Pet charities also feeling pinch of recession
By ALEXANDRA CLOUGH

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Local nonprofit organizations can provide a window into the health of the local economy. And the economy is stressed, judging by the challenges charities are facing in their quest to raise money for their causes.

Some charities have scaled back events this season, either by canceling silent auctions or switching to luncheons from high-priced dinners. Other charities are canceling their events completely.

Among those organizations feeling the economic pinch: Groups that help rescue animals.

Take the Greyhound Pets of America.

Barbara Masi, president of the Greyhound Pets' southeast coast chapter, said the organization usually hosts a luncheon and fashion show at the Harriet Himmel Theater in West Palm Beach's CityPlace. The event, which is always on the last Saturday in January, is used to raise money to shelter retired greyhounds and help adopt them out.

But this year, "we had to cancel the event, for economic reasons," Masi said. "We were worried we wouldn't be successful in achieving our financial goal." Masi said the group had a goal of clearing $20,000 from the event, but by in September, her group concluded the goal would be impossible and nixed the luncheon.

(As an alternative, Masi said the group is having a "non-event," a donation without a luncheon. For more information, check out www.greyhoundpetsfl.org).

The cancellation of the fund-raiser couldn't come at a worse time. Masi said some people are starting to return greyhounds they had adopted, either because they are downsizing their homes or they can no longer afford to keep their animals, Masi said.

The Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League (also known as the Humane Society) sees an increase in the number of people giving up their pets up, too.

Many families facing job losses just can't afford to feed their pets anymore, said Carrie Kufta, development director. She said the organization tries to keep "animals and pets together" by offering limited amounts of free pet food at its West Palm Beach shelter.

Although greyhounds are large animals, Masi said they can still be happy if people move to condominiums from single-family homes. But the animals must receive frequent walks if they live in a condo.

Unfortunately, pet lovers say, a number of condos, particularly older properties, do not allow large animals, or any pets, in their units.

Kevin Dickenson of Prudential Florida Realty thinks that's a mistake. Many older condos, particularly in Palm Beach, are missing out on buyers who would love to live on the island but won't give up their pet, he said.

So a number of buyers seeking waterfront property wind up in newer projects further north, such as on Singer Island in Riviera Beach. New condos tend to have less rigid rules about keeping animals, Dickenson said.

It's an issue that Maida Genser, founder of Citizens for Pets in Condos, is trying to resolve. Pets in Condos (www.petsincondos.org) works to increase acceptance of companion animals in condos and other multifamily-type housing.

The situation is ripe for change because 63 percent of U.S. households have at least one companion animal, Genser said.

She said her group has research showing that properties that allow pets sell for higher prices. And she concurs that new developments tend to attract animal lovers.

"The newer ones tend to be pet-friendly," she said.

The Source is a weekly online column about business and real estate in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. You can read more of Alexandra Clough on Mondays in the Inside Local Business section.