Food banks around the country have seen longer lines and more demand dating back to the start of the pandemic. And in the last few years pet food banks have seen the same.
At the Hermitage Cat Shelter near 22nd and Craycroft in Midtown Tucson, volunteers are handing out pet food, toys and treats on the third Thursday of every month. It’s part of the ‘Food for People’s Pets’ program that started in 2008.
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- Inside Tucson’s high-demand cat shelter and sanctuary
- Where cats get care and veterinarians get hands-on training in Tucson
Lori Gray is one of the recipients who lines up every month to get the litter and food she needs for her cat and two dogs.
“They’re my service dogs. If I didn’t have them, I would be lost without them,” she said. “I live off of SSI [supplemental security income]. This helps me out a lot… At least $40 a month.”
Recipients need proof they’re receiving financial assistance and their pets are spayed or neutered.
But while demand has surged, supply is harder to come by.