Mar. 1, 2010: Pets and the recession

>> Rooney: ASK ANY ANIMAL
OWNER AND THEY'RE LIKELY TO
SAY THEIR PET ISN'T JUST A
PET.
IT'S A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
BUT IN THIS DOWN ECONOMY, SOME
OWNERS ARE FINDING IT MORE AND
MORE DIFFICULT TO CARE FOR
THEIR PETS.
AS JOHN LOSSES AND
FORECLOSURES MOUNT, OWNERS ARE
BEING FORCED TO DECIDE WHETHER
OR NOT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR
ENTIRE FAMILY INTACT.
TO THE UNTRAINED EYE, THIS PET
LOOKS HEALTHY.
BUT IT'S JUST HIDING THE UGLY
TRUTH.

>> YOU CAN CLEARLY FEEL HIS
RIBS UNDER ALL HIS HAIR.
YOU CAN SEE HE HAS A LITTLE
SHELF ON HIS BACK.
MOST HORSES SHOULD NOT HAVE A
SHELF THERE.
THAT'S HIS RIBS AND SPINE
PROTRUDING.

>> Reporter: MELISSA MANAGES
THIS FARM, THE MSPCA'S HORSE
SHELTER IN METHUEN.
THEY TAKE IN HORSES OWNERS CAN
NO LONGER AFFORD.
SHE SAYS THIS HORSE NEEDS TO
PACK ON A COUPLE HUNDRED
POUNDS BUT THAT'S NOT HIS ONLY
PROBLEM.

>> OUR DENTIST LOOKED AT HIS
HIS TEETH.
IT LOOKS LIKE HE MAY HAVE
NEVER SEEN A DENTIST BEFORE.
HE SAID IT'S ONE OF THE WORST
MOUTHS HE'S EVER SEEN.

>> Reporter:.

>> Rooney: IT'S A FAMILIAR
STORY.
AN OWNER FALLS VICTIM TO THE
RECESSION AND CUTS BACK ON THE
HORSE'S CARE AND EVENTUALLY
HAS TO GIVE IT UP.

>> IF WE LOOK AT 2007, WE TOOK
IN 21 HORSES.
IN 2009, WE TOOK IN 70 HORSES.
ALMOST EVERY HORSE THAT'S HERE
BECAUSE OF MONEY.

>> Rooney: 2010 ISN'T LOOKING
MUCH BETTER.
10 MORE HORSES HAVE BEEN
SURRENDERED.
SHE SAYS FIVE YEARS AGO THEY
COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD ON THE
OPEN MARKET BUT THE RECESSION
HAS MADE BUYERS SCARCE.

>> WE ARE A LAST RESORT FOR A
LOT OF OWNERS.

>> Rooney: IT'S A SIMILAR
STORY NEXT DOOR AT THE MSPCA'S
ADOPTION CENTER WHICH TAKES IN
ALMOST 7,000 ANIMALS A YEAR.
DIRECTOR MIKE KILEY SAYS THAT
NUMBER HASN'T CHANGED SINCE
THE RECESSION HIT.
BUT THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE ARE
SURRENDERING THEIR ANIMALS
HAVE.

>> THEY'VE GONE FROM THE SORT
OF MORE ALLERGIES AND MOVING
OR NO TIME TO COSTS AND
FORECLOSURES.

>> Rooney: KILEY SAYS THE
BIGGEST CHANGE HAS BEEN
MEDICAL.
OWNERS WHO IN THE PAST HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO PAY FOR EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS CAN'T AFFORD TO
ANYMORE.

>> RECENTLY WE SAW A CHOCOLATE
LAB HIT BY A CAR, FRACTURED
LEG AND BROKEN PELVIS.
IT WAS NOT EVEN A POSSIBILITY
FOR THE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER
CARING FOR HIM.

>> Rooney: THE GOOD NEWS
ADOPTION RATES HAVE REMAINED
STEADY.

