When families fall on hard financial times, finding the means to provide for every family member, two- and four-legged, can be difficult.  Many times, pets are returned to shelters or cannot stay with their families because of financial difficulties.  Since 2007, Animal Friends’ Chow Wagon program has delivered almost 175,000 pounds of food to families in need. The Chow Wagon program currently partners with 23 food banks and a Meals on Wheels group.  Of course, all of this would not be possible if not for the generosity of our community.

Recently, the University of Pittsburgh’s Pitt’s People for Pets group held a pet food drive.  Twelve bins were placed around the Pitt campus to collect food and donations, along with information explaining the need and how Animal Friends’ Chow Wagon program works.  Overall, an amazing 2,090 pounds of food were collected along with a monetary donation of $2014.

But collecting goods is not the only benefit that Pitt’s People for Pets provides, says Kannu Sahni, Director of Community Relations.

“It’s important to make people aware of this need,” Sahni explained. “Some of these families already have trauma, then they lose a pet.”

“Pets are another component of the family,” John Wilds, PhD, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Community Relations said. “They are companions.”

Sahni further explained that educating the community about this need will increase interest, and that is an opportunity to do even more next year.

“We have high expectations,” Sahni smiled.