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livingdustmops · 03-08-2009, 10:45 AM

March 6, 2009 : 5:31 PM ET

Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets department has resources to help people with pets find pet-friendly housing and save on the costs of caring for their pets. Links to those resources and others can be found at the end of this article. For more information, e-mail NMHP@bestfriends.org or call (435) 644-2001, ext. 4800.

In this story, the first of a two-part series on “petonomics,” Best Friends staff writer Sandy Miller looks at the growth in pet food banks and provides helpful links if you find yourself stretched thin financially. Check back Tuesday afternoon for the second part of the series, which offers suggestions for saving money on vet care.

The United States is weathering one of the roughest economic storms in recent history, and people with pets are feeling the pinch.

But there’s some good news. Many individuals and organizations are offering help to ease pet owners’ financial burdens.

Pet food banks are springing up around the country. Some veterinarians and clinics are offering services at a discount. Many organizations offer low-cost, and sometimes free, spay/neuter services. There’s help for pet owners facing foreclosure on their homes, as well as for shelters and rescues bursting at the seams with abandoned and relinquished pets. And there are many things pet owners themselves can do to trim costs when it comes to caring for their pets.

The goal of Best Friends’ First Home, Forever Home campaign is to provide resources to help people keep their pets. It’s one of four Best Friends campaigns aimed at reaching the goal of No More Homeless Pets.

Across the nation, people are stepping up to help pet owners during these hard economic times. One of the ways in which they’re helping is by starting pet food banks.

After hearing that people in Atlanta, Georgia, were abandoning their pets or dropping them off at shelters because they could no longer afford pet food, Ann King, owner of Blooming Cookies/Paws Fifth Avenue Pet Gifts, rallied the Atlanta pet community, uniting shelters, rescues and pet businesses to create a pet-food relief network.

Today, the Save Our Pets Food Bank gives away more than 3,000 pounds of dog and cat food a week, and on distribution days, as many as 200 people line up for a month’s supply of pet food.

“Some [people] are a little embarrassed, but everyone can have a financial problem, especially in this economy, and that’s why we’re here,” King told USA Today.

Save Our Pets is compiling a list of pet food banks across the country. Its website also has a wealth of information on other ways to save on pet care, as well as information on how you can start a pet food bank in your own community. Darlene McCaslin started Pikes Peak Pet Pantry in Colorado Springs last year.

“It means the world to me,” Rose Laxson told USA Today. “When feeding yourself is uncertain, it is so comforting to know you can feed your pet.”

Pet food banks and retailers are also lending a helping hand to shelters and rescues, which are finding themselves with an overabundance of pets to care for.

“There are a lot of shelters and rescues that rely almost solely on donated food to feed their animals,” says Anna Gonce, associate director of Best Friends Community Programs and Services. “This is especially true for small rescues that don’t have facilities and rely on foster homes to care for their animals. These groups typically partner with their local Wal-Mart or grocery store to take all the pet food that has been damaged.”

Theresa Strader, founder of the Colorado-based National Mill Dog Rescue, gets food from a local dog-food distributor in Colorado Springs. The distributor gives her ripped bags of food that can’t be sold in stores.

Strader says rescue organizations should contact their local pet-food distributors as well as their local PetSmart and Petco stores, many of which are willing to donate damaged bags of pet food.

“Let them know you’re there and that you need help,” Strader says. “Just like anything else in life, you have to ask for what you want. If you ask, people will respond.”

Photos by Best Friends staff

As part of Best Friends’ 25th anniversary in 2009, our goal is to double our membership, so we can double our efforts to bring about a time when all companion animals have a forever home. What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends.

Resources
Latest News | This economy bites! | Best Friends News & Top Stories

03-08-2009, 10:45 AM	#1
livingdustmops Princess Poop A Lot Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,728	This economy bites! March 6, 2009 : 5:31 PM ET Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets department has resources to help people with pets find pet-friendly housing and save on the costs of caring for their pets. Links to those resources and others can be found at the end of this article. For more information, e-mail NMHP@bestfriends.org or call (435) 644-2001, ext. 4800. In this story, the first of a two-part series on “petonomics,” Best Friends staff writer Sandy Miller looks at the growth in pet food banks and provides helpful links if you find yourself stretched thin financially. Check back Tuesday afternoon for the second part of the series, which offers suggestions for saving money on vet care. The United States is weathering one of the roughest economic storms in recent history, and people with pets are feeling the pinch. But there’s some good news. Many individuals and organizations are offering help to ease pet owners’ financial burdens. Pet food banks are springing up around the country. Some veterinarians and clinics are offering services at a discount. Many organizations offer low-cost, and sometimes free, spay/neuter services. There’s help for pet owners facing foreclosure on their homes, as well as for shelters and rescues bursting at the seams with abandoned and relinquished pets. And there are many things pet owners themselves can do to trim costs when it comes to caring for their pets. The goal of Best Friends’ First Home, Forever Home campaign is to provide resources to help people keep their pets. It’s one of four Best Friends campaigns aimed at reaching the goal of No More Homeless Pets. Across the nation, people are stepping up to help pet owners during these hard economic times. One of the ways in which they’re helping is by starting pet food banks. After hearing that people in Atlanta, Georgia, were abandoning their pets or dropping them off at shelters because they could no longer afford pet food, Ann King, owner of Blooming Cookies/Paws Fifth Avenue Pet Gifts, rallied the Atlanta pet community, uniting shelters, rescues and pet businesses to create a pet-food relief network. Today, the Save Our Pets Food Bank gives away more than 3,000 pounds of dog and cat food a week, and on distribution days, as many as 200 people line up for a month’s supply of pet food. “Some [people] are a little embarrassed, but everyone can have a financial problem, especially in this economy, and that’s why we’re here,” King told USA Today. Save Our Pets is compiling a list of pet food banks across the country. Its website also has a wealth of information on other ways to save on pet care, as well as information on how you can start a pet food bank in your own community. Darlene McCaslin started Pikes Peak Pet Pantry in Colorado Springs last year. “It means the world to me,” Rose Laxson told USA Today. “When feeding yourself is uncertain, it is so comforting to know you can feed your pet.” Pet food banks and retailers are also lending a helping hand to shelters and rescues, which are finding themselves with an overabundance of pets to care for. “There are a lot of shelters and rescues that rely almost solely on donated food to feed their animals,” says Anna Gonce, associate director of Best Friends Community Programs and Services. “This is especially true for small rescues that don’t have facilities and rely on foster homes to care for their animals. These groups typically partner with their local Wal-Mart or grocery store to take all the pet food that has been damaged.” Theresa Strader, founder of the Colorado-based National Mill Dog Rescue, gets food from a local dog-food distributor in Colorado Springs. The distributor gives her ripped bags of food that can’t be sold in stores. Strader says rescue organizations should contact their local pet-food distributors as well as their local PetSmart and Petco stores, many of which are willing to donate damaged bags of pet food. “Let them know you’re there and that you need help,” Strader says. “Just like anything else in life, you have to ask for what you want. If you ask, people will respond.” Photos by Best Friends staff As part of Best Friends’ 25th anniversary in 2009, our goal is to double our membership, so we can double our efforts to bring about a time when all companion animals have a forever home. What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends. Resources Latest News \| This economy bites! \| Best Friends News & Top Stories __________________ Cindy & The Rescued Gang Puppies Are Not Products!