Pet owners unable to feed their animals will have to go elsewhere as the MMM Pet Food Bank Society has temporarily shut its doors having completely run out of cat and dog food.
Based in Westlock and serving 200 clients in Westlock County and the neighbouring communities of Morinville, Alexander First Nation, Barrhead and Athabasca, the mobile non-profit food bank is in dire need of food for cats and dogs.
“There’s a lot of support for human food banks but a lot of people forget about the pets,” said co-founder and society president Rachelle Wood.
“When it comes down to the pets, a lot of people are like ‘just get rid of them.’ Not a lot of people can do that. We own pets ourselves and we couldn’t imagine not having them.”
The society started running short on supplies about a month ago and bottle drives to raise additional dollars haven’t been enough to help the non-profit keep stock. Wood said the food bank has absolutely nothing for dogs and cats, but still has food for gerbils, hamsters and tortoises.
“As a pet food bank we look at it as, if we can help a family keep their animals, that’s another animal that’s not going into the rescue,” she said. “Right now to turn them all down, it’s killing us. At a personal level it’s really hurting.”
Wood and her co-founder/treasurer husband Kevin also foster animals in their home while raising their family and see the need from all sides.
A St. Albert retailer was the biggest contributor of donations, but due to unforeseen circumstances that supply has been put on hold. Wood said the fact that the group is a society and not a charity, and therefore can’t issue tax receipts, has been a disincentive to potential donors.
However, donors who aren’t looking for a tax write-off can donate cash or food at the Wood’s Westlock home at 9807-102 Ave., Westlock Pets Plus, or you can find them on Facebook or their website mmmpetfoodbanksoceity.com
Wood said they are also accepting opened bags of food, since some owners may find their pet is allergic to a brand after trying it out.
Once the funds and foods do grow, the bank will be able to serve clients again.
How it works is clients meet at a general spot to receive a hamper. In Westlock they meet at Giant Tiger, No Frills in Morinville and The Black Bear in Alexander First Nation.
Before shutting down, the bank was open three days a week and clients received a hamper once a month with 30 days worth of food.
“We’re not here to supply you, we’re here to help you,” she said. “It is encouraged that you try to help yourself and get your own means and ways to do it, but if you’re stuck that’s why we’re here.”
The goal is to eventually open up a storefront location to hand out hampers. Wood said she recently had someone call from Regina to see if they could help since she couldn’t find support in Saskatchewan.
“Unfortunately, we’re not big enough to be shipping out of province,” she said.
