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New Program Provides Food, Litter For Struggling Pet Parents
Photo by Milles Away via Shutterstock
Pet owners in Orange County who are going through tough times now have a new resource for a little extra help thanks to the Pet Pantry, new donation program that just received a boost from grant funding.
The OC Register spoke with Blythe Wheaton, the co-founder of The Pet Rescue Center, who is setting up the Pet Pantry, which provides elderly and unemployed pet owners in need with things like food, litter, and other products for their two- or four-legged friends.
PRC offers the pantry the 2nd Saturday of every month, from 10-11 a.m. at The PRC's location in Mission Viejo. Those wishing to partake must first meet some basic criteria, and submit an application, detailed online here.
Wheaton says because the program is just getting off the ground, they don't have data on how many people in the OC could make use of their pantry, but they want to reach as many pet owners in need as possible.
In addition to the grant funds, the Pet Pantry has several businesses donating food and pet supplies.
Food leftover from the monthly event is passed on to the South County Outreach, who gets the food to other pet owners and pets in need of a hand. Pet food is always the best choice for animals, though Wheaton says that in the worst of times, table scraps can at least give pets some nourishment.
And pets can help get their owners through a rough patch. "Pets provide love and companionship in good times and bad. People need that these days," says Wheaton.
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