Ike was severely underweight. When we adopted him, his hips jutted out and I could feel every rib. He hadn’t been abandoned or left on his own–he’d belonged to a family with two kids. But the father had lost his job.
They hadn’t been able to take the dog to the vet for medical attention. Had they not been able to afford his food, too?
When families struggle financially, often the pet’s needs go unmet. Some people feel their only option is to give up a beloved pet and devoted friend.
When a person is going through a hard time, that’s when they need their pets the most. “If an animal is taken away,” she adds, “that senior is going to go downhill fast.”
The pet food bank operates with all volunteers, donations and pet food drives. If you want to help, you can donate to a pet food pantry in your area, volunteer to help at a pet food pantry, or organize a pet food drive at your church, school, or place of business.
If you need help obtaining food for your pet, or know of a pet in need, Google pet food pantries to locate one in your area.
Or if you want to start a pet food pantry in your area, feel free to contact Susan, and she will be happy to help guide you.
The Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry provides a valuable service, and in doing so helps keep pets together with their families and out of shelters. As their website says, it provides food for pets, and nourishment for the human spirit.
