The BiggerPockets Real Estate Investing for Real News Blog is officially the first media outlet to announce the arrival of a new website dedicated to helping dogs and cats victimized by foreclosure.
Abandoned Animals of Foreclosure: Help Is On The Way
I have been working in the foreclosure market since I began investing in 1999 and I have run into animals affected by foreclosure. Some were going to be dropped off at shelters while others ended up being left behind in the house…Abandoned.
In fact, last year a homeowner told me they were planning to take their puppy to the pound after I left. Needless to say, I didn’t leave alone. I fostered that puppy for two months until I found it a new home. That’s just me. I have known that animals are abandoned at times but, I never thought I could do much to prevent it and certainly not enough to make a big difference.
In mid-August, I got an email from a woman I used to work with. It contained a link to an article published by the Dallas Morning News. It reported on the growing number of pets that are being abandoned by their owners as a result of losing their houses to foreclosure. It said the local animal shelters have seen an increase of foreclosure homeowners dropping their dogs and cats off with the hope that they will be adopted. An official with the Dallas area SPCA said it has been a growing problem and appears to be getting worse.
I read the article several times and I continued thinking about it for several days.
Two weeks ago… It hit me! I hope that I have come up with a way to make a BIG difference by saving thousands of animals. I have been hard at work transforming my idea into a reality. It is a work in progress and will likely be non-stop updating but, I am hoping that my idea will demonstrate how one person is capable of saving thousands of dogs, cats and other household pets that are or will be affected by foreclosure.
Introducing… HelpForeclosurePets.com
I have summarized how HelpForeclosurePets.com will be able to save thousands of foreclosure pets in Dallas – Fort Worth and maybe on a National level as well.
- A flyer will be mailed to homeowner’s currently in foreclosure in the Dallas – Fort Worth area. It will contain information posted on the website Help Foreclosure Pets.com such as, where owners can turn to for help with their pets like City Shelters, “No-Kill” Shelters, Temporary Boarding, Fosters and Adoption options.
- The site’s main feature is the Pet Connection Board. It will connect pet owners with others who may be able to save their pet by fostering, boarding or adopting foreclosure pets in need.
- Pet owners needing help are encouraged to post information about their pet, what type of situation they feel would be best for their pet and their contact information.
- In order for this concept to work, people interested or able to foster, provide boarding or adopt need to post their contact information on the Pet Connection Board, along with how they are able to help.
- The website also includes rescue information for specific breeds and other organizations & clubs that may be able to help.
- The website will be continuously updated with links to other sites that offer a service to needy animals.
- Help Foreclosure Pets needs donations from individual and corporate sponsors, to help save these voiceless animals. Those sponsoring the mailings will be listed on the flyers, envelopes as well as receive free banner advertising on the web site.
- In order to send a flyer to over 3,000 homeowners in foreclosure every month, a complete list is needed and in Dallas the list must be purchased.
I am happy to announce that Help Foreclosure Pets has its first major sponsor! Foreclosure Listing Service of Addison, Texas, will generously donate monthly foreclosure lists covering four Counties in North Texas.
A big “Thank You” to George Roddy Senior, President and owner of Foreclosure Listing Service.
I hope that anyone interested in saving these animals will contact Help Foreclosure Pets or other organizations dedicated to the same.
One of my mottos with DFW Mentor has been, “Investors Helping Investors.”
Help Foreclosure Pets is “My” way of providing a voice for dogs, cats and other innocent family pets needing help.
The motto of Help Foreclosure Pets is… “People Helping…Foreclosure Pets.”
Article Author:
Jim WatkinsJim has written 39 articles for us.
Visit Jim's Website: http://www.dfwmentor.com
Jim has become a specialist in the PreForeclosure field and teaches investment real estate with Foreclosure Listing Service, Inc. in Addison, Texas.
Joshua Dorkin
Charles Feldman
Ted Karsch.
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That is great to hear, Jim!
I am a huge animal lover myself (3 cats and 1 dog- all were strays), and I have rescued several dogs/cats from homes that have been abandoned.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do, or if you are planning to expand this service to other cities. I’d be glad to help in any way I can. I’m in Tampa, Fl, btw.
Take care, and thank you…
Steph
That is such a great idea! I fostered dogs for a rescue program for a while (until I adopted one for myself) and toward the end there was seeing dogs at shelters that were victims of foreclosure — some just left behind and later found by a neighbor — and I’ve been hearing that the problem is only growing. It is so wonderful what you are doing. I really hope people start using it.
Great idea,
We have adopted and fostered Greyhounds, but after are last grey passed, my wife stopped at the spca. They had a German shepard and a mini- pincher that had to be given up because of foreclosure. We ended up with the mini- pincher. It must have been heart breaking for the owners, she is so sweet and well behaved, we just love her.
Keep up your good work!
Great Website, Jim! You are such a GOOD person! Take Care.
To those of you that offered your comments about the article and/or site… Thank you!
I have been going non-stop working on updating the site & getting the word out and it has been pretty tiring. But, it will be well worth it in the short and long run.
A tidbit that I am baffled about:
I posted a short ad on Craigslist in the Dallas Pets section with a simple link & explanation of the sites function.
Within 20 minutes it was FLAGGED and removed!
Maybe the people who flagged it are the ones that abandon their dogs. Ugh! People!
Jim – People just hate on Craigslist, sadly. I’d recommend getting in touch with the local papers, TV investigative reporters, and all the housing agencies/Banks, REO agents, etc. If you can’t get the word out through CL, you’ve still got dozens of other options!
This is some of the best news I have heard in a while. I love animals and it is nice to see that there are people out there that share the same feelings and help these animals who do not have a choice in the foreclosure process.
Great job. I’d be interested in helping you spin this off in Connecticut. Visit my blog and you’ll see I already have a pet adoption area but it just hadn’t clicked to do something specifically to help people with pets who are facing foreclosure.
Its great site and This is some of the best news I have heard in a while.These animals who do not have a choice in the foreclosure process.Nice to see the information which you have mentioned.
Hi Jim,
I think this is a wonderful idea. You have hit the nail right on the head with this! I have been sick to my stomach at the thought of all these animals being abandoned.
I would like to offer my time to open a branch of Help Foreclosure Pets in Los Angeles.
Please contact me to let me know how I can get started.
Thanks so much for starting this!
Rosie Nieto
rosie@nakedladyrealestate.com
818-581-2112
I feel bad for all of these estranged animals. I wish that we could always help cats and dogs more instead of abusing them.
This is such a great idea!! Good luck to you guys. These animals deserve every bit of help they can get.. It’s not their fault they are in this situation. Poor things. :-\
What happiness that there are such people as you! And as it is surprising that there are the sponsors helping you! At us in Ukraine homeless animals contain in terrible conditions, sponsors do not pay any attention to this problem…:(
Everything that becomes in our shelters – is gained on ridiculous money of several self-denying volunteers…:(
On poor animals terribly it would be desirable to look, cry…
This is great to hear Jim, such a fantastic idea. These animals need our help and I wish you every success.
It’s always a shame to hear that pets are one of the first to suffer when people’s financial situations start to go down hill. Foreclosure Pets is definitely a great idea; now why didn’t I think of that?
Great idea. I hate cruelty of any kind, and though I feel sorry for people in financial difficulties, the animals shouldn’t be made to suffer, it’s not their fault.
Thanks for that tip about the site “help foreclosure pets”
Kindest Regards,
Alex.
That is an interesting cause to take up. Foreclosure rates are definitely going to continue to rise with the economy the way it is. I would love an update on how this has gone so far.
Yes definitely foreclosure pets is great solution in this situation of economic
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