Do you think people who abandon their pets should be fined?

I don't understand your survey the way it was worded, so I didn't vote. My view is that if you can no longer take care of your pet, for whatever reason, take it to a responsable rescue or shelter!!! Don't just abandon it!!! Around here, the forclosure crisis has caused an unfortunate new trend; dogs left behind in the empty house and cats dumped outside. "Cats hunt, so they can survive outdoors!" NO THEY CAN'T!!!! An indoor cat doesn't know that the rodent they have been chasing for fun is something to be eaten! Insread, (if they live long enough) they find their way to my yard and I end up with yet another mouth I can't afford to feed. And they seem to think that since the bank is forcing them out of their house by a certain date they want it for someone else right away, so the dog is left behind for the new people to find and fall in love with. Instead, it's maintance workers or realtors finding the dog days or weeks later and calling Animal Control. If the dog is even still alive by then, they have one week at Animal Control before they're put down. I found out about this from a realtor friend. I wound up with a mother cat and eight kittens found in an empty house by a nosey neighbor and brought to my vet. People, TAKE THEM TO A SHELTER!!! Our shelter has a surender fee, but if it's a hardship situation they will reduce or waive it. About 90% or more get into the adoption program, and THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT!!! Stop listening to your neighbor's urban myths and TALK TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY YOURSELF!!!!! Anyone who just abandons their pet is guilty of animal cruelty and should be arested! The whole problem is finding them, and proving it. "sigh!"