Increasing food costs are making life difficult for everyone, including pet owners attempting to feed their four-legged friends, but a community food security organization has stepped in to provide support.
The Moose Jaw and District Food Bank — in partnership with the Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Moose Jaw Humane Society — officially started a pet food bank a few months ago after receiving three pallets of cat and dog chow from the SPCA’s pet food bank.
The organization has made the pet food available through its lobby — where human clients pick up their hampers — on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Pet owners have snapped up so much food for their furry friends during the past two months that the food bank is now down to one-quarter of a pallet.
The food bank always carried a small amount of pet chow but never broadly advertised that fact because of how little it could store at its previous building, explained operations manager Terri Smith.
However, the organization can now house much more pet food because of its larger warehouse. This takes the strain off the humane society since it now doesn’t need to be the sole low-cost pet food provider.
“It’s (the program) going over very well with our clients. (Many people) picked up pandemic pets and now they’re having a tough time feeding them,” Smith said. “Also, some are going without food themselves to feed their pets. But now they can come through and pick up for both.”
The food bank initially handed out medium- and large-sized bags of pet food to clients with multiple animals when the pallets arrived but is now handing out smaller plastic bags filled with cans or food, she continued. The organization attempts to provide enough dog or cat food for a month but sometimes can only provide a week’s worth of supplies.
Smith thought the pet food bank program was wonderful, considering she understands the expenses animal owners face after her family picked up a pet during the pandemic. She has a dog and cat and knows it’s about $60 to $80 extra per month to feed them, besides the usual veterinarian bills.
“I think it’s a great program. I’m just very happy that we’re able to help our clients with their pets so they can feed themselves and their pets,” she said. “I think pets are great for healing (and) they’re great for support.”
Smith added that the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank will continue hosting the program as long as it has the room and supplies. If the organization runs low on dog and cat food, it will reach out to the community for support.
To donate food — human or animal — or money to the food bank, call 306-692-2911, email [email protected], or visit mjfoodbank.org.
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