By the Greater Antelope Valley Association of REALTORS® (GAVAR)
The housing crisis of 2008 and its after-effects left many homeowners feeling victimized, as home values dropped and payments became unsustainable. Many an upside-down homeowner elected to abandon their properties, as foreclosures became their reality.
Lost in the shuffle were many pets that were discarded along with the homes. Realtors® often found themselves on the front line, confronted by an abandoned dog, cat or more exotic pet. Few expected that animal rescues would become a part of their new job description.
In committee meetings, members of the Greater Antelope Valley Association of REALTORS® (GAVAR) discovered that many had stories of animal rescues. Most stories were heartbreaking. Families losing their homes often shared that they couldn’t stand the further heartache of euthanizing their pet. Abandonment seemed the less painful option.
Elle Stamsek, a Realtor® with Centennial Realty shared her first rescue. “It was a cute little pup that was so matted that I didn’t know what kind of dog it was. I paid to have it cleaned and vaccinated and managed to place it with a former client.” Stamsek went on to share that she’s placed 24 animals, including dogs, cats, goats, fish and a hamster into new homes.
Dana Haycock, a Coldwell Banker/Hartwig Realtor had numerous stories, but indicated that perhaps her most interesting was the discovery of 20 fish tanks with exotic fish slowly perishing. She said, “I have never seen such sad faces in my life.” She inferred that if a fish can have a sad face, imagine the face of an abandoned dog or cat. A local pet store took them in and nursed them back to health.
Local Realtors are not a shelter or rescue organization, but many have had personal experiences which have encouraged them to speak in favor of:
- Increasing attendance at animal shelter and pet rescue organization events.
- Finding and organizing volunteers for adoption events.
- Providing information on pet-friendly buildings, abandoned animals in vacant homes, or what to do when faced with an animal emergency situation.
- Building awareness of the importance of adopting rather than purchasing a pet.
- Generating financial support to animal shelters and pet rescue organizations.
The Greater Antelope Valley Association of Realtors® wanted to pause and remind everyone about the importance of responsible animal stewardship and the proposition that companion animals are gifts. And with the advent of the holidays, finding new homes for pets-in-need seemed all the more important.
–
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The AV Times.
Email letters@www.theavtimes.com to submit a story to Your Issues | Your News.
Chris B says
Elle Stamsek, this is a wonderful thing that you and the other realtors are doing.
To all the negative comments, I’ll be the first to admit there are bad apples everywhere, including realtors. My realtor, Terri Gold, is absolutely AWESOME. Find yourself a good realtor like Elle Stamsek, Dana Haycock, Terri Gold…
I had the opportunity to speak to some folks from Hope For Paws. They’re amazing people too!
Maria paesano says
Please read my comment about halfway down reply page and use as a means to inform others who might be having the same problem ( or will be ) to understand or be aware of what is really going on.
My OpenYawn says
If it weren’t so dang expensive to ADOPT and license a dog there’d be more dog owners. Then there’s a limit to how many dog lovers can have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DUMB
Les says
Thank you for helping those that cannot help themselves.
Jutti says
Thank you for the heartwarming story. Thank you to the realtors who are doing this great service to animals. I have volunteered at pet adoption fairs. There are many wonderful animals waiting for a home at animal shelters! Adopt! Don’t shop!
Lisa Dawson says
Kudo’s to GAVAR and all of the Realtors in the Antelope Valley who rescue these abandoned animals. I want to share that there are numerous animal rescues with the ability to find forever homes for these precious creatures. I cannot say enough about Mr. Eldad Hagar and his nonprofit; Hope For Paws – http://www.hopeforpaws.org/. If any of you are so inclined please look him up. He also partners with a network of like minded folks who can certainly help our community too.
Jodice says
Good to hear that somebody out there cares more then the jerks who abandon pets! Our neighbor was evicted for having a Pitt bull that scared all the neighbors. They would not get rid of it and got kicked out, but left their cat behind. Now with Winter coming the poor little cat has no home. It is living on the garage roof in a crawl space…we feed it but cannot adopt it…What comes around, goes around…They should be ashamed of themselves…
Maria paesano says
Maybe if all of these so called ” wonderful, caring real estate people weren’t out there working with the city to TAKE PEOPLE’S HOMES and just about everything else they have (like personal property ) all for their own $$$$ profit then maybe these pets could be with their families WHERE THEY BELONG. THE TRUTH IS this article and these pets being used as a means of publicity to coerce people into believing that these THIEFS who come to scope out your house ( and all the things you have in it like your property, pets, CHILDREN and other things they find to TAKE or USE AGAINST YOU ) are really just such nice people there to HELP YOU. Thanks so much city of lancaster, Rancho Mirage trailer park and all of the real estate and other people you have working for you ( outreach and compliance ) for making my, my children’s and my pets ( OUR FAMILY) lives a living hell.
Nancy P says
Maria, although I do agree that most Real Estate people are liars and thieves, I don’t think they want to take anyones homes or pets. They will tell people anything to get them to buy a house or sell a house. It’s just the nature of their jobs. The bigger the smile, the phonier they are, the more money they make. The higher the price, the more commission they make. I am sorry for your loss.
I appreciate that they are taking care of the abandoned pets they are finding at empty houses. Shows that a few still have some humanity.
William says
Nancy P. I don’t think that they work from ‘the higher the price, the higher the commission’ paradigm. I think they want a ‘sale’ or ‘sales’ and usually try to get the seller to lower the price for a quick sale and a quick commission.
If the seller has to drop the price $10,000, it’s only a few dollars off the commission and they want the commission more than they want the seller to get the full asking price.
It’s actually a conflict of interest if you think about it.
Nancy P says
I agree. I did deal with an agent who was working both sides and after the deal fell through I ran into the home owner (seller) at Vons. She told me the agent told her not to accept my offer, to hold out for more. 4 years later, she is still in the house and has never been able to sell for anything near my offer. Glad now that I didn’t buy the house.
CaliGirl says
I think the problem she might be talking about is due to Agenda 21, if you do not know what Agenda 21 is, it is time to learn and yes they are out to confiscate privately owned real estate any chance they have to do it. Agenda 21 info is on the UN website (they keep changing the details though to appear more friendly)
otherwise Michael Shaw on youtube has many discussions (as well as many others) also agendatwentyone on wordpress is loaded with the who’s who and what is what.
Jo Hastings says
It’s so good to know that our business people here in the AV are such good neighbors and have such big hearts! I certainly know who I’ll call with my Real Estate needs in the future!
Sherri says
That’s a great thing to do! I would love to know more about what they are doing and if an help is needed.
Jodice says
Sherri, do you want a beautiful kitty? We have an abandoned one who needs a home…