>> WE SEE ABOUT 3700 TO 3800
ADOPTIONS EACH YEAR WHICH
WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH.

>> Rooney: BACK ON THE FARM,
MELISSA SAYS 35 HORSES WERE
ADOPTED LAST YEAR.
IT JUST TAKES LONGER TO FIND
THE RIGHT FAMILY.

>> THE AVERAGE STAY IS ABOUT
SIX MONTHS FOR A HORSE.
FOR A HORSE THAT NEEDS
SIGNIFICANT REHABILITATION,
THAT CAN TAKE A LITTLE BIT
LONGER.

>> Rooney: AS FOR KING, HE'S
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.
ONE BALE OF HAY AT A TIME.
WITH ME NOW IS BRIAN ADAMS
WITH THE MSPCA HUMANE SOCIETY
AND CHRISTINE ALLENBERG WHO
WORKS IN WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS.
WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.
MY FIRST REACTION, IT'S
IRRESPONSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, TAKING A PET.
IT'S A LIVING THING.
IT'S NOT LIKE THROWING AWAY
THE FAMILY LIBRARY OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT YOU
CAN'T KEEP RESTORED.
AND FOR PEOPLE TO SAY THINGS
LIKE WE HAVE ALLERGIES OR THEY
CAN'T... AND A WOUNDED ANIMAL.
THAT'S ANOTHER THING.
DOESN'T A HOSPITAL, WON'T THEY
CARE FOR A DOG OR NOT OR AN
ANIMAL, A SMALLER PET?
WILL THEY PUT IT DOWN IF THE
FAMILY CAN'T AFFORD IT?

>> FREQUENTLY PEOPLE WILL COME
TO A VETERINARY CLINIC SUCH AS
THE ANGEL ANIMAL MEDICAL
CENTER.
THERE MIGHT BE A CONCERN OVER
COST.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE
VETERINARIAN WHO WILL WORK
WITH THEM AS WE DO, COST VERY
MUCH BECOMES A LARGE PART OF
THAT DECISION.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
NOW THAT WEREN'T AROUND JUST A
FEW YEARS AGO.
THERE'S A CERTAIN GUILT THAT
COMES ALONG WITH IT.
IF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE SOMETHING
IS OUT THERE THAT THEY CAN'T
AFFORD THAT COULD SAVE THEIR
ANIMAL.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THAT
A LOT OF THESE ANIMALS ARE
ACTUALLY COMING TO US.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY SURRENDERING
THEM TO OUR ADOPTION CENTERS.
WE'RE THEN TAKING ON THE COST.

>> Rooney: IT'S ONE THING IF
THE ANIMAL IS SEVERELY WOUNDED
OR SICK.
IT'S ANOTHER THING IF IT'S
COMPLETELY HEALTHY.
NOT MY PROBLEM ANYMORE.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME MAD.

>> WE SEE THAT QUITE
FREQUENTLY ESPECIALLY WITH
WITH OLDER ANIMALS.
WHEN A DOG TURNS TEN ALL OF A
SUDDEN AN ALLERGY DEVELOPS IN
THE FAMILY.
USUALLY IT'S WHEN THEY'RE
AFRAID OF THE BILLS THAT WILL
COME DOWN TO THE ROAD.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE FIND HOMES
FOR MANY OF THOSE ANIMALS.
WE JUST ADOPTED OUT A
12-YEAR-OLD GREYHOUND LAB MIX
THE OTHER DAY.
VERY NICE FAMILY.

>> Rooney: THAT LITTLE TERRIER
BLACKY IS GOING TO BE GONE BY
THE END OF THIS PROGRAM I
THINK.
CHRISTINE, HORSES ARE A WHOLE
OTHER THING.
THESE ARE ENORMOUS, ENORMOUS
ANIMALS THAT EAT A LOT OF
STUFF.
BUT HOW COULD SOMEBODY... I
MEAN IT'S JUST MIND BLOWING TO
ME THAT SOMEBODY COULD, THAT
HORSE KING THEY'RE STARVING IT
TO DEATH.
THAT MEANS THAT THEY JUST
WEREN'T FEEDING IT.

