As the cost of living continues to rise across Manitoba, the Winnipeg Humane Society is seeing record-breaking demand for its pet food bank.
Between April and October, appointments for the pet food bank increased by 242 percent, from 88 appointments to 301. And according to Carly Peters, Director of Communications and Marketing, that number has only climbed higher.
“It’s ever-increasing. I don’t think we have the final numbers for November, but I would venture to guess that we will have gone above the 301 as well.”
Originally launched as the Emergency Pet Food Bank during the pandemic, the program was meant to be temporary. But with inflation and food costs affecting pet owners across income levels, it quickly became clear that demand was not going away.
“We just came to realize that something that is consistent with the need for it is there,” Peters explains. “So we just have it now, the pet food bank, people can access it on a regular basis, should they need.”
Rising prices have hit the shelter’s operations as well.
“Cost of operations has definitely gone up. Feeding the animals to the cleaning supplies, to all those sorts of things, definitely costs more.”
Those financial pressures are directly tied to why more people are seeking support. Many households, she notes, are making painful choices.
“And we do hear from people, they choose to go without in order to feed their pets,” Peters says. “That is not a choice anyone should ever have to make between choosing to feed themselves or feed their pets.”
To help ease the burden during the holidays, the Winnipeg Humane Society is assembling 100 Christmas pet hampers, 50 for dogs and 50 for cats, filled with food, toys, and essential supplies. Donations are being accepted until December 3, with distribution set for December 16 at the West End Resource Centre.
“We’re collecting a good pile. We’re seeing a lot of food coming in. We’re in need of a few other little extras. So like leashes, toys, treats, cat litter is a huge one.”
The event is first-come, first-served, and Peters expects a high turnout.
“Anytime we do in community pop-up food banks and stuff, the food goes fast. We can see the need there.”
The holiday hampers are a part of the ongoing mission to keep pets together with their families.
“We know how good pets are for our mental health,” Peters says. “People think of this as a shelter. But truly, we are a social service organization, always ensuring that people and their pets can stay together.”
This mission is made even more vital as shelter capacity remains stretched. With cold weather arriving in Manitoba, demand for shelter space increased further.
“We always say, you know, when you adopt an animal, you’re not just saving that animal. You’re making room in the shelter for more to come in.”
As demand rises, the Humane Society hopes Winnipeggers will continue to step up through donations, volunteering, or providing an animal a home.
– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural
