Alarming pet situation is expected in my country

[Kirsten]

I took a break from PT lately because I felt so depressed over the scary situation for unemployed people here in Germany, resulting from new laws that will come into force next year.

The economical situation in Germany is bad now for many reasons, and many people have lost their jobs (I'm one of them), and since there are no new jobs, the huge amount of unemployed people cannot be handled by the govenment anymore. (So far, you got 60% of your last brutto income as unemployment money for one year, after that, you still got 53%). Now everyone will only get a certain amount, which means a drastic cut of the unemployment money for many.

I've spent some time on a German discussion board lately where these things are discussed, and I've noticed an alarming tendency there:

People who are effected by this mentioned they will give up their pets and bring them to the shelter, because they cannot affort them anymore!

And a woman who volunteers in a shelter said that she has noticed there is already a drastic decrease in adoptions this year. She said not even kittens have been adopted this year. She and the other people in the shelter blamed the new unemployment laws for this.

It breaks my heart to think about how many pets will end up in shelters or abandoned now! I will do whatever I can to let Luna and Lily stay with me!
Personally, I'm not so much effected by the financial cuts because I haven't gotten much unemployment money anyway. But there's still a lot of talk that unemployed people have to move into smaller apartments, and when this happens, I'm afraid there isn't enough space left for my two girls. I hope it won't come this far!

For the last 4 or 5 months, I have stopped to apply for new jobs due to my disk hernia and the surgery, but now I'm starting looking again. Maybe it's too early (for my back), but I just have to do something! I need to make a living for me - and for my girls!!!

Kirsten

[DJFyrewolf36]

It is so sad when economic depression affects animals. I find that it happens a lot in my area. My city in particular has high unemployment. Not because people aren't making money (Business is at an all time high) but because employers are firing people before they can get benifits. High turnover is good for them because then they don't have to pay for benifits, retirement etc. Im glad I have the job I do, otherwise Id be like a lot of people I know, bouncing around, not sure were my next paycheck will come from.

[Killearn Kitties]

I wish you all the luck in the world in your search for a suitable job Kirsten. Please cuddle your girls for me and stay positive!

[Kirsten]

DJFyrewolf36, that sure sounds like a depressing situation in your area! You can see such a tendency here now as well. It's scary and stressful when you do not know if you still have an income tomorrow.

But I would rather live on nothing but cheap pasta and ketchup every day instead of giving up my girls!!!

Thanks, Killearn Kitties! I hope that I'll be able to stay in the job in case I'll find one, because at this point, I do not have much trust in my health. I'm getting problems when I'm sitting more than one or two hours, so I cannot imagine how to do an office job full time at this point. But maybe things would work better than I'm expecting now, I have to find out... .

Kirsten

[lynnestankard]

Oh Karen this sounds dreadful. I wish you lots of luck with the job hunting and hope you find something that isn't too hard on your back and that you actually enjoy doing.

I know you can't live without Lily and Luna - fingers crossed and {{{Hugs}}} across the miles.

Lynne

[kimlovescats]

I'm so sorry to hear of all this bad news, Kirsten. Please try to stay positive, if you can! Are you at least getting some sort of disability pay because of your back? I sure hope so!!! Gosh, I don't know what to say, except that I will pray for you and your babies!

((HUGS))
Kim

[Barbara]

Kirsten I hope very much that you can get a job -because I think the condition of your back and you being jobless are things that influence each other badly. I know that just like us all at Pet Talk you would never give up your babies (and we would start a cat food collection immediately )

Try not to panic- there are bad years now and we will have better years as well. And chat with us-because it's more uplifting

On the other hand- absolutely apart from your situation which is especially tough as you are not healthy: the situation of people without job is better in Germany than in most other countries of the world. And it will continue to be so, even after this law has been passed. So it would be very impossible for me to talk to people who want to give up their pets because of this issue.

I was very close to losing my job last year and the shock is still in my bones. But I promise to clean other people's cars to make sure F+T get their food.

