Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) started a Community Pet Food Pantry a few years ago to help those in need.
We began noticing a rise in pet surrenders due to financial struggles. When families can’t afford food for themselves, often the dog or cat pays the price.
What started as a monthly drive-thru program has now grown into an appointment-based service at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
We are seeing so many in need right now — those who are laid off, unemployed, or senior citizens on fixed incomes. These people love their pets and want to meet their needs.
FOTAS is the rare organization that supplements its food donations by purchasing additional pet food to distribute so we never turn away an Aiken County citizen in need. Residents of Aiken County can email us to tell us about their pets, and we will have food ready for pickup by appointment. This way, we can ensure that we always have food available to give.
FOTAS also donates pet food to Aiken Senior Services for their Meals on Wheels program. Many senior citizens were sharing their delivered meals with their pets, and we wanted to make sure that both the homebound seniors and their pets receive healthy meals.
While the needs at the shelter are greater than ever, so too are the needs of our growing community. Compassion comes in many forms, and we find that providing pet food to those in need not only keeps pets in their homes, but also gives them a better quality of life.
We have seen a sharp rise in emaciated animals coming to the shelter this year, and we plan to do whatever we can to make sure pets are not going hungry.
Here are some kind words we’ve received from recipients of the pet food we provide:
“Thank you so much for your quick response and for being willing to help us during this time. We truly appreciate the support and the resources you offer to families in need.”
“I contacted you back in May, and y’all were able to provide us with some dog food to help feed our dog. We are going through a financial struggle again because I have been fighting an unexpected custody battle for my two oldest children. We do not want to rehome our dog — she is a wonderful dog, and our family loves her so much.”
“I am writing to see if you could help me again with food for our pets. I’ve been doing better and bought it the last two times, but I just relocated and had to pay deposits and other bills up front, which has made things really tight. I’ve asked for a volunteer schedule so I can help out when I can — at least give my time back as gratitude.”
Please consider donating to our Community Pet Food Pantry. We are grateful for any brands of dog and cat food.
Their lives are in our hands.
by Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator