Sometimes, when people face financial difficulties, they are forced to give up what they love: their pets. Lack of resources prevents them from continuing to care for their companion animals, and they have to leave them with institutions and shelters.
The annual cost of caring for a pet is at least €500. €150 goes toward covering the basic medical costs required by law (deworming and vaccinations), and €400 toward food and other expenses. That is why the crisis has significantly increased cases of neglect involving domestic animals and, in the worst cases, abandonment.
This situation is heartbreaking. It hurts just to imagine it, doesn’t it? That is why some people have decided to take action and gather strength and resources to help these owners continue living with their pets. This is how food banks for animals came about.
Such as the recently opened Southern Arizona Community Pet Food Bank. This nonprofit organization provides assistance to families most in need, so they can continue caring for their pets. To reach the community more effectively, it operates mobile distribution centers that travel throughout the city. This allows families to request the help they need each month.
This initiative fascinates and inspires us. But it also makes us wonder what is happening in Spain. Are there food banks for pets? Where are they?
Ponferrada Pet Food Bank. Its aim is to ensure that no dog or cat in the city goes hungry, while also reducing abandonment due to lack of resources as much as possible and raising public awareness about responsible pet ownership.
Seville Pet Food Bank. In its three years of existence, this food bank, promoted by the Los Angeles de Lora Animal Protection Association, has managed to organize the largest collection of pet food ever held in Andalusia, with a very ambitious goal: to collect 10,000 kilos of pet food.
Madrid Animalist Food Bank. It was founded in 2013 with the admirable goal of donating 2,000 kilos of food each month, both to individuals and to shelters or refuges going through a difficult time.
León Pet Food Bank. Set up by the neighborhood platform “MásQPerros,” its members are responsible for collecting the food and distributing it at various locations throughout the city.
BAMA (Alicante Pet Food Bank). This wonderful initiative was launched by Inma, an animal lover and advocate for animal rights. The project lasted approximately one year, but since March 2015 it has been on hold, awaiting new donors to join the cause.
If you need to request assistance from a pet food bank, we recommend checking the guidelines of the nearest food bank to find out how to do so. Likewise, if you would like to make a donation, whether financial or “in kind,” to any of these organizations, please note that each one has its own procedures.
If you know of any other pet food banks, we would appreciate it if you shared the information with us in the comments. With the help of all Aristopeters, we can amplify the valuable work being done by the few (but extraordinary) pet food banks we have in Spain, help spread the word, and encourage the example and inspiration to take root among animal lovers who are in a more fortunate situation. So please don’t stop sharing this post!