Even the most loving and responsible pet owners can be pushed to the wall, especially in this economy. But abandoning your pet is not only

unspeakably cruel, it is also illegal, punishable in New York State by imprisonment and/or fines.

It can be exhausting and confusing to cut through the clutter of help-lines and groups, many of which are also overwhelmed. Here are two

sources of reliable, practical advice and help, reachable online or by phone:

The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals – animalalliancenyc.org, click on “Need Help?” The Alliance offers a practical list of user-friendly 

links to agencies offering *financial assistance for veterinary care, *low- cost spay/neutering, *low-cost microchipping, and *free or low-cost pet

food, litter and supplies. The Alliance can also be reached at (212) 252-2350.

Pets for Life NYC – hotline: (917) 468-2938. An affiliate of the national Humane Society, Pets for Life NYC is an animal surrender prevention

program that offers some of the same information as the Alliance. It also provides up-to-date advice and resources for help and information

on *pet behavioral issues, *allergies, *landlord-tenant disputes, *pet illnesses, *lack of pet-care knowledge and *how to help pets in the event

of life crises (domestic violence, eviction, foreclosure, hospitalization and house fires). Pets for Life NYC helps with *reduced-cost boarding

services for pets of people in crises and *temporary foster care for pets, to qualified callers. Find out more at humanesociety.org (search Pets

for Life NYC).