News
First Home Forever Home Campaign Facilitates Pet Food Donation to Atlanta Pet Food Banks
April 06, 2009, 6:14PM MT
By Cheri Moon
Save Our Pets Food Bank and Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen are recipients of new campaign’s first major effort
Save Our Pets Food Bank and Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen are recipients of new campaign’s first major effort
By Barbara J. Koll, Best Friends Network Volunteer
During these tough economic times, most Americans are watching their spending and making careful choices in their everyday purchases. Many pet owners are finding it harder to take care of their human family’s daily needs and continue to care for their four-legged family members.
In some cases, the situation is so desperate that pet owners are forced to give up their companion animals because they can no longer afford them. Animal shelters and rescue organizations are being flooded by animals surrendered by owners for economic reasons. Many pets are being left behind in homes and apartments when their families are forced out based on financial circumstances.
Pet Food Banks On The Rise
There are a number of organizations with resources for pet owners who are struggling financially that are making an effort to halt the rising trend of pet abandonment.
Pet food banks are springing up all over the country. In Atlanta, Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen and Save Our Pets Food Bank are committed to helping struggling pet owners by distributing free pet food in metro Atlanta and surrounding counties.
GA Pet Food Banks Keep Families Together
The goal of these two organizations is to keep more pets in homes with their families. By working with the community, local co-ops, pet shelters, rescue organizations and vet clinics, these food banks are filling a need that has previously been unmet.
Last week, Daffy’s and Save Our Pets received a huge donation of dog food from the Best Friends’ new FIRST HOME FOREVER HOME campaign which focuses on all aspects of helping pet owners make their pets members of the family for life. This is one of four Best Friends’ campaigns working toward the goal of achieving a time when there are No More Homeless Pets.
From Del Monte, To Best Friends, To GA
The food was a donation to Best Friends from Del Monte Foods. Best Friends also arranged and paid for the delivery of the food through an independent trucking firm. Del Monte donated 23 pallets of food which totaled 1215 bags (or 18,000 pounds). This donation will go a long way to help families who might not otherwise be able to keep their pets due to their financial circumstances.
Del Monte Foods supports the communities where their employees live and work by providing product and financial donations to a diverse set of philanthropic organization that promote health, wellness, and families, including pets. The company offers free pet food and snacks to groups that make requests and are available to pick up the products at their pet food plants and distribution centers in nine different locations throughout the country. Click here to apply for a pet product donation.
Rebecca Guinn of the LifeLine Animal Project in Atlanta was instrumental in facilitating this donation. LifeLine Animal Project promotes homeless pet adoption, provides low-cost spay and neuter services, and works with local shelters to help find loving homes for stray and abandoned pets.
Exponential Increase in Those Who Need Help
In 2008, Daffy’s opened a warehouse on Oakland Industrial Court in Lawrenceville to store the pet food they collect. Today, they serve ten times more clients than when they opened.
In addition to providing pet food for families in need, Daffy’s also provides pet supplies (collars, leashes, blankets and beds, dog houses, scratching posts and fencing materials) and medical services and supplies at discounted rates. Other programs include a delivery program, homeless people with pets program and a temporary pet foster program.
Paying It Forward
Daffy’s uses a calculation grid to determine how much food each family will receive. They try to supply enough to feed two pets for a full month. In order to receive free food, the families are required to have their pets spayed/neutered and be current on their shots. Daffy’s provides referrals to low-cost veterinary services in the local area when necessary. Families are also requested to volunteer a minimum of five hours in the community in an attempt to “pay it forward”.
Ann King of Save Our Pets Food Bank was thrilled to receive the dog food donation. She said they completely ran out of food several days before receiving the donation. Her organization was established last summer with the help of Kevin Bryant, Operations Manager for P.A.L.S. (Pets are Loving Support, an organization that helps terminally ill individuals keep their pets).
Save Our Pets Food Bank has a number of drop-off points for people who want to donate dog and cat food, including City Dog Market in Brookhaven, Highland Pet Supply in Virginia Highlands, Piedmont Bark, Inman Park Pet Works, The Atlanta Dog Spa, Top Dogs Pet Boutique and the Food Bank’s offices on Ottley Drive in Atlanta. Pet food collection bins are prominently displayed in each location to encourage donations of pet food or treats.
How you can help:
?Click here to go to Daffy’s website.
• You can help by donating or locate the drop off locations for pet food and supply locations.
• Fill out the volunteer application to provide “hands on” assistance at the warehouse or delivering food and supplies to seniors and others who may be homebound with their pets and unable to come to the warehouse.
?Click here to go to the Save Our Pets website to find out more about donating and volunteering for the organization and for tips on starting a pet food bank.
?Best Friends FIRST HOME FOREVER HOME Campaign is building a resource list of pet food pantries in communities across the country. If you know of a local group that provides free pet food to families in need, email Ellen Gilmore at elleng@bestfriends.org with that information.
For more information:
• Announcing the First Home Forever Home Campaign
• Best Friends’ helpful hints for struggling rescue organizations
• First of a two part Best Friends’ series on Petonomics which looks at the growth of pet food banks and provides helpful information to pet owners who are struggling financially
• Second of a two part Best Friends’ series on Petonomics which offers suggestions for keeping pets healthy and saving money on vet care
• Tips on avoiding loss of pets during foreclosure
• MSNBC article on “economic euthanasia”
• Help for Pet Health Care Costs (HSUS)
• Don’t Let Vet Bills Leave You in the Dog House
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff
Stock photo of woman and dog courtesy of Best Friends