In times such as these, the plight of homeless companion animals is most worrisome. How can their circumstances not worsen as local governments tighten belts in the face of economic pressures? Yet despite these circumstances remarkably little is said in public policy discussions about our shelters as a last resort for displaced and homeless animals.

Orange County has a progressive tradition of animal welfare. Yet each year approximately 45 percent of 4,500 or so incoming animals are not recovered or re-homed. They are euthanized, a practice that has become a means of population control in the absence of an effective policy addressing our country's massive pet overpopulation problem.

Amid the current economic crisis, there are striking parallels between the plight of animal companions and their human counterparts. Rising unemployment and home foreclosures are responsible for the displacement of dogs and cats and even larger animals such as horses. According to an estimate developed by Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, executive vice president for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, between 500,000 and 1 million dogs and cats may become homeless as a result of economic dislocation. If anything, it may be that this trend is just emerging in the Triangle, given the delayed onset of economic downturn here. Yet signs of increased intake numbers and animal surrenders are unmistakable.

Orange County provides a good illustration of this development. While only slightly higher than the average for the last four years, intakes of dogs and cats for the first quarter of 2009 were more than 10 percent greater than for the same period in 2008 (798 compared to 718). Similarly, in the first quarter of this year the number of cats and dogs surrendered by owners is slightly more than 25 percent higher than in the same period in 2008 (300 compared to 216), and approximately 13 percent higher than the average for the last four years.

For the coming fiscal year, many local governments are preparing to reduce budgets by 5 or 10 percent (or more). In addition, it is now understood that 2009 is the first of several years that will be defined by reductions and realignments. There is, thus, reason to worry that community animal care and control programs will be forced backward into what used to be called "catch and kill." Even if that is not the case, given changes in the status of animal companions in our culture and heightened community expectations, there can be no doubt that tragic outcomes of pet overpopulation will worsen.

At the same time, I am hopeful that our common commitment to care will be sustained. I believe that a sentiment of stewardship for all animal companions is strong and widespread. Among other things, it informs, inspires and guides community concerns with sheltering practices, the formation of independent animal rescue organizations in recent decades, continuing support for humane and animal protection societies, and the vitality of animal welfare as a social movement.

These sentiments need to be heard by elected officials and public administrators. As they realign as well as reduce shrinking resources, they need to hear that there are strong sentiments in support homeless animals and animal sheltering, just as there are strong sentiments in support of a broad array of human services, our schools and public health and safety. This process must focus on municipal and county governments since they are responsible for animal care and control services in our communities. These services are scarcely addressed by federal legislation and they are surely not part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Nor are resources for these services available from state government, which regulates but rarely helps to sustain community animal shelters.

Never in my life has the need been greater for caring and concerned members of our communities to act in concert and be a "voice for those who cannot speak for themselves." It must be a voice raised in many venues and nowhere more than in the ongoing processes of local governments. Only by doing so can we assure that dislocated animal companions are respected as creatures for whom we are all responsible as moral as well as civic beings even during these hard times.

Robert A. Marotto is the director of animal services for Orange County and previously managed the City of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control Program.