DETROIT, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Michigan animal welfare officials say an increasing number of animals and pets are being abandoned as owners lose their jobs and homes.
Animal facilities and shelters around the state are reporting rising numbers of surrendered, abandoned or neglected pets, The Detroit News reported Friday.
And the number of people willing to adopt may fall short of the need, leaving orphaned animals homeless, the newspaper said.
The Oakland County Animal Control agency has received more than 1,000 surrendered pets and nearly 100 abandoned animals, mostly dogs and cats, since January.
Those numbers outpace adoptions by more than 2-to-1.
Owners who turned in pets used to explain they were short on time to care for them, officials said.
"Now it's 'I can't afford (to keep pets),'" Joanie Toole, the agency's administration supervisor, said.
The problem is especially acute among horses.
Oakland County authorities seized 13 underfed horses last month.
The horses' owner has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal cruelty, authorities said.
"With the economic downturn, we're seeing the same problem with horses as dogs and cats," said Jill Fritz, state director for the Humane Society of the United States, noting the average yearly cost to own one horse ranges from $1,500 to $2,600, including food, basic veterinary care and boarding.
