The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Animal clinic collecting food to feed hungry family pets

Photos: Collecting food for animals

Craigslist removes adult services section
9/4/10
Should I talk to my teen about sex?
9/4/10
Tailgate food tips from the pros
9/2/10
How to build your own bar for entertaining
8/29/10
‘Apple Harvest Recipes’ explores all things apple
8/27/10
> More lifestyle headlines

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.

E-mail this page

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.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

I have to say that my mom's pets are the reason I'm still here. I couldn't find a home for them so I began to fight the illness that gripped me so hard this last decade and it went into remission with little advances so I function enough to keep my life together. Bills to pay and what not. Without the responsibility for myself and my mom's dogs and cats, I probably would have just sat around feeling sick and letting the illness advance. Attitude is 90% of life and pets give love without question

Jeffrey John Hodapp
12:10 AM, 11/22/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Thank you Jeffrey, for not giving up on your mom's pets. Take a look in your area, there are probably pet pantries or something similar to help you feed them. Some places help with vet bills too. As for Ike, it's a lifetime commitment to have a pet. If people fall upon bad times they should not have to give up or abandon their pets.

Gina
9:16 PM, 11/21/2009

REPORT ABUSE

If u can,t afford to feed it then don,t have it ----same goes for kids and politicans

ike
5:57 PM, 11/21/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Pets can't help the circumstances that a depression puts them in. They deserve food and love. I see many pets loose in the streets now and it breaks my heart. Reading about abused animals sickens me. I tried to find my mom's pets homes when she died but I ended up keeping them. They are expensive but they keep me company and for some people they may be the only light in a long dark night of life.

Jeffrey John Hodapp
2:34 AM, 11/21/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I have a cat but can't really afford pets. However, the cat's owner moved away and left him behind. I couldn't let him starve, could I? He's a very good mouser and definitely earns his keep by killing mice in the neighborhood. I can't afford the "normal" veterinary care for him that a pet should have but I do keep him fed, watered, petted, loved, and with a warm place to sleep. Not being able to even have a cat really makes us poor people feel even poorer.

Sue
12:14 AM, 11/21/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 9 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.