The BC SPCA has reported that donations to its pet food banks are down, presumably as a result of the higher cost of living faced by many British Columbians.
The organization accepts pet food and supplies at its animal centres around B.C., to help people who are temporarily struggling to afford to care for their pets. They also provide free food and supplies for people who have been evacuated from their homes in the case of an emergency, and who need assistance.
However, an ongoing decrease in the donations coming in has left the cupboard bare at some BC SPCA centres. The organization tries to collect 90,000 kilograms of pet food each year, but nearly halfway into the year they are only a third of the way to that goal for 2024.
“Across the province we have seen fewer pet food donations coming into our centres,” says Diane Waters, the BC SPCA’s outreach specialist. “Everyone understands that the increased cost of living makes it more difficult for people to donate, but unfortunately, this is exactly when the need is greatest for the clients of our pet food banks.”
While the Society makes every effort to keep the food bank shelves stocked, supplies can quickly become depleted, particularly when they are faced with emergencies such as the Fort Nelson wildfire evacuation. “In these emergent situations, we need to make quick adjustments and move supplies that were destined for one animal centre to another where the evacuees are located so we can support them while they are away from home,” Waters explains.
For those who rely on the BC SPCA’s pet food bank program and its partners, the ability to access pet food supplies for their furry family members makes an enormous difference. One of the clients of HOPE Outreach in Vernon (a BC SPCA community partner) who received help from the food bank last month said “Thank God for this generosity! I was going to have to make the choice between pet food and food for myself, now all of us have food to eat.”
Waters adds that it would be heartbreaking to not be able to continue to support pet guardians who need the BC SPCA’s help.
“People from all age groups can have a variety of reasons for needing temporary support from the BC SPCA, including families who come together to get the food and other supplies they need for their pets from our animal centres and community food banks,” she says. “Sometime a paycheque just can’t be stretched to the end of the month, and people need a little help.”
Waters says the BC SPCA welcomes donations of unopened pet food for the pet food banks, as well as cash donations for the program. She adds that the biggest need right now is dry and wet cat food, as well as cat litter.
For more information about how you can help the BC SPCA — including donating to its pet food banks — go to https://spca.bc.ca/.
