It is the season for gratitude, and over the past four years, pet guardians across British Columbia have given thanks for their animals. “Our furry family members have been a gift to help us through challenging times, but at the same time, many pet owners have been severely challenged by illness, job loss, and other impacts on their ability to provide for their pet,” says BC SPCA outreach specialist Diane Waters.
The need for support has increased exponentially for pet owners and, in response, the BC SPCA developed a provincial animal food bank in March 2020 to help vulnerable pet owners in our communities, including people experiencing homelessness, mental health struggles, and seniors. This program also serves as an extremely important resource for those who have recently hit hard times, and acts as a support system for the community.
“This program has had an impact on countless individuals and families, with many saying that the program has been a “lifesaver” in these challenging economic times,” says Waters.
Gemma*, a senior who works part time to supplement her small pension, has been collecting food and litter through the program to care for her own three cats Sandy, Dolce, and Henry, as well as other cats she supports. Gemma says the program is a “godsend for sure”, since stretching her budget to cover her own food and gas doesn’t leave much money for pet supplies. “Sometimes she even bikes to the food bank to save gas money,” says a BC SPCA staff member.
“The BC SPCA animal food bank strives to be accessible to everyone, which is why there are countless ways for people to pick up food,” adds Waters. “In addition to pick-up from BC SPCA locations, we now have 34 BC SPCA Pet Food Bank locations and have partnered with 160 organizations across British Columbia, including homeless shelters, non-profits and local food banks in the area.” The BC SPCA food bank program also organizes drop-offs to remote and Indigenous communities throughout the province to ensure accessibility for all pets and their guardians.
To date in 2024, the BC SPCA has provided vulnerable pets with 59,354 kg of dry pet food and 46,760 cans of wet food. This means we have provided a week’s worth of food to 24,751 pets in the community. “It is the generous support from the community that has enabled us to reach clients such as Gemma,” says Waters.
For more details on the program, visit our food bank outreach page or contact our Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722 to learn about how to access pet food bank services close to you.
*Name changed to maintain anonymity