>> CORRECT.
AFTER ALMOST 15 YEARS OF DOING
THIS, IT STILL BLOWS MY MIND.
UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE IN THIS
ECONOMIC CRUNCH SOMETIMES
CAN'T ADMIT IT OR DON'T WANT
TO REACH OUT AND ASK FOR HELP.
OR DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THE
ANIMAL.
I HEAR SO FREQUENTLY I LOVE MY
ANIMAL.
I COULD NEVER GET RID OF HIM.
YET YOU'RE NOT FEEDING HIM AND
YOUR PET IS A RACK OF BONES.
SOME PEOPLE JUST
PSYCHOLOGICALLY CANNOT LET GO.
THEY CANNOT ADMIT IT TO
THEMSELVES.
UNFORTUNATELY NOT JUST HORSES
BUT ALL ANIMALS SUFFER.
DOGS, CATS, LIFE STOCK.
YOU KNOW, EVEN WHAT WE CALL
POCKET PETS.
HAMSTERS, GERBLS, REPTILES.
THEY'RE ALL VICTIMS WHEN THEIR
OWNERS CANNOT AFFORD TO TREAT
THEM OR FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT
AN ANIMAL DOES NEED TO EAT
EVERY DAY OR THAT IN THE
MIDDLE OF WINTER AN ANIMAL
DOES NEED ACCESS TO PROPER
SHELTER.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S A HUSKY
DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN SURVIVE
SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES.

>> Rooney: WHAT KINDS OF
THINGS DO YOU SEE OUT THERE?
I REMEMBER SEEING THIS PICTURE
OF A HORSE.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE IT WAS.
WHETHER IN OUR BACKYARD.
IT HAD BEEN TIED TO A STAKE.
IT WAS A RACK OF BONES.
I MEAN IT COULDN'T GO
ANYWHERE.
IT COULDN'T EVEN REACH THROUGH
THE FENCE TO GET A BITE TO
EAT.
THE OWNERS JUST HAD IT THERE.
DO YOU SEE THAT KIND OF ABUSE
OUT THERE?

>> I SEE THINGS THAT I CAN'T
EVEN BEGIN TO PUT INTO WORDS.
EVERY DAY I SAY, ALL RIGHT,
I'VE SEEN IT ALL.
AND THEN THE NEXT DAY
SOMETHING NEW JUST BOGGLES MY
MIND.
PEOPLE TREAT ANIMALS VERY
DIFFERENTLY.
NOT EVERYBODY IS A HUMANE,
COMPASSIONATE PET OWNER.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE THEM AS A
STATUS SYMBOL.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE THEM JUST
BECAUSE THEY CAN OR TO
IRRITATE THEIR NEIGHBORS.

>> Rooney: IF YOU FIND A CASE
OF EXTREME ABUSE LIKE THAT
HORSE, I MEAN, IS IT A FINE?
CAN YOU ARREST THE PEOPLE?
WHAT'S THE CONSEQUENCE?

