Animals in the Economic Downturn

This week, the Random Animal has been shuttling back and forth between a state with no functioning government (Minnesota-The Great Shut Down) and a state with a government some want to recall (Wisconsin-Walker Vs. Unions ).  For "functioning" government, maybe we have to go national. Wait--there's the debt ceiling crisis and politicians being as cooperative as alley cats in heat. Go international? Hmm, Greece, Italy, Ireland.... ?
All right, that was a low blow against alley cats, which like many animals suffer more when human institutions and economies go into a frenzy.  The July 4-10 edition Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine  has an article on the "Collateral Damage" of state budget cuts, complete of a photo of scary, invasive, Giant Carp (no bad jokes, please, about Giant Carp in DC). It lists a number of programs cut or reduced, several which impact animal life. Bedbugs might benefit and have a greater chance to thrive, because of a "50 percent cut in funding for the Integrated Pest Management program, a division of the state-funded Cornell Cooperative Extension research center." Carp may also get an assist upriver. In Minnesota  there's a proposed cut to a dam project meant to keep Asian carp from moving into northern rivers and lakes, where they displace native species. Animal control services have also been cut back in many areas, including one near Tampa. In some cases, this means that there are no sponsored programs for handling stray or feral cats. Individuals, on their own initiatives, might harass or harm the cats; others may put humane effort into trapping them and neutering them. With or without government shutdowns, high foreclosure and high unemployment has meant more dogs, cats, and other pets surrendered to shelters or abandoned. And many humane organizations have seen a drop-off in donations.
You could google gov't programs in your area to see how the economy is affecting wild and domestic species, but the chances are no one is budgeted to update the website. One active site talks of federal coordination of carp-control programs.  IF there is not resolution of the federal budget crisis, it's not just hot-air homo sapiens who will suffer.