Friday, May 1, 2009

Groups team up for pet grub

Shelter, Hunger Coalition team up to offer pet food to needy families


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

Hillary Dieffenbach at the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley feeds Dick, a four-month-old Australian cattle dog mix. Dick was part of a litter left at shelter’s door. Photo by David N. Seelig

Sometimes, as families trim their budgets to make ends meet, pets pay a price. In the last three months, the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley has recorded an increase in pet drop-offs and requests for pet food.

"It's hard to quantify," said JoAnne Dixon, executive director of the Hailey-area shelter. "We know from the Hunger Coalition and families in need that there is a big jump in requests for food and services, and we know pet owners are in need. The last thing anyone wants to do is give their pets to the shelter."

To address the problem, the shelter and the Blaine County Hunger Coalition have joined together to launch a new program, Paws for Hunger. The program is designed to help people struggling to afford food for their family pets. The shelter has raised funds through donations to purchase dog and cat food at a discount. With the help of the Hunger Coalition—which has an established distribution network—it will distribute pet food to people and families in need.

The need for the program is clear, Dixon said.

"We come in the morning and people have left pets tied to the door," she said. "A month ago, we had 14 animals left at the shelter. The doors closed at 5 p.m. and by 5:30 p.m. two litters of puppies had been left at the door."

Dixon said it's part of our culture to be OK with discarding animals. Every year, 4 million to 6 million homeless animals are euthanized in shelters, she said. She wants people to realize the need for population control of dogs and cats.

Despite the arrival of more and more pets, the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley does not euthanize any of the animals in its care.

"We are a no-kill shelter," Dixon said. "We are committed to finding homes for animals."

Since January, the shelter has doubled its efforts in some of its most effective life-saving programs and services, which include the No-Cost Community Spay/Neuter Program. The programs have helped to control the number of animals entering the shelter by keeping family pets with their owners, Dixon said.

"We don't want to cause a problem with local retailers by giving away food," she said. "The Hunger Coalition screens all the people who receive food. We don't have the manpower or funding to do the screening our selves."

To support Paws for Hunger or any of the other Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley's life-saving programs or services, call the shelter at 788-4351 or visit animalshelterwrv.com .

Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com




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