Dog rescue shelters struggling

Lutz, Florida - The economy is impacting families, from their grocery bills to their entertainment, and it's also affecting "man's best friend" - their dog.

When the economy is down, large dogs like 2-year-old Great Dane Isabel, are not popular. "It's unfortunate, most people say they can't afford to feed them," says Linda Heinz, head of the Great Dane Rescue of Tampa Bay. "Giving a dog a quarter cup of food is better than 15 cups a day. They're going for the little breeds."

Heinz says Isabel and her litter of 3 puppies came from a breeder in Sumter County who stopped feeding her animals. She told deputies she couldn't afford it. Heinz holds up one of the 5-week-old puppies. She says they weigh just 8 pounds; they should be weighing nearly twice that.

"This is the face of starvation, big fat belly full of worms and big bellies."

Their mother is 30 pounds underweight; you can count the vertebras on her spinal cord. Her puppies are hungry and they try to nurse. "She's so skinny she can't produce any milk but they're hopeful," says Heinz. She is nursing them back to health along with three other adult Danes.

"It's been really hard lately. The donations are down because of the economy," says Heinz.

To pay for their care, Heinz says she uses her pay check for the dogs she fosters. "My husband and I work at a flower shop. I keep saying I want to stand on a street corner saying I work for dog food."

The rescue has 20 other foster homes and more dogs on the way.

"We got two Danes from a garage. The people foreclosed and left the dogs with no food, no water, and just left," says Heinz. "When I hear about dogs not being fed, that really hurts me a lot. We're not asking for them to provide comfy beds and toys just food and water."

Animal experts say before you decide you can't afford your 4-legged family members, they remind you there is help out there.

Anna Cooke, editor of The New Barker Magazine, has a list of rescues and shelters where one can call and get assistance with food and veterinary services. Cooke recommends the SPCA, SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Together) and Pet Pal Animal Shelter.

Heinz says before abandoning your pet because you can't afford to keep him, think of this, "If this were their two-legged child, would they leave their two-legged child chained in the garage? They wouldn't."

Shelters and Resources

http://www.thenewbarker.com/Rescue.htm

The New Barker Magazine

http://www.thenewbarker.com/Home.htm

Great Dane Resuce of Tampa Bay

http://www.greatdanerescueoftampabay.com/availabl.html