>> IN MASSACHUSETTS ANIMAL
CRUELTY IS A FELONY.
IT'S PUNISHABLE BY UP TO FIVE
YEARS IN PRISON OR A $2500
FINE.
AS A SPECIAL STATE POLICE
OFFICER I DO HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO ARREST, THE
AUTHORITY TO GO TO THE COURT
AND OBTAIN A SEARCH WARRANT TO
SEE IF THERE'S ANIMALS.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THE MSPCA
HAS TRIED MANY DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF TRYING TO STOP
ANIMAL ABUSE, TRYING MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS TO COMBAT THE
ISSUE.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT EDUCATION
IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS
FOR US AND FOR THE ANIMALS.
TRYING TO EDUCATEY OWNER AND
WORK WITH THEM.
SAY, LOOK IT.
YOUR HORSE IS EXTREMELY
UNDERWEIGHT.
WHY DON'T YOU TRY THIS FEEDING
SCHEDULE.
WHY DON'T YOU CONSULT WITH A
VET TO SEE WHERE MAYBE YOU CAN
GET A BETTER FEEDING PROGRAM.
WHY NOT PUT A FLAP ON THE DOG
HOUSE OR PUT SOME BEDDING IN
THERE SO THE DOG WON'T USE ALL
THE FOOD THAT IT HAS TO TRY TO
MAINTAIN BODY WEIGHT.

>> Rooney: HOW DOES THIS WORK
FOR YOU?
LOOKING AT THAT UNBELIEVABLE
HORSE FARM, HOW DOES IT WORK
FOR YOU FINANCIALLY IF YOU'RE
GETTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
SMALL CREATURES?
WHO IS PAYING FOR IT?

>> WELL IT'S ACTUALLY THE
PUBLIC.
WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY STATE OR
FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO THE PUBLIC FUNDS US.
WITH THOSE FUNDS.

>> Rooney: WITH DONATIONS.

>> EXACTLY.
THROUGH THOSE FUNDS WE'RE ABLE
TO CARE FOR THOSE ANIMALS.
SOME OF THESE ANIMALS CAN TAKE
ANYWHERE FROM $200 TO
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO
REHABILITATE.
IT'S REALLY AN ISSUE OF WHAT
RESOURCES DO WE HAVE AND WHO
CAN WE HELP?
AS THE LARGEST ANIMAL WELFARE
HUMANE SOCIETY WITHIN
MASSACHUSETTS, WE HELP THE
MOST ANIMALS SO WE FACE THIS
CHALLENGE EVERY DAY.

>> Rooney: YOU CAN'T KEEP THEM
ALL TRUTHFULLY.

>> WE CAN'T KEEP THEM ALL.
WE'VE BEEN RAISING ADOPTION
RATES THROUGH THE ROOF.
WE'RE QUICKLY BEING OUTPACED
BY THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT
ARE BEING SURRENDERED.

>> Rooney: WE HAVE BEFORE AND
AFTER PICTURES OF SOME OF
THESE HORSES.
THIS IS GREAT.
THE REHABILITATION OVER THERE
ON THE FARM, I DON'T KNOW HOW
KING IS DOING.
LOOK AT THOSE.
INCREDIBLE.

>> IN ONE OF THOSE CALLY CAME
TO US IN JANUARY OF '09.
SHE LOOKS GREAT BUT SHE HAS
LOOKED GREAT FOR MONTHS.

>> Rooney: A COUPLE HUNDRED
POUNDS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING TO GAIN
THAT KIND OF WEIGHT.

>> IT'S FABULOUS FOR ME TO
LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES.
THAT HORSE WAS A CASE OF MINE.

>> Rooney: YOU GOT THAT FROM
SOME OWNER.
I HOPE THAT OWNER IS IN JAIL.
YOU'RE NOT SAYING.

>> MY PERSONAL OPINION MEANS
NOTHING.
MY JOB IS....

>> Rooney: I'M GIVING MY
OPINION.

>> MY JOB IS TO EDUCATE AND
INFORM AND MAKE LIFE BETTER
FOR ANIMALS.
ON THE PLUS SIDE A LOT OF
TIMES I'LL MAKE LIFE BETTER
FOR THE FAMILY THAT OWNS THEM.

>> Rooney: THIS IS GREAT.
GREAT WORK FOR BOTH OF YOU.
BRIAN AND CHRISTINE, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Rooney: WHEN WE CONTINUE,
FILM DIRECTOR JOHN WATERS
WEIGHS IN ON THE I.C.A.'S
NEWEST EXHIBIT.