CHICAGO — The trend of pets being shooed out the front door or abandoned in forest preserves has put animal welfare officials on notice that cash-strapped pet owners are in critical need of help.

“Obviously the goal is to keep these pets in the homes and out of shelters,” said PAWS Chicago founder Paula Fasseas, whose organization has deployed staff members to the Animal Care and Control lobby on weekends to counsel people who are coming in to surrender their dogs and cats.

Here are some ways to keep your pet and still be able to pay the rent.

FOSTER CARE

Having a friend, relative or neighbor take over the care of your pet is better than relinquishing the animal. Not just for the animal, but also for you and your family.

“Imagine the trauma (to children),” said Steve Dale, a Chicago pet behavior consultant, syndicated columnist and radio host with a Sunday night show on WGN-AM 720. “The more normalcy and consistency you can provide to kids, the better. And to give up family members is the exact opposite of what you want to do.”

If you can’t find someone to foster your pet, contact your local shelter or a breed-specific rescue and ask about its foster program.

“Many of these humane societies want you to foster your own animal while they look for a home,” said Kerry Vinkler, executive director of DuPage County, Ill., Animal Care and Control. “There is some time investment involved, because they’d like you to bring your animal to, for example, off-site adoption events so that the animal will have exposure. But a lot of times that will give more exposure than you (can give).”

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PAWS Chicago has started a program for families losing their homes to foreclosures. The group will get a pet into foster care for as long as it takes for the family to get back on its feet, or if the family sees no way to take the pet back, PAWS will get the animal into its adoption program and will guarantee the life of the pet. (To participate, contact Jessica Hoffman at 773-475-9462 or jhoffmanpaws chicago.org.)

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LOW-COST MEDICAL CARE

Don’t neglect your pet’s health needs because of an inability to pay. Veterinarians are often open to compromise.

“I know cases of vets who’ve been pretty creative,” Dale said. “They’ll say, ‘I know you’re out of work; I’ll give you a job.’ Or, ‘You’ve been with me 10 years. You can pay it out over two years’ time and I won’t charge you interest.’ I can’t guarantee every veterinarian would do that under every circumstance, but I don’t think compassion has to be diametric to making a living.”

If you and your vet can’t make some financial arrangement, numerous organizations offer low-cost pet care.