offshore_drilling/gulf_oil_disaster/what_you_can_do.php

If the dog and cat thing tugs at your heart like it tugs at mine, you can donate directly to the Louisiana SPCA:
http://la-spca.org/Page.aspx?pid=509