An animal charity is launching a pet food bank in Staffordshire to prevent animals going hungry during the cost of living crisis.
The RSPCA has previously set up similar schemes elsewhere in the country during the pandemic.
It sees them team up with local food banks to help ensure loved family pets are also able to stay fed and prevent animals having to be given up by their owners.
It hopes to have the new scheme set up across Staffordshire by the end of July.
RSCPA inspector Heather Morris said:
“The scheme has been set up because we understand that many people were falling on hard times during the pandemic and we wanted to make sure that those who were struggling could still stay with their pets whilst they got back on their feet.
“We are now bracing for an influx of abandoned pets or owners who have to give them up because they can no longer afford to keep them but we hope that through the food bank we will be able to provide some support to people and their much-loved pets.”
Inspector Heather Morris, RSPCA
A new survey has revealed that 72% of UK owners believe the cost of living crisis will impact on their animals, with a fifth worrying about how they will afford to feed their pets.
Further research by the charity shows in April 2021 there were around 4,400 searches per month around ‘giving up pets’ – a number that had risen by 50% to 6,600 in April this year.
Drop off points are still being finalised, but people can still donate via an Amazon Wish List until drop-off points are available, with a particular need for wet cat and dog food as well as small bags of dried food.
