I thought we might use a bit of humor to start discussion on a very important issue - how the faltering economy is affecting adoptions and animal relinquishings. A recent UAF meeting featured a guest speaker from the Sedona Humane Society who mentioned that his shelter has had no problem maintaining their very successful adoption rate over the last few months . . . he attributed this to people looking for 'warm and fuzzies' during these troubling times. What do you think? How many adoptions are ocurring because well-informed people realize that animals are more likely to be abandoned and surrendered now? Is it equalling itself out because of these types of adoptions? Will these types of adoptions stick? And look at the picture - don't you think cats are SOOO DRAMATIC? (Just Kidding!)Thursday, April 16, 2009
FALTERING ECONOMY AFFECTS EVERYONE
I thought we might use a bit of humor to start discussion on a very important issue - how the faltering economy is affecting adoptions and animal relinquishings. A recent UAF meeting featured a guest speaker from the Sedona Humane Society who mentioned that his shelter has had no problem maintaining their very successful adoption rate over the last few months . . . he attributed this to people looking for 'warm and fuzzies' during these troubling times. What do you think? How many adoptions are ocurring because well-informed people realize that animals are more likely to be abandoned and surrendered now? Is it equalling itself out because of these types of adoptions? Will these types of adoptions stick? And look at the picture - don't you think cats are SOOO DRAMATIC? (Just Kidding!)
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I don't think the faltering economy has had the same impact on the Sedona area as it has had on most of the rest of the nation. Sedona is an artisan and retirement community which aren't as susceptible to any downturn in the economy. Sure the artisans may not be selling as much but they haven't totally lost their jobs which they may not have needed to begin with. Sedonans may not be physically feeling the impact of the bad economy but they may be feeling it more psychologically and, hence, want something "warm and fuzzy".
ReplyDeleteTouche! Sedona isn't exactly an accurate representation of the rest of Arizona - economically, at least. I do find that folks who are adopting here in the tri-cities often ask how the shelters have been affected by the economy, and I have to sometimes remind myself not to play on that sensitivity. I know better; after all, folks who adopt for that reason won't always be great pet-owners. Guilt - or perhaps it's pity - isn't the best impetus for pet ownership. Then again, it may be judgmental for me to assume I can nail down someone's motivation for adopting a pet into a one or two-word feeling . . . When I adopted my rescue mutts, I know it was a mixture of sympathy, desire to help, love, and perhaps a bit of guilt. I suppose I can't use standards for other people that I don't apply to myself!
ReplyDeleteUAF adoptions are up year to date over 2008. We've adopted 108 this year vs. 63 last year.
ReplyDelete