PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

Foreclosures and the recent economic meltdown have made it difficult for pet owners to continue to provide for their pets. As a result, animal shelters are experiencing an influx of pets. Wayside Waifs animal shelter in Kansas City has had 32 pets enter their shelter because of financial issues. This shelter has also had 79 animals come in because their owner’s lifestyle has changed, and 193 pets were surrendered because their owners were moving. Although cutting back on your overall expenses might be out of necessity and not choice, there are some ways that you can help keep your pet during these difficult times.

One way to cut back on your pet expenses is to eliminate the toys, treats, clothing and other accessories that spoil your pet. Keep in mind that your pet needs food, water, shelter and love. Give your pets natural treats like carrots and be creative by turning common household items into toys. For example, cats love string and tin foil balls, and dogs can chew on tennis balls or fetch Frisbees.

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With the current financial crisis, if you’re not cutting back on expenses already, it’s likely that you will be soon. Pet parents are feeling the crunch even more than those without pets. It can be hard to justify spending extra money for fancy pet toys, especially when some families and pets are still coping with the aftermath of Ike and Gustav. Of course, to make matters worse, prices are going up on just about everything, and show no signs of coming down any time soon.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save money on pet care without compromising your pets’ health or happiness. Making pet toys at home is one way to cut costs while keeping pets happy and stimulated. More →