Pets Feel Impact of Economic Times

Samantha York, administrative supervisor with HSOY, said she saw the trend start last summer.

"When gas was $4 or $5 a gallon, it was an indicator of a national crisis," said Shanen Aranmor, director of development at the Humane Society of Yuma.

York said she's seeing more people bring in their pets because they've lost their house, lost their job or other similar reasons.

"That affects the family, and they have to downsize animal-wise," York said.

And keeping a pet can be expensive. It doesn't just stop at the initial cost of the pet: there's immunizations, the cost to spay or neuter a pet and wellness checkups, which Aranmor said pets need every six months.

Then there's food for the pet -- an ongoing financial cost that can be difficult on a family budget.

Aranmor said more families are coming in to ask for help with food, and sometimes the Humane Society can help, and sometimes it can't -- it just depends if there are food donations available when someone comes in.

Aranmor said there has been a reduction in the overall number of pets given up. During the period from December 2008 to January 2009, owners gave up 489 pets, down from 534 during the same period a year before.