Due to high inflation and rising cost of living, blue collar families in South Florida have had to choose between feeding themselves or feeding their pets. After months of sacrifice, most families give up and they make the hard decision of having to return their beloved pets to the shelter. Farm Share has partnered with the ASPCA to make sure we do what we can to keep pets at home with their families where they belong. But, we need help...
We need donations in order to continue our operations in South Florida and Florida as a whole. We wish to continue serving families in need with pet food when needed so that they are not forced to return their pets to the shelter if and when they are under economic stress.
Pets have been a constant companion to a lot of the Floridians we serve on a daily basis. The team at Farm Share began to collect stories of families during and after the pandemic peek times telling us how these families did not have enough money for pet food and how they had to return their pets to the shelter because of it. The ASPCA began to receive reports regarding the rise of pet returns at shelters due to economic issues. Both organizations got together to impact this issue together!!
Why is Farm Share getting involved in pet food? Great question! We have typically dealt in food for people in need only. However, as we worked through the pandemic we noticed what a huge traumatic event it was to go through the stress of being economically challenged and to have to say goodbye to a beloved pet, at times after having lost a loved one to the pandemic. When a parent has to explain to their children that they do not have enough money to pay bills and to eat, it is twice as hard to have to give the family pet away, at times knowing you will never get that pet back. Help us make sure that those families who are food insecure, have a fighting chance to keep their pets at home with them where they belong. Pets are a part of our families and Farm Share serves families.
Learn more at: https://www.farmshare.org/aspca