Abner & Joyce Cavan with Max - Photo by Jennifer King

“Maximus” in Latin means “greatest.” The name seems to fit the fifty-pound playful boxer mix perfectly. It’s also achingly apparent that giving “Max” away is one of the greatest heartaches to hit the Cavan family since they realized the need to short-sell their West Covina home by the end of May in order to avoid foreclosure.

Unable to bring their pets to their new home, the Cavan family is forced to relocate them. “It’s hard, very, very hard,” said Joyce Cavan. “It’s tugging at my heart, we are so helpless about it.” Cavan spent the last few months sending out email pleas to friends and rescue groups trying to find their three pets’ new homes. She found a friend to take their Shih Tzu and another friend to take the cat, but Max is the last to go. “Taking Max to the shelter is not an option for my husband and I. We really want to try and find him a home through email or friends.”

Over the past several months many people across the country have found themselves in the same situation as the Cavan family. As more and more homes go into foreclosure, more and more pets are being displaced, dumped at shelters, or simply left behind. 

“Some animals are left behind for the neighbors to take care of, and others end up at the shelter because people try to hang on to their houses and wait to the last minute to try and find their pets a new home,” said Beth Caffrey, the Humane Education Director at the Central Coast SPCA in Fresno where they estimate a 20% increase in the number of animals coming into their shelter due to the mortgage crisis. “We are trying to combat the huge influx by holding more adoption events, asking more people to help foster these animals, encouraging pet owners who find themselves in this situation to try and place their pets themselves with family, friends, or on Petfinder.”

Cats and dogs aren’t the only animals being affected by the recent rash of foreclosures.  According to Brian Cronin, Division Chief of the San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control, his shelters have seen an increase of 126% within the past 12 months in horses and ponies. 

“The primary issue we are experiencing pertains to the additional abandonment of livestock, especially horses and ponies,” said Cronin. “The number of stray and unwanted horses and ponies has more than doubled during the past year.” In order to address this concern, Cronin and his staff have started networking with local equine rescue groups who may be willing to accept unwanted or displaced horses.

Although many pet owners, like the Cavans, would like to take their animals with them when they move, most find an unwelcoming rental market when it comes to accepting pets. “We wish we could hide Max in the apartment,” said Cavan. “The apartment we are moving into accepts animals, but we have to pay out more money each month per pet and if other tenants complain, they said they will have no choice but to let us go.”

Abandoning pets in most states is illegal and the Humane Society of the United States urges all pet owners faced with foreclosure to take their pets with them when they relocate.  Here are some HSUS suggestions on finding pet-friendly rentals:

• Give yourself enough time to check ads and contact real estate agents and rental agencies.
• Contact the humane society or animal care agency serving the area you’re moving to; they may be able to provide you with a list of apartment communities that allow pets.
• Gather proof that you're responsible. The more documentation you can provide attesting to your conscientiousness as a pet owner, the more convincing your appeal will be to your future landlord.
• Get it in writing. Once you have permission from a landlord, manager or condominium committee to have a pet, be sure to get it in writing.
• If you are absolutely unable to financially care for your pet any longer then take your pet to the local animal shelter. They can provide food and housing while they try and locate a new home for your pet.

Amidst moving boxes and tears, Joyce Cavan continues to struggle with the idea of losing Max.  “It’s like we play fetch and he doesn’t know what’s happening. What breaks our hearts the most is thinking about the moment we have to hand his leash over to a new family and he looks back at us asking, ‘Why?’”