We ALL have been feeling the economic situation in the USA right now. Everyone of us is finding that making your dollars and cents count is so important. I have been seeing more and more stories about the housing crunch come across the desk but one has really struck home for me.

This past Sunday I saw a Ben Stien Editorial on "Sunday Morning" on Channel Six. It's right after the Channel Six weekend morning show with Micaela Lechuga. Anyway, the story was on the "housing crunch" and it's effect on the Humaine Societies across the country. It really hit home for me. There are thousands of animals out there right now that are stuck in a backyard with a bag of food and the faucet dripping to fend on their own. How sad is this. As a animal lover and a two-time dog owner there is no way in (you know where) that I could ever do this to a member of my family. That's what my pets have been to me.

People are leaving the dogs and cats because they just can't afford another mouth to feed or they are moving somewhere that does not allow pets. It makes me angry! Because some sleazy loan officer peddled a bunk mortgage on someone who could not afford it, there is a four legged innocent out there that is left to fend for themselves. I have personally had to part with two animals that I loved like they were my child and it broke my heart. They went to good homes and that was hard enough. To leave an animal stuck in the backyard is just beyond me. How could you live with yourself?

I like Ben Stien am asking you to remember these pets. He suggested that the federal government stop throwing money to bail out big banks that made risky loans and throw some at the Humaine Societies who are litterally being overrun with extra animals they are trying to save. I simply ask that if you are in the market for a pet, at the very least visit your local Humaine Society and see if there isn't the right dog or cat there for you. Save an innocent life.