[Randi]

Kirsten, I've read about the work situation in Germany - more work, less money. Some companies here are planning the same.

I really hope you can find a good job where you can sit down part of the time and walk around doing other things also. I know how painful it can be to sit down all day.

Have you put your CV in any of the jobdatabases? Or contacted Temp. Bureaus? Perhaps you can even find a part time job. I'd love that!

Is there anything you could work with at home? Perhaps webdesign - you're good at that!

Best of luck finding something suitable!

[Kirsten]

Thanks everyone!

Lynne, it's true, I couldn't imagine life without my girls, they're my family!

Kim, I've gotten sick pay till last week, but now they've cancelled it since they think I should be able to work again. That's why I had to apply for unemployment aid last week, which means less money.

Barbara, it's true, compared to most other countries, the situation is still better here, but now with the Hartz IV law, it's just scary. In my case, it's not even that bad because the unemployment money will be more than I'm getting paid now. It's mostly my appartment I'm still worrying about. Nobody can give you an reliable answer here, because nobody knows the facts. Our government has just failed to inform the people, or maybe they did that intentionally because they wanted to scare people so they are putting more efforts into finding a job, I don't know...

And it concerns me that there seems to grow a new barrier between the west and the east. And it's also scary that people are looking at you as a person on social aid already, as the scum of the society (as happened to me on another German board where we discussed Hartz IV) )

Randi, such a job would be nice, but you can't be picky here these days.
And yes, I have my cv in databases, and I'm looking for jobs on the internet all the time - except for the break due to the surgery.

I would love to work from home, but the chances are bad. I'm not qualified enough for web design, I would need to go to school first to get an education in this, but I cannot affort this.


BTW, just saw on the news that eggs and stones have been thrown at our chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today, because the people are so upset about him and his policy...

Kirsten

[Laura's Babies]

GOOD LUCK with your life there. Sounds dreadful. I am like you, I would eat nothing much, my kitties would get it all before I would give them up. Having said that, none of us really know what life will throw at us or what we would really do.. I will pray for you and your kitties each day and suggest everyone else do also!

[Kirsten]

Thanks!

And please don't worry about my girls! They're still getting good quality food, all their shots and medical treatment if necessary. I'm still trying to be a good cat mommy!

Kirsten

[Don Juan's mom]

I really feel for you, Kristin. I got laid off last year (probably just as well, as the company was missing payrolls), and have been scraping along since then on unemployment, temp jobs and handouts from my parents. But Don Juan has been a real sweetheart through it all, with his big friendly greetings when I come in the door (even if I've only been out for an hour) and snuggling with me at night. So, I've been making sure that I always have a little package of salmon bagel spread on hand for his special treat, even if I'm surviving on spaghetti and tomato sauce.

Oh, well. As Mr. Micawber says, something will turn up!

Liz

[DJFyrewolf36]

Thats the problem with living in a right to work state, Kirsten. Here, they can fire you and they don't have to give a reason. Its pretty stupid if you ask me. Im in agreement with everybody though, I'd live on dollar ramen if I had to to keep my pets happy!

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

I'm sorry the situation is so scarey there Kirsten. But (as you reminded me earlier in the year when I was feeling a bit down), PT is a great place to come for a friendly word and a (((HUG)))!

[carole]

Kirsten just want you to know that I am concerned for you and I understand how scarey all this change can be for you and many others.

My understanding was Germany once had what I would class as too good to be true, where unemployment was concerned, I once saw a documentary on it a few years back, it was a shocking, however, I then thought to myself no country could sustain this kind of system.

Its unfortunate that they could not have seen that and made adjustments then.

Even if Germany is much better off than most countries, I guess that does not really help you feel safe and secure, and besides its what you are used to, and any change in lifestyle is hard no matter what the cirumstances.

I can only wish you well dear Kirsten, and that your health will continue to improve and good luck for finding a suitable job to your needs.

Yes it is very scarey to think people would consider giving away their pets, Unlike you and me and others here , we would fight to the end to keep our pets, and do without food in our belly's to keep them , that I am sure of.