Hundreds of men and women this year have come in tears to the Humane Society of Utah, devastated that losing their homes also means giving up their pets.

About 300 people in foreclosure have dropped off dogs and cats to the Murray animal shelter so far this year, executive director Gene Baierschmidt estimates. They're unable to find housing that will accept animals, can't afford to keep them in this down economy or don't know what else to do.

"It's just devastating for people," Baierschmidt said. "Most people with pets, they treat them like family. It's like abandoning a family member."

But animal advocates say this doesn't have to happen. They offer suggestions and have conducted food drives to help Utahns cope with the economy and keep their pets.

Between January and August, about 40 of Utah's animal shelters took in 4,000 more pets than during the same time period in 2007, according to No More Homeless Pets in Utah. That is an increase that the group's executive director, Holly Sizemore, calls dramatic.

"We can only assume it's the result of hard economic times and people needing to move or not being able to afford a pet deposit (on an apartment)," Sizemore said.

Salt Lake County Animal Services mostly receives stray animals, sometimes including those found abandoned in apartment buildings by moving owners, said Lidya Hardy, animal services education specialist. But she says that's business as usual and adds that her shelter is taking in the same 10,000 to 12,000 animals every year, no change due to the economy.

But the West Valley Animal Shelter is seeing fewer pet owners claim lost animals this year. Tough economic times could be to blame, as impound fees can reach $150 for unlicensed, unsterilized animals.

"It definitely means we have to euthanize more pets," manager Karen Bird said.

Last year, 32,000 animals in were euthanized in Utah, Sizemore said. If the current trend continues, "we're probably looking at about 38,000 (to) 39,000 animals being euthanized this year."

But there is some good news. While the Humane Society is seeing a 10 percent increase in animals brought in, it also is seeing a 20 percent rise in adoptions, Baierschmidt said.

Food assistance also is pouring in. In September, organizations including No More Homeless Pets, Summit County Friends of Animals and the Animal Advocacy Alliance of Utah collected more than 5,000 pounds of dog food and cat food to help people hit by rising prices afford to keep their animals, Sizemore said. The food is available at local food pantries, and another food drive could be in the works.

"We can't be giving people money to pay a pet deposit," Sizemore said. "But maybe we could refer them to a food bank."

---

E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com