Economy Down, Abandoned Pets Up
A budget loss of $5 million has forced many county services in Florida to downsize including Hernando County, Florida Animal Services, according to examiner.com.
“[Pets] are the last victims of this bad economy,” said Dave Krusko, a worker at the kennel.
As the number of foreclosures increased because of the economy, so did the number of animals left to wander the streets.
“We just have no place to put them all,” Krusko said.
Animal Services is taking in over 300 animals per month – half of which are being put down due to the cutbacks in staff members and lack of financial support.
And the agency isn’t only taking in cats and dogs. Instead, it has been taking in goats, cows and horses as well as other abandoned livestock.
Krusko said that the County Commissioners’ lack of financial management has contributed to the bad economy. This has left the kennel no other options, but to euthanize the animals.
