Shelves Empty at Pet Food Bank
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| Jed, a 5-year-old coon hound, has been at the shelter since summer. |
The Berkshire Humane Society last week sent out a plea for dog and cat food to replenish its community food bank, which aids pet owners having trouble making ends meet.
"I've had to turn people away because we haven't had anything," said Kristin McCormick, who works in the kennel, on Friday. "[The food bank] is very well used here at the shelter."
The shelter limits use of the food bank to once a month per pet owner but the amount of donations coming in hasn't been keeping up with the need over the past few months.
"Winter can be a difficult time of the year for many Berkshire County families and their pets," Karen Karlberg, community outreach coordinator, said in the request for help. "With increases in gas and heating oil, families find it hard to make ends meet and still be able to feed their beloved pets. Our pet-food bank has been a welcomed resource for over 125 pet owners' a year since it began in 1992."
The shelter offers a 30-day supply to pet owners in distress. The idea is that if people can care for their pets at home with a little help, those cats and dogs won't end up at the shelter, said John Perrault, the Humane Society's executive director.
"Having this resource of pet food available for the public is very important because if we can help keep a pet in its home by supplying the owner with pet food," he said, "then that means we will have an open kennel available when an animal has to be surrender to BHS."
<L2>The Humane Society is accepting sealed bags of dog and cat food; canned dog and cat foods; treats, such as dog biscuits; and small-animal food, such as for rabbits and guinea pigs. Dry cat and dog food is especially needed; McCormick said opened bags may be accepted in certain circumstances - it must be fresh, for instance, and resealed with tape. It's best to call ahead to the shelter to make sure.
While most of the pet owners utilizing the food bank are from Pittsfield, it is open to all Berkshire County residents. The bank relies on donations from visiting scout troops, youth groups, area schoolchildren and local supermarkets that have food drives during the year.
The shelter also accepts food donations for the animals it has in its care, including 11 dogs now in the kennel. The animals are all on Science Diet dry food, but canned dog and cat food of any brand is welcome; so are items such as leashes, collars, treats, bedding and toys.
Adoptions, of course, are always welcome. McCormick said several of the dogs have been waiting for a new home since last summer.
Food donations are being accepted at the Humane Society on Barker Road during business hours: Sunday 1 to 4; Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 4 and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. In North County, donations can be dropped off at Greylock Animal Hospital on State Road in North Adams weekdays from 9 to 5. For more information: 413-447-7878.
