Help For Hungry Pets
Source: Star-Telegram.com. Posted on Tue, Feb. 10, 2009

For a homebound person, a faithful, furry companion can be satisfying company. However, not being able to feed that friend can be a source of heartache.

Two local programs are aimed at helping elderly, disabled or needy persons who cannot afford to buy food for their pets.

Burleson pilot program

In Burleson, a new pilot program will help Meals-on-Wheels clients who cannot afford to buy pet food.

Lisa Hicks of Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties said that in regular scheduled home visits, Meals-on-Wheels staff and volunteers found that clients were sharing their own meals with their pets because they could not afford to buy food for their pets. For someone who depends on Meals-on-Wheels to meet their own nutritional needs, this could compromise the pet owner’s health, or force the pet owner to give a beloved animal away.

The pilot program, called AniMeals, was developed by Meals-on-Wheels to help the homebound elderly and disabled feed their pets properly. Partners in the program are the Burleson Animal Shelter and the City of Burleson.

The program makes use of animal food donated to the Burleson Animal Shelter. Burleson Animal Services supervisor Michelle Spradlin contacted Meals-on-Wheels in June 2008 to see if the non-profit agency could use food that was donated to the shelter. The shelter animals are kept on a Science Diet program, so food donated to the Burleson shelter is not used for the shelter animals. Spradlin said that Meals-on-Wheels was already exploring the AniMeals concept.

Anyone who wants to be part of AniMeals may drop off donated pet food at the Burleson Animal Shelter, 1695 John Jones Dr. (FM 731 South) between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Donated pet food for the Burleson program will be delivered monthly to more than 20 homebound elderly and disabled Meals-on-Wheels clients with pets in Burleson. Later, the program may expand to additional communities in Johnson and Ellis counties, said Amy Jackson, director of development for Meals-on-Wheels.

For more information, call Meals-on-Wheels at 817-558-2840 or visit www.mowjec.org.

Valentine Pet Food Drive

The Tarrant Area Food Bank has started a Valentine Pet Food Drive, to help pet owners in need keep every member of the family fed.

To help, donate food or cash to the Valentine Pet Food Drive from Feb. 7 through 21. Donations of dry or canned pet food, seed or pellets are welcomed.

Donated pet food will be distributed to families and senior citizens by Tarrant Area Food Bank and its partner food pantries and other charities serving 13 counties in the greater Fort Worth area. For more information or to make a cash donation, visit www.tafb.org.

Donation Sites for Valentine Pet Food Drive - Now through Feb. 21

Three Dog Baker, Southlake

Operation Kindness, Dallas

Handley Feed Store, Fort Worth

American Pet Spa & Resort, Argyle

Dogs Unleashed Daycare, Keller

Central Market, Fort Worth and Southlake

City Market, Ft. Worth & Burleson

Petco locations:

Arlington, S. Cooper St.

Bedford, Harwood Rd.

Denton, I-35E

Fort Worth, Overton Ridge Blvd.

Grapevine, William D. Tate Ave.

Hurst, W. Pipeline Rd.

Mansfield, Hwy. 287 N.

Watauga, Denton Hwy.

Russell Feed & Supply:

Azle, Southeast Pkwy.

Benbrook, Hwy. 377 S.

Crowley, N. Crowley Rd.

Fort Worth, Camp Bowie West

Jacksboro Hwy.

Haltom City, E. Belknap

– Sources: City of Burleson, Tarrant Area Food Bank