By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
The Humane Society of Rowan County is issuing a plea for pet food or monetary donations to buy pet food to give to displaced or struggling workers trying to hold onto their pets.
President Jane Hartness said requests for donations continue to increase as the recession continues.
“A year ago, we might would hear from one person every three to four weeks needing pet food,” she said. “Now we are hearing from two to three people a week.”
While the increase in requests for help might be partly due to word of mouth, Hartness said Humane Society members screening the requests have found that almost all of them are legitimate.
Though the Humane Society has had a stockpile of pet food in the past, she said there is nothing left but a storage bin of cat and dog treats.
Hartness said the two most recent requests were from pet owners who had lost their jobs.
One was from a man whose wife is disabled.
“They have four dogs and a couple of cats,” she said, “and he loves his animals. He talks about them with such pride. … They’re family to them.”
The man, who is close to 60, has been actively looking for a job, she said, and has even asked Humane Society members if they know of anywhere he can apply.
Hartness said another request came from a young woman whose husband has been able to find temporary work, but nothing permanent. The couple has at least one child.
“Like with a lot of people, these animals just came up as strays,” she said. “These people didn’t go out and buy the animals.”
Hartness said she was only able to provide enough food to one of the families to last two or three days.
Stores donate damaged bags and cans of pet food to the Humane Society on an ongoing basis, she said, but the need is greater.
Anyone wishing to donate pet food or money to buy pet food to the Humane Society can call 704-636-5700, press 9 and leave a message.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-7683.