Today was pet food distribution day. As we packed up all of the dog and cat food care packages, we were confidant. "We have more than enough dry food"...I thought to myself, as I drove toward the distribution location.
Upon arrival, my jaw dropped. A long line of people, standing there ever so politely, waiting for a sack lunch provided every Friday afternoon, and a lot of them-with one or more dogs, all on leashes, each also patiently waiting their turn, with their person.
The best laid plans...went straight out the window. Not long after my arrival? More people-and more dogs...it just didn't stop. Not one person looked like somebody after a free handout. These people were in need--all of them.
As I did an intake on each new dog (required for pet food distribution) and issued a Pet Food Bank ID card for each, the line continued to grow.
Halfway through intake, I stopped to give food to those who had previously registered. Not one soul forgot their ID card. More than 90% of those we've issued cards to up to this point were present, and on time.
Two intakes were particularly memorable, but writing about one is enough.
As I looked up from my paperwork, I saw a young man, 25-30 years old, and a young woman running behind him through the parking lot. Both of them were running toward me, and each-was carrying a small dog.
"Ma'am, can you help us with our dogs please!!"
As I asked this young man's name, names of his dogs, and recorded breed, sex, if spayed/neutered, etc. he got very quiet.
"Are you homeless, did you lose your job, or are you living on a fixed income?" I asked.
He sat there for a moment, silently. "I lost my job 6 months ago. I'm filling out applications every day. My wife got laid off 8 weeks ago. Last month we sold our car to pay the rent, and now we're being evicted at the end of this month. I don't know what you'd call us."
"Any chance of living with a friend or family for awhile?" I asked.
"No, we've lived here a couple of years. We both had jobs. We don't have many friends, we spent most of our time working. I want to know if you can help our dogs like we heard about, they're our family. Our kids. We would rather take them to animal control than let them go hungry."
My heart broke as I realized how desperate this young man and his wife were to find assistance.
My heart broke as I realized how desperate this young man and his wife were to find assistance.
His wife put down the other dog and left, returning 10 minutes later with a plastic bag, about 1/4 full of plastic bottles and aluminum cans. "That was a good hiding place" she said, "no one found our stuff."
And that's where we come in-as do all of you who so generously donate food, or funds to purchase food.
This couple was desperate to keep their dogs-if only they could FEED THEM. Surrender to animal shelters in our area is huge problem, and it continues to grow as more and more people find themselves out of work, out of money, and the final blow-with no place to call home.
The lucky few who do have to have a car to live in, are few and far between. Some had camping equipment before hitting rock bottom, and have set up camp in one of many locations. With all of those people there? Only 3 or 4 cars in the entire parking lot.
A dog doesn't need much, but it does need love. It needs food, and to be protected from the things that may cause it harm. What it gives back to it's person is tenfold.
As I gave him a week's worth of food for each of his dogs, he broke down and cried.
A grown man, in tears-obviously relieved that he no longer had to anticipate the unthinkable-simply because he didn't have the few dollars per week needed to keep his dogs fed.
"If you hadn't been here, I'd have taken them in tomorrow morning. They haven't eaten in two days" he said. "How do we begin to thank you?" he asked.
As I gave each of his little dogs a treat? Each dog gently and politely retrieved the treat from my hands, although both hadn't eaten in two days.
A grown man, in tears-obviously relieved that he no longer had to anticipate the unthinkable-simply because he didn't have the few dollars per week needed to keep his dogs fed.
"If you hadn't been here, I'd have taken them in tomorrow morning. They haven't eaten in two days" he said. "How do we begin to thank you?" he asked.
As I gave each of his little dogs a treat? Each dog gently and politely retrieved the treat from my hands, although both hadn't eaten in two days.
By the time I left that location today, all of that food was gone. Not a crumb left.
As I sit here and go over the log of people and pets who truly needed help today, I am deeply saddened. Saddened that we even have to do this. Saddened that so many people are in desperate need of help not only for themselves, but for their pets. Saddened that they'll walk five miles (one way) in 100 degree heat, with their pet, to sign up for help. (unable to take a bus because no dogs are allowed). If that isn't love, I don't know what is.
The love they have for their animals is what keeps them going through these hard times. No one living in this country should have to surrender a pet because of one simple obstacle: pet food.
It is often said that people who cannot afford a pet should not have one. If this is how you feel, re-think this statement.
Most of these people-until recently, COULD afford their pet. They had a job, a home, and a car. Some even had a savings account, had a 401K or an IRA. But now? They face what they though was impossible: homelessness.
Should a pet be surrendered to an animal shelter, some of which have euthanasia rates as high as 80%, because the owner has fallen on hard times?
We don't think so.
As a civilized, advanced society, this shouldn't even be possible, but it's happening everywhere, and our desert regions have been hit especially hard.
If we are able to help and we don't, that makes US a part of the problem, instead of a part of the solution.
Just as this young man wondered about how he'd be able to feed his dogs, we now sit here with the same concern. The need is great. The pantry is nearly empty, and we cannot let these animals, or their people down.
We are their last hope.
