Animal lovers plan pet food pantry
SANDWICH — The dramatic downturn in the economy could be rough on pets as more of them are being surrendered to shelters.
But two friends have a plan that could help pet owners keep their beloved animals at home.
Carol Eklund of Sandwich and Terry Hingst of Carver have created a nonprofit corporation with plans to open the Cape's first food pantry for pets. The pantry is still in its infancy, with Eklund and Hingst still scouting possible locations in the Hyannis area.
"We're seeing a need with the economy the way it is," said Eklund, president of For the Love of a Pet Inc. Foreclosures and the high price of fuel are driving up the number of people bringing cats, dogs and other pets to area shelters, she said.
Since January, 107 people have dropped their pets off at the Centerville shelter operated by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Brian Adams, a spokesman for MSPCA, said the agency now records how many pets are given up as a result of foreclosures. Since the beginning of the year, four pets have been surrendered at the Centerville shelter because of foreclosure and another 23 because their owners could no longer afford them, he said.
The Centerville shelter of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals tracks the reason given by owners who bring in a pet for adoption.
From January through the end of September, here are the economic reasons that were given:
Foreclosure: 4
Landlord won't allow: 20
Moving: 57
Cost: 23
Homeless: 3
Source: MSPCA
"We are definitely seeing additional surrenders at our shelters due to foreclosures," Adams said. The problem is especially acute in cities. Other Cape shelters said they are also seeing an increase in the number of pets being given up for adoption.
"I know that we've seen a lot of people who have to surrender pets because they're losing their homes or their home situation is changing," said Kristin Petty, assistant manager of the Animal Rescue League's Brewster shelter. "That's been a fairly common reason in the last six months or so."
A pet food pantry, however, may not be the only option for Cape pet owners facing a budget crunch. The Falmouth Service Center, a community food pantry, does provide some pet food when it comes in, volunteer Carolyn Schmitt said. "It's not something we buy or openly solicit," she said. "If we get it, we're willing to give it (to people)." For the Love of a Pet plans to sell donated pet items like crates in a boutique to raise money for additional pet food to give away.
In return, they'll ask some of the pet owners to volunteer at the shelter.
Eklund and Hingst, who met selling real estate, are both dog lovers. Eklund has two Maltese named Mindy and Melody. Hingst has two border collies, Max and Sheba, and two cats, Buddy and Baby. The two women have recently completed the paperwork to register the corporation. Already, they're collecting donations at two locations — Agway in Sandwich and The Grateful Dog in Hyannis. They hope to locate drop-off points in towns across the Cape and South Shore.
They want to get the shelter open before the heating season exacerbates the problem for pet owners.
"I just have seen, with the economy the way it is, the lack of money, people are making tough choices to give up their pets," Hingst said. "Seeing kids cry is not a good thing."
By George Brennan
gbrennan@capecodonline.com
October 13, 2008
