Rising prices for gasoline and food are putting the big squeeze on people. The mortgage crisis is taking the homes of more and more families and putting more people on the streets. And a deteriorating economy is fueling the fire.
Many of our pets are suffering in the process as well. Where do the pets go when their family loses the home to foreclosure? Foreclosures are at their highest in 25 years! How do pets get fed when food is scarce even for humans? How well do pets fare when the choice is gasoline to go to work or food for the dog or cat?
Common sense says that in many cases pets are the big losers. Before one takes food out of the mouth of a child, food is taken from the dish of the family pet. The cat is asked to hunt for her food and the dog kicked out to scrounge up some morsels of food from garbage cans.
Indeed, animal shelters especially in urban areas are braising for an influx of displaced pets. Many of them are 'donated' to the streets, left behind tied up in a backyard or turned into a shelter as a stray. Right now it is still a trickle, but if the economic downturn continues it could swell to a stream of displaced animals into our shelters.
Food banks are already experiencing increased demands. They also see a new class of customers more often: Middle class families. Traditionally the poor, disabled, people on disability or on fixed income used the services of food banks. Nowadays they are joined by people able to work but without a job.
Many of them are taking food off their plates to feed the family pet.
Consequently, an increasing number of food banks is now also offering pet food. They hope to stem the expected tide of abandoned pets.
Some of these food banks have seen the number of customers seeking pet food increase between twenty and fifty percent. They could contribute even more but many of them face more demand than they can satisfy.
Discount veterinary clinics also are experiencing an increase in middle class clients. Traditional vets are confronted with pet owners who are much more reluctant authorizing tests and treatment than in the past. Preventative care for the family pet is the first thing to go.
Where will all of this lead? I do not know.
But you can easy the pain of having to choose between resources you require to make money, food for the children and food for pets by finding a food bank in your area that dispenses pet food. More and more of them do.
Just google for 'food bank for pets', 'pet food banks' or similar key words and you will find plenty of links. Many lead you to food banks for families. But you can call them and ask whether they also hand out pet food.
Here are a few leads to get you started in your search:
The Pet Food Bank collects and distributes pet food for distribution to animal rescue group all over the United States.
In Los Angeles you can contact the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for information on pet food banks.
The California Food and Justice Coalition could also give you additional information on pet food banks.
The Petco Foundation, though not primarily engaged in food assistance to needy families, makes grants to animal shelters and other organizations and helps families that are in danger of losing their home to keep their pet by giving food assistance.
Contact your local SPCA and asks them for referrals to pet food banks. Maybe you can even get some from your local SPCA. If not, they can refer you to the Santa Cruz, CA SPCA. They distribute pet food and certainly can give you some good leads.
The Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, Ill., distributes large quantities of pet food to needy pet owners.
Do not forget to contact some of the local rescue groups in your area. They can help you out with food or send you in the right direction.
Vancouver, Canada, SPCA has a mobile pet food program.
If all else fails and you are a good organizer and promoter, you could also form your very own not -for profit pet food bank that collects and distributes free pet food to the needy.
Whatever you decide to do, before you turn your pet over to an animal shelter or just abandon him somewhere on the streets, do a little research to locate a source of free pet food. There is no shame in asking for help in sustaining the life of a dear family member.
PJJ
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