Bronx Pet Food Pantry Helps Struggling New Yorkers Feed Their Pets

If you were out of work, struggling, living paycheck to paycheck, would you give up your dog? Or would you do whatever it takes to feed your beloved furry family member, even if it meant going hungry yourself? That's the choice many New Yorkers are faced with every day. I know that I would never give up my dogs, even if I was completely broke, and many people who have fallen on hard times feel the same way. Luckily, organizations like the Bronx pet food pantry are starting to spring up across the country to help struggling pet owners feed their animals.

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) recently started their pet food pantry in the Bronx, giving out large bags of pet food to people in need. They aim to reduce the number of animals surrendered to shelters by providing owners with the resources they need to keep their pets fed and happy. They believe people shouldn't have to make the tough choice to give up their pets for financial reasons, and any borough resident who registers a pet is welcome to stop by for food. They mostly serve people who are out of work and seniors on fixed incomes.

Some claim that pet food pantries distract from the fact that human food pantries don't have enough to serve people, let alone pets. But it's important to realize that pets provide many benefits to their owner's health, including reduced stress, companionship, and elevated moods. And keeping animals from the shelters is a benefit to the city, as well. 

Are you happy to see pet food pantries becoming more common? Would you like to see more of them throughout the country? Let us know in the comments below.

Related Articles:

Photographer Reveals Bond Between Homeless, Their Pets

Homeless Man in California Travels to Indianapolis With 10 Dogs