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Animal clinic collecting food to feed hungry family pets

Photos: Collecting food for animals

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Mindy Faulkner sits with a dog named Shyla in the prescription food room at the Lakota Hills Animal Clinic in West Chester Twp. Monday Nov. 16, 2009. The clinic will be accepting pet food donations through Dec. 31, and bringing the donated food to the New Life Vineyard Church Food Pantry to help those in need of pet food this holiday season.

Nick Daggy/Staff photographer Mindy Faulkner sits with a dog named Shyla in the prescription food room at the Lakota Hills Animal Clinic in West Chester Twp. Monday Nov. 16, 2009. The clinic will be accepting pet food donations through Dec. 31, and bringing the donated food to the New Life Vineyard Church Food Pantry to help those in need of pet food this holiday season.

Tough times mean hard decisions about companion animals.

By Lindsey Hilty, Staff Writer Updated 12:37 PM Friday, November 20, 2009

While there will be a big focus on feeding financially strapped people this holiday season, some area residents are concerned for the family pets as well.

Lakota Hills Animal Clinic on Tylersville Road near the Lakota West Freshman building and Creekside Early Childhood School, is collecting pet food donations for local food pantries.

“If people using the food banks cannot afford food for themselves, they certainly can’t afford it for their pets,” Practice Manager Mindy Faulkner said.

The Animal Friends Humane Society of Butler County has seen more animals come in this year than it did last year, but pet adoptions have decreased.

“I think a pressing reason would definitely be the fact that pets are an additional cost, and the economy is affecting what people are able or aren’t able to afford,” Executive Director Meg Stephenson said.

And with many people being evicted from homes or moving into apartments, she said families are having to part with their pets.

“It’s obviously a very challenging time, and it’s difficult to give up an animal that is part of your family,” she said.

Several recent neglect cases have caught her attention, with more emaciated pets being brought into the shelter, she said. Stephenson praised the efforts of Lakota Hills Animal Clinic to ensure people and their pets can stay together.

The food drive will continue until the end of the year and may continue if successful, Faulkner said. People can drop off food at the clinic on 5130 Tylersville Road, and it will be distributed to local food banks. Smaller bags are preferred, so they can be distributed to more pet owners, she said, but any food is welcome.

“We just want to help those who really can’t help themselves in this tough time,” Faulkner said.

Clinic office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

The Animal Friends Humane Society also is in need of donations, Stephenson said, including monetary, pet-related or office and operational supplies.

Specifically, she said cat litter pans, dog and cat treats, copy paper, paper towels and super glue are needed.

Another option, she said, is for people to bring newspapers and aluminum cans to the shelter for recycling. Animal Friends receives funds based on the quantities it recycles.

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