Consumer Alert: Pets in poverty shine a light on a very human problem

ROCHESTER, NY – In 66% of U.S. households, your pet is a major expense. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the average annual cost of caring for a cat is about $1,149. For a dog the cost is slightly higher at $1391. And these costs are the main reason why many give their pets to an animal shelter.

The problem is particularly pronounced in Rochester, where the poverty rate is just over 33 percent, higher than any other city of similar size in the country. But our pets are our family, for many vital to their mental and emotional well-being. So many people keep their pets even though they struggle to support their families.

You may remember that in January I told you the story of a young woman I called Cathy. She and her sister lived with their children in a house without heat or hot water. Every time the toilet flushed, the basement filled with raw sewage.

Cathy’s sister believed her only option was to stay in that house because she had dogs and couldn’t find a shelter that would take her pets. Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, says this situation is not an isolated incident.

“When you talk about pets in poverty, we’re talking about families in poverty,” Block said. “We talk about keeping pets with their families. This is a service. We are the Humane Society of the United States focused on animals, but we are also focused on people. And for the people, the children of these families, having their pets is vital…It’s about keeping families together.”

That’s why the Humane Society launched its More Than a Pet Campaign. They remind Flower City residents that they have partnered with Rochester Animal Services to provide food, leashes and resources to connect pets to veterinarians at low or no cost.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, the Humane Society reminds you that there are alternatives to surrendering your pet. For those in need of pet food, there is a community pet food pantry in the City of Rochester.

Click here for information about low-cost vaccination clinics in Rochester.

And click here for more information on community resources for pet owners.

If you would like to help pet parents in need, you can click here to donate to Rochester Animal Services

Click here to donate to Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester.