Food pantries that help people keep their pets?

[nemo137]

Hello all -

Are any food pantries/humane societies that help people who have lost their jobs or are otherwise having a tough economic time keep and provide for their pets? In the Chicago area specifically. Also, aside from money, are their any specific items they'd need donated? I've seen lists from Naperville Area Humane Society and others, and I've heard about people (some here, which is why I ask) fostering pets, but my girlfriend and I were wondering if there were any programs designed to help people buy food/litter/necessities for their pets, so that they don't have to give them up for adoption.

Just seeing if there's anything we can do to help. Thanks for any advice you guys can give.

-Matt.

[nemo137]

1. Thank you all for the recs

I'll check back in a bit. It's not urgent. We don't have any companion animals in need, but it'd be good to know who to talk to in order to help people keep their furrier family members.

[LeftyMom]

2. Googling finds one at the Orland Township city hall,

http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/5554059-418/pet-pantry-aims-to-fill-a-need.html and at Found Chicago http://foundchicago.org/about/petpantry/ and Care For Real http://www.edgevillebuzz.com/uncategorized/care-for-real-pet-pantry-2

Some friends of mine run a rescue in Chicago, I can ask if they know of any others.

[nemo137]

3. Thank you

Bookmarked and email'd.

[Maraya1969]

4. What we really need is cheap fea control. the prices for the stuff

I give my 2 dogs and 2 cats cost me about $30/month. That is ridiculous. I heard that the humane society is giving kittens away buy one get one and I would love to take on another couple animals but I can't afford the freaking fea control and hearth worm control.

I wish someone would come up with a solution to that problem.

[Merlot]

7. I use a flea comb - yes, it takes some time

my cat got big old bald patches after using the flea stuff in the tube that you put at the nape of their neck. It happens with some animals. So now I comb...every day. And vacuum. And sprinkle dimactus (sp) earth.

[LeftyMom]

8. The trick is to get the largest dog dose and split the stuff up to the appropriate smaller doses.

You can't do that with every flea med, but you can with Frontline and Advantage. Frontline is available in a cheaper generic now too.

[pepito]

11. revolution

if you use Revolution,you can use it on dogs and cats...i get for 120lb dog,and use 1 ampule on 4 small dogs and 4 cats,it also prevents HEARTWORMS in dogs

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Merlot]

5. That's a really great idea

I wonder how you'd go about setting up a pet food pantry. I have a pet web site already, and if I knew what to do I'd set it up as a pantry.

Anyone with any suggestions, feel free to post here or PM me!

[RebelOne]

6. My veteranian in my neighborhood in North Georgia

is accepting charitable food donations. I am sure many more are doing the same.

[nemo137]

15. We live down the street from an animal hospital

When she first thought of this, she was looking mostly on (human) food pantry websites to see if they had similar programs. With leftymom's tips upthread and the "call a vet and see what they need" from you and others, I think we'll be able to find something.

Thanks :hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

9. I heard about a shelter doing that locally in the Raleigh, NC area...

The animal shelter was sponsoring a drive for this very reason, to help people keep their pets.

I wonder if it is feasible (or even wise) for food banks to have a pet supply section, so people could get food and basics help for furry family members as well, in one place?

Maybe donations could be encouraged at Petsmart and other stores, veterinarian offices and shelters, to then be taken to the food banks for distribution? That's a national campaign I could get behind.

Good question, Matt.

:hi:



edit for typo

[pepito]

10. dogs and cats

dogs and cats can eat what you eat,for instance cats are carnivores,and dogs omnivores like ourselves,never onions grapes or chocolate,but if you give the cats chicken skin ,leftovers mixed with a little brown rice or oatmeal this is good food for them,you must get TAURINE and sprinkle it over cats food...dogs can eat,veggies,cornbread,wheat bread,pancake,leftovers,they can eat a lot of different things,baked potatoes too

[MADem]

12. I donate food (including pet food) to my local food pantry

They love to get it. I had a lot of food left over when my dog died, and my other dog didn't go for it (it was a large bite/small bite thing mostly). They also like "stuff," like toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, things of that nature that I guess cannot be bought with food stamps. I'm betting cat litter would be welcome too.

You might want to call your local shelter (either SPCA affiliated, or private no-kill) and see if they have a program in place to either provide food to people or foster their pets.

You're a good soul!

[beac]

14. You might try calling around to some local vets and see if they either know of any

programs or perhaps of some specific owners in need.

Good on you & your girlfriend for wanting to help! :applause:

[lapislzi]

16. I have a 20-lb tub of dry cat food

I'd just opened it when my big boy went into diabetic crisis. No more dry food for my guys, ever. I tried bringing it to the humane society. They wouldn't take it because it was opened. I'd scooped exactly ONE CUP from the bucket. No one will take it.

If any kitty-loving DUers would like a bucket-o-kibble, PM me. All you need to do is pick it up. I'll even meet you somewhere. New York metro area, or eastern Ohio.