Helping pets left behind after their owners were detained by ICE
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Local animal rescues are hearing more and more cases of pets being abandoned or in dire need of care as the immigration crackdown continues in the Twin Cities.
Rachel Mairose, executive director of The Bond Between, told Morning Edition, “The silver lining is that community really does seem to be stepping up for these animals and for the people that have had their rights stripped away from them.”
If someone is concerned that a pet may have been abandoned or displaced in a home after the occupants were detained or deported, the best thing to do is call your local animal control, said Mairose, followed by getting a five-day stray hold. After that, if the animal can’t be reunited with their family, they can go to a rescue program.
“I just want to make the point that the animals we're seeing have been very well cared for and loved. They are family members. Nobody meant to abandon them,” Mairose said. “It's the situation that's causing them to be displaced.”
The Bond Between is also getting more requests for pet surrenders. However, they offer a respite foster program, which is free and provides care for pets up to 90 days. They also have a pet food shelf and one-month emergency packs available.
The best ways for people to help, Mairose said, are to sign up to foster, make a monetary gift or donate pet food. Learn more at TheBondBetween.org.
— Morning Edition, MPR News
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