Khaberni - Amid an unprecedented delay in the disbursement of food aid due to the government shutdown, there is growing concern that financially struggling pet owners may be forced to abandon their animals.
Non-profit organizations in the United States are experiencing a severe shortage of pet food donations, and fear that financially struggling pet owners may have to abandon their dogs and cats due to delays in the disbursement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits because of the longest government shutdown in history.
Those working in these organizations point out that many pet owners typically rely on SNAP benefits to buy human food that is sometimes used to feed their pets, or to free up a portion of their limited income to buy animal-specific food. The crisis has been exacerbated by delays in the disbursement of these benefits, prompting some shelters to take extraordinary measures, such as reallocating funds intended for veterinary care to purchase animal food.
In Louisiana, the "Companion Animal Alliance" in Baton Rouge is considering reallocating a portion of its veterinary budget to buy animal food, especially after the loss of one of their major donors led to the cessation of a food distribution program that used to support about 200 families monthly. Paula Shaw, the shelter's care manager, indicates that many pet owners feed their pets from their personal food, to the extent that the shelter began advising them on the human foods that are safe to add to animal food to provide the quantity.
In Illinois, the "Care for Pets" organization in Rockford is working to connect SNAP beneficiaries with volunteers who accompany them in shopping for both human and animal food. Sarah Longuetti, 46, who works at an auto parts store, says she was about to give up her cat "Bambi" and her dogs "Spike" and "Chloe" due to her inability to cover living expenses, but the organization provided her with a shopping gift card that allowed her to feed her family and her animals.
This comes in the midst of the Supreme Court's decision on Friday to uphold the Trump administration's emergency request to delay the implementation of a court order requiring full funding for SNAP benefits, despite some states already having received their funds, increasing uncertainty and pressure on shelters and organizations.
For her part, Kirsten Beck, a spokeswoman for "Humane World for Animals" (formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States), points out that more than 20 million pets live in families suffering from poverty, and that economic pressures are one of the main reasons for surrendering animals to shelters. She notes that "although it is too early to determine whether there is an actual increase in surrender cases, concerns remain, especially with the suspension of wages for hundreds of thousands of furloughed workers."
In Tennessee, the "New Leash on Life" shelter recorded a noticeable increase in the number of families requesting assistance from the "animal food bank," where the number increased from 75-100 families monthly to 125 families in October alone. Angela Chapman, the executive director of the institution, says: "We prefer helping them feed their pets rather than having them forced to surrender them."
In New Orleans, the "Zeus’ Rescues" organization distributed twice the usual amount of animal food in October, according to its founder, Michelle Cherami, who described the situation as "the most painful" during her 20 years of work, noting that some people started leaving their pets at the shelter door out of sheer desperation.
Among them, Kathy Sari, who suffers from health issues that prevent her from working, and is waiting for approval of SNAP benefits. She says while holding a bag of dog food: "They are more important than me, they are my children, and I want to ensure that they eat first."
Food bank workers are well aware of this phenomenon, as many offer their food to their animals before themselves, especially as some of these animals are considered necessary emotional support. Kim Backman of "Feeding Missouri" states: "We know that animals can be the only source of comfort for their owner in times of hardship."
In Sarah Longuetti's case, she says her "American Bulldog" helped her overcome an experience of domestic violence, making her feel safe, while her "Chihuahua" helped her come out of her isolation due to her daily need for walks, which ultimately helped her return to the job market. However, she is now struggling to survive, even having to accept donuts from a food bank for her daughter's birthday celebration. She concludes, saying: "I am really struggling."
