Food Banks for Pets?

I think it is an excellent idea .................

u have my vote

I have known people in this situation - they were fine for years taking care of their pets, the unthinkable happens (and even if you are lucky enough to be able to put away for savings - you would be surprised how quickly it can be depleted).  A very enthusiastic yes vote from me.

Very good idea, Anne.

 certainly worth a try - our SPCA has started a food pantry where once a month people can go and pick up a month's supply of food.  the food has been donated.  I'm pretty sure that they are using some system to make sure that the people taking the food are legitimately in need.

link

Great idea! Perhaps we could have a sign-up to donate, and when the person running things gets a request for help, the person donating that time could order food online and send it to the person in need of assistance.
 

Great idea!  I've always thought it would be nice if regular food banks (for people) could set aside a corner or place in the pantry for pet food. I wouldn't expect a city to be able to provide a food bank just for pets, but surely the regular food banks could help out at least with space.

Joyce

Absolutely -- but in addition to that I would honestly encourage folks to *listen* to each other.  There are times when many of us are in dire straits but most of us won't 'ask' for help.  But sometimes if you email and say "You know, it's gotta be hard with all you're going thru -- can I help?  Can I just send you ____?"

For some folks in this world it's too easy to take handouts and for others, they'd die before they'd admit problems.  but just reaching out as friends one to another?  PRICELESS!!! No matter how we do it -- I think it's the right thing to do!

Wonderful idea!

Our local Food Bank gets pet food donations from local grocery stores among others and the organization I help out with gets much of their pet food this way (we deliver food and other pet needs to terminal or permanently disabled people with low income).  They have seen donations drop drastically in the past year.

I'm in!  I have been in that position before.  Some people just dont understand how our pets are a member of the family and we would not toss the kids or Grandma out on the street just cause we cant afford to feed them.

I think it's a great idea!  My concern is how the logistics would work, especially for our international buds.

Seems like a good idea to me! I don't know that I would actually give money, depending, but I would be more than happy to send cupons or maybe handmade items like collars or a blanket or a handpainted food dish or something for a raffle if it was for a good cause, sort of the way some rescues do.

Excellent idea.  And I so agree with Callie.  Try to extend the hand when you can.  Some of us, in dire circumstances, would rather have to swallow ground glass than ask for help.

boredpuppy08

Seems like a good idea to me! I don't know that I would actually give money, depending, but I would be more than happy to send cupons or maybe handmade items like collars or a blanket or a handpainted food dish or something for a raffle if it was for a good cause, sort of the way some rescues do.

I belong to another board and when they wanted to raise money they did something like that. They had an auction, the members of the board donated the items to be auctions and paid the shipping, all within the board (not on ebay or anything) and all the proceeds were paid to the person managing the auction, who used them for their intended purpose.  I think something like that could be neat.

I'm in the process of starting up a food pantry at my church.  I intend to see what I can do to get pet food included in that.  The people I'm doing it with aren't really animal loves and probably wouldn't understand, but I WILL push for it.   Humans come first of course, but I think it's extremely important that we be benevolent to pups also, especially where there are so few programs out there available for pets in hard times.