Local humane society’s Pet Pantry faces critical shortage

Picking up an extra bag of pet food during your next grocery run could support animals and their families in need during a critical time for the regional humane society.

The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth announced on social media that the organization’s animal food bank, the Pet Pantry, is facing a critical shortage.

"Over the summer, we’ve had a pretty steep increase in families that are accessing the Pet Pantry,” said Stacy Murphy, outreach coordinator.

The Pet Pantry usually serves around 250 families each month between the two centres. It helped more than 600 families over the course of two months, and is in critical need of pet food of any brand, wet and dry, and pet supplies.

"There is a great need out there in our community,” Murphy said.

The Pet Pantry program is entirely run on donations, either by pet food suppliers or residents.

Murphy acknowledged that many people are facing difficult financial times and tend to prioritize their pets’ needs over their own. For example, if someone is in a situation where they have to choose between making sure they’re fed or their dog is fed and know they cannot do both, they will make sure their dog is fed even if it means going hungry themselves. By ensuring that pet parents in need have access to the Pet Pantry as needed at no cost to them, they will be able to ensure everyone is taken care of.

"It's just a really great way to support the community, not only the animals that live in the community, but the people who love them,” she said.

Ever since posting on social media on Sept. 16, donations have been pouring into both centres and the local humane society is always looking for more.

"Any little bit counts, even if it's just an extra bag or two, we'll find a good home for it,” Murphy said.

To learn more about the Pet Pantry program online, visit https://kwsphumane.ca/pet-pantry-program.