There are many food banks in the province, but what is less known is that there is also a pet food bank. This is thanks to a program run by the Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SaskSPCA). Spokesperson Josh Alley explains that the program was launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic, as they realized that people who were struggling to feed their families were also struggling to pay for food for their pets. The need did not go away even after the pandemic ended, so the decision was made to continue and expand the program.
Fourie said there are currently 20 distribution locations in 15 communities across the province. SaskSPCA pet food banks operate in Carlisle, Foam Lake, Fort Qu'Appelle, Isle a la Crosse, Maple Creek, Martensville, Meadow Lake, Melville, Moose Jaw, Moosomin, Nipawin, Prince Albert, Rothschild, Saskatoon and Swift Current. “In 2023 alone, we've fed over 4,300 animals in Saskatchewan. We've distributed 58,000 pounds of food,” he added.
One challenge for the Saskatchewan Humane Society (SaskSPCA) is finding a place to store the pet food before distributing it, and until now local businesses have helped provide temporary storage space.
That's where PetSmart Charities Canada comes in. The organization is providing a one-time grant of $30,000 to help with warehouse rent and other expenses. The funds are also being used to create educational pet health flyers, developed in collaboration with local veterinarians, that are distributed with food and include basic information on signs of disease, microchipping, dental health, vaccinations, spay/neuter, etc.
Hooley also thanked Mars Canada for their recent donation of 30,000 pounds of pet food, emphasizing that donations of any size are always welcome. For more information, click here.
