03/18/2020
The global health crisis caused by the Coronavirus should not be allowed to trigger a wave of pet companion relinquishment. “Just this weekend, a man who’d just lost his job relinquished his dog to us,” noted Dr. Annie Harvilicz, the president and chief medical officer of the Animal Wellness Foundation. “We can interrupt the relinquishment process by helping with pet food and medical services, which are the key costs borne by pet owners.”
Surrendering pets to veterinarians and animal shelters is not inevitable during a crisis like this,” says Jennifer Skiff, director of International Programs for the Animal Wellness Foundation, “Pets are family and the best way to keep them safe is to keep them with you. While we are facing uncertain times, there are options for people who are temporarily unable to provide for their much-loved companions.”
The most important thing to know is that your pets don’t have to eat packaged dog and cat food to survive. According to a veterinarian, Dr. Barbara Royal, there are plenty of other options. “When done appropriately, feeding pets our leftovers is fine and can decrease costs. Dogs are omnivores and they can safely eat a variety of things to survive. Cats are obligate carnivores. They need taurine and many vitamins and minerals that are only found in organ meats. Their food should be high in protein and fat and low in carbs.” You can find great recipes for pet food here: http://balanceit.com/ or you can order supplies online at http://www.chewy.com.
Here are some other tips on keeping your pet healthy through these times:
• Preparing home-made pet food
• Seeking temporary help from friends and family
• Collecting food from a pet food pantry or food bank
• Accepting assistance from your local animal shelter before surrendering your pet
• Accepting food assistance from your place of worship
• Asking pet stores if they have near-expiration food available at no cost or a reduced price.
For other tips and information, see our press release: tinyurl.com/wbb8xvy
