RIVERVIEW — A local animal rescue group has announced a new program meant to help keep pets in their family homes instead of in a shelter.
Due to the poor economy, many people are finding it difficult to feed their animals and have been forced to give them up to local shelters and rescue groups, said P.A.W.S. of Michigan secretary Erin Beard.
P.A.W.S. is a nonprofit, all-volunteer animal rescue organization that works in the Downriver area to help homeless animals find homes. Volunteers also provide a low-cost spay and neutering program in conjunction with the Wyandotte pound.
The organization’s newest program will be a food bank to help people feed their pets in an effort to lower the number of homeless pets in shelters and rescues.
“I recently met with Russ Newsome of Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry in Taylor, and he mentioned that they rarely get donations of pet food, but when they do, it is gone very quickly,” Beard said. “This indicates to us that there is a great demand for assistance with pet food.”
P.A.W.S. will be accepting donated pet food and distributing it to local area food banks, such as Fish & Loaves. Those food banks have agreed to distribute such donations along with their typical offerings.
Donations can be taken to Wyandotte Animal Control, 1170 Grove.
For more information on where to receive food, e-mail petf[email protected] or call Animal Control at (734) 629-3837.
The following food banks also may be contacted regarding their pet food distribution: Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, 25670 North Line, Taylor; the Wyandotte Soup Kitchen, 98 Superior, Wyandotte; or New Dimensions Outreach, 20320 Superior, Taylor.
“If an animal is already in a loving home and the loving home needs a little help to keep their pet during these economic times, then we are very eager to be part of this process,” P.A.W.S. volunteer Rose Darin said. “A pet belongs with its family, not in a shelter.”