We have a program here in Knoxville TN called Vets for Pets of Homeless Owners. @Jaime Norris, with the CAIT program at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, runs the program and can tell your more about it. We started the program in 2005 and meet under the bridge monthly to provide wellness services (exam, vaccines, nail trim, etc) and basic needs (food, leashes, collars, carriers, etc) for the pets of the unhoused. They sometimes break up the large bags of donated Purina food into smaller bags so that the homeless can carry it with them. Since a DVM must prescribe prescription foods (ex for allergies) for that specific pet, we can not distribute those types of pet food.
There has never been an issue. They are grateful for the food for their pets.
------------------------------
T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Program for Pet Health Equity
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 12-10-2024 10:51 AM
From: Roxane Fritz
Subject: Providing Pet food for the Unhoused
San Mateo County Veterinary Wellness program offers exams, vaccinations and flea preventative to pets of the unhoused and those in our shelters. We also have some grant funding that allows us to refer some clients out to vet clinics for other issues.
We see a lot of dogs with skin issues/allergies. As you know, pet food can often be a real issue for allergies. Most of our clients get their pet food at the food bank for people and they just get whatever is available and don't have a say on the protien.
We would like to get donations of food that we could give to these clients (and others) and I have a question.
I see that several of the shelters repackage the food into smaller bags for distribution. And they also accept broken or returned bags of food. As a "recovering attorney" this scares me because, well you know, people.
I wanted to get your opinions on this practice and if anyone has any suggestions?
------------------------------
Roxane Fritz
Veterinary Program Coordinator
San Mateo County
CA
------------------------------