Bank of America Changes Locks, Takes Pet From Wrong Home

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2010-03-13 15:48:00 UTC
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Bank of America foreclosed on Angela Iannelli's house, locking her out and taking her 11-year-old Blue and Gold Macaw. Iannelli wasn't behind on her mortgage payments.

An employee thought the house had been abandoned and sent a contractor to secure the property. It was quite a shock for Ms Iannelli when she came home from work and found her locks changed and Luke, the macaw, gone.

Banks aren't known for being sympathetic. Late last year, a bank foreclosed on an animal sanctuary without providing basic care for the animals, or allowing the owner or animal welfare agencies onto the property to take care of them. But now your pets could be seized by the bank even when you're up to date on payments?

Mortgage lenders haven't had to deal with this many foreclosures since the 1930s. Nearly 15 percent of households with a mortgage are behind on their payments or in the foreclosure process. They can't keep up, leaving many cities and states to come up with ways to deal with vacant properties on their own, including the care of abandoned animals.

People are responsible for taking care of their animals, even in tough economic times. Abandoning an animal in your home is inexcusable. If you can no longer afford your pet, there needs to be a Plan B to make sure she gets the care she needs, even if that means taking her to an animal shelter. But mortgage lenders have a responsibility, too. The majority of US households have pets, and there needs to be a protocol for handling them in a responsible and compassionate manner during foreclosures.

While it's great that Bank of America wasn't going to just leave Luke in a vacant house, the fact that he hadn't been abandoned is a serious issue. There are enough people — and pets — suffering in this economy without bringing the problems to those who are doing okay. These lenders need to get their records straight.

Iannelli filed suit last week against Bank of America. As she tried to track down Luke, bank representatives gave her the run-around; they said they didn't know where her pet was, that she should call the police if she was so worried about him, that they were tired of hearing from her. Days later, they finally told her Luke was at the contractor's office. Though he had been wrongfully taken from her house, she was the one who had to drive two hours to pick him up.

She says Luke seemed nervous at first, but has since recovered.

Photo credit: malfet_

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.
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