North Bay Food Pantry Offers Help For Furry Friends In Need

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — With rising living costs and freezes on food benefits, the Humane Society of Santa Rosa is stepping in to help with a pet food pantry.

Already facing a high cost of living, Bay Area families face the added challenge of managing without federal food assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or SNAP, known in California as CalFresh.

Food for a pet, no matter how beloved, could easily outstrip budgets.

The Human Society set up the Pet Food Pantry, which provides free and low-cost pet food to anyone in need — no questions asked, and no one turned away, according to the agency.

The organization is accepting donations to make sure fuzzy family members are fed and cared for.

The Sonoma County Human Society also operates the Community Action Team (C.A.T.), an animal safety net program.

As the demand for help grows, local pet service providers, whose budgets are also being stretched thin, animal welfare organizations are partnering with each and with food banks. The Sonoma Humane Society takes its mobile pet food pantry to a mobile veterinarian operation, the Esperanza Truck clinic.

Donations can be made online or at the Santa Rosa campus, 5345 Highway 12 West.

The donations go directly to local families who need extra help, according to the agency.

The organization is asking for:
Dry dog food — any brand (opened bags welcome)
Wet cat food — unopened cans or containers only