[Vision2020] Needy Pets

[Donovan Arnold]

Saundra,

I was joking--in part. Sorry you didn't catch that. 

But I don't think food banks should hand out Alpo. I think animal shelters should do that. Some people might consider it an insult to be getting dog food when they go to the food bank. 

I am not opposed to donating pet food to needy pets. Go for it!

However, there is also the possibility that people with learning impairments, those that cannot read, and non english speaking people, who are heavily mixed with poorer populations, that might mistake the similarlly packaged pet food with human food. It is just best, in my opinion, to keep the dog food and human food seperated for health, safety, dietary, and dignity reasons. 

I am sure with a little bit of thinking, you can see my concerns with this idea of mixing animal and people food. 


Best Regards,

Donovan




--- On Wed, 12/10/08, Saundra Lund <sslund_2007 at verizon.net> wrote:

> From: Saundra Lund <sslund_2007 at verizon.net>
> Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Needy Pets
> To: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com, "'Vision 2020'" <vision2020 at moscow.com>, "'Dan Carscallen'" <areaman at moscow.com>, "'Art Deco'" <deco at moscow.com>, idahotom at hotmail.com
> Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 10:39 PM
> Hi Wayne & Other Interested Visionaries:
> 
>  
> 
> Wayne, thanks for bringing up such an important - and
> timely - topic.  As
> you rightly point out, many economically challenged (and
> not) individuals
> and families have non-human family members who mean the
> world to them and
> often are motivation to get out of bed each day.  With the
> populations I've
> worked with, people will often skimp on their own food to
> make sure that
> their non-human family members have adequate nutrition in
> ways identical to
> parents who "do without" to provide for their
> children.
> 
>  
> 
> Donovan, I'm not sure I see your point, and I'm not
> sure that I want to as I
> don't see helping those in need as an either/or
> proposition.  Helping
> animals helps the people who share their lives.  I further
> find it ludicrous
> to suggest that confusion & fear are worthy reasons to
> force those already
> operating on the financial edge and often with
> transportation problems to
> have to visit two or more facilities, unless the local food
> banks simply
> lack space.
> 
>  
> 
> While I donate regularly to our local food bank, I honestly
> hadn't thought
> about the local individuals and families who need pet food
> assistance
> because I've supported non-local pet food banks for
> economically challenged
> individuals and families for several decades.
> 
>  
> 
> But, Wayne, your question got me to wondering, and I found
> the following
> tidbit on the HSOP Web site:
> 
>  <http://www.humanesocietyofthepalouse.org/>
> http://www.humanesocietyofthepalouse.org/
> 
>  <http://www.humanesocietyofthepalouse.org/SNAP.html>
> Feeding assistance
> 
> If you are disabled, unemployed, on public assistance, or
> otherwise just
> short on funds and may need to give up your beloved family
> pet, please stop
> by the shelter.  We keep extra donated cat and dog food on
> hand to help feed
> the needy pets in our community!  Pet food donations
> gratefully accepted to
> enable this program.
> 
>  
> 
> I am unfortunately ignorant of the particulars of the
> program and the
> hyperlink leads to SNAP details rather than to anything
> about feeding
> assistance, but it appears there is a local option for
> those wanting to
> donate locally for economically challenged individuals and
> families with
> non-human family members  J
> 
>  
> 
> And, Tom, thanks for your willingness to check with the
> Troy Food Bank - I
> look forward to your report as I'm always looking for
> ways to help the
> economically challenged who have hearts big enough to
> provide loving homes
> for companion animals!
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Saundra Lund
> 
> Moscow, ID
> 
>  
> 
> Every individual matters.  Every individual has a role to
> play.  Every
> individual makes a difference.
> 
> ~ Jane Goodall
> 
>  
> 
> ***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2008
> through life plus
> 70 years, Saundra Lund.  Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or
> reproduce outside
> the Vision 2020 forum without the express written
> permission of the
> author.*****
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
> [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
> On Behalf Of Donovan Arnold
> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 7:40 PM
> To: 'Vision 2020'; Dan Carscallen
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Needy Pets
> 
>  
> 
> 
> "Does anyone know of any local agency  provides pet
> food to needy families?"
> 
>  
> 
> I think I would feel frightened if I heard the food bank
> was low on canned
> foods and when I showed up I saw them giving out Puppy
> Chow. 
> 
>  
> 
> Perhaps to avoid confusion and fear of a mix up, and to
> make people a
> priority, dog food should be given out at the animal
> shelters and people
> food given out at the food banks. 
> 
>  
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
>  
> 
> Donovan
> 
> --- On Wed, 12/10/08, Dan Carscallen
> <areaman at moscow.com> wrote:
> 
> From: Dan Carscallen <areaman at moscow.com>
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Needy Pets
> To: "'Vision 2020'"
> <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 2:50 PM
> 
> Wayne, 
> 
>  
> 
> I believe you can contact the folks at the animal shelter
> (883-1186)
> 
>  
> 
> I know they take donations of food there for the animals
> they are dealing
> with.
> 
>  
> 
> DC
> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
> [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
> On Behalf Of Art Deco
> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 2:08 PM
> To: Vision 2020
> Subject: [Vision2020] Needy Pets
> 
>  
> 
> This year our family is mostly donating gifts to charities
> instead of
> gifting each other.
> 
>  
> 
> I was surprised to find that the local food bank does not
> offer pet food to
> needy families.  Pets are important family members and
> need/deserve food
> too.
> 
>  
> 
> Does anyone know of any local agency  provides pet food to
> needy families?
> 
>  
> 
> Wayne A. Fox
> 1009 Karen Lane
> PO Box 9421
> Moscow, ID  83843
> 
>  
> 
>  <mailto:waf at moscow.com> waf at moscow.com
> 208 882-7975
> 
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