The pet food banks keeping animals with their owners

Arthur, alongside co-founder Robert Miller, initiated Animal Foodbank UK after their experiences volunteering with animal charities revealed a stark and widespread struggle among pet owners to provide for their animals. Recognising a significant gap in traditional human food bank provisions, which often lack pet food, Ms Arthur and Mr Miller, based in Redditch, set out to create a dedicated solution. What began as a modest endeavour, fuelled by two £20 donations from its founders, has blossomed into a remarkable nationwide community. Today, Animal Foodbank UK boasts a network of more than 120 dedicated volunteers spanning the entire length of the UK, from the northern reaches of Scotland down to the tip of Cornwall. This expansive network has successfully delivered food to nearly 6,000 pet owners facing financial strain.

Over the past three years, the organisation, which has now proudly achieved charity status, has distributed an astonishing 150,000 meals to pets in need across England, Scotland, and Wales. This monumental effort underscores the scale of the crisis and the profound impact of their work. Ms Arthur believes that their charity stands out as potentially the only service in the UK that dispatches pet food donations directly to recipients via delivery, offering a crucial service that bypasses the logistical challenges and potential stigma associated with collection services. "We don’t have to be referred to. Anybody can call, drop into our drop-in centres and we’ll help them," Ms Arthur states, emphasising the accessible and non-judgmental nature of their support. This open-door policy ensures that help is readily available to those who need it most, without bureaucratic hurdles.

Recipients typically receive two weeks’ worth of pet food each month, providing a consistent safety net. Beyond direct aid, Animal Foodbank UK actively collaborates with other charitable organisations, including homeless accommodation services, extending their reach to some of the most vulnerable members of society who often find their pets to be their sole source of comfort and stability. The charity operates on a trust-based system, deliberately not requesting proof of low income or benefits from applicants. This policy reflects an understanding that hardship can strike anyone unexpectedly and prioritises immediate relief over administrative verification. However, to uphold principles of responsible pet ownership, there are two specific circumstances under which the charity will decline assistance. "If anybody’s breeding dogs, we won’t help them, because we’ve got to promote responsible ownership," Ms Arthur explains. Additionally, if individuals repeatedly acquire more pets after receiving aid, then return for more food, their requests will be refused, ensuring resources are directed to genuine cases of need and discouraging irresponsible pet acquisition. The images of animals, including two contented dogs by a Christmas tree, stand as a testament to the thousands of lives touched by Animal Foodbank UK’s generosity.

Further exemplifying this compassionate movement is the West Bromwich Emergency Pet Pantry, a more recently established initiative in the West Midlands. Founded and run by 47-year-old Louise Colledge, this pantry extends its vital services across the entire Sandwell borough, with key donation points strategically located in West Bromwich and Smethwick. Ms Colledge’s inspiration for establishing the pantry stemmed from direct observation during her previous role. "I used to work for a local charity, which provided a food bank for humans, but a lot of people came in and asked for pet food," she recounts. This consistent demand for pet provisions, unmet by existing human-focused services, highlighted a critical void in the local support network, prompting her to act.

The West Bromwich Emergency Pet Pantry operates on a referral basis, where individuals can reach out via phone, text, or email to seek assistance. Once referred, pet owners are typically provided with a week’s supply of pet food, available up to three times within a six-month period. For those facing more severe or protracted circumstances, longer-lasting support is carefully arranged, demonstrating a flexible and empathetic approach to individual needs. In its inaugural year alone, the West Bromwich Emergency Pet Pantry has already made a significant impact, providing crucial support to between 250 and 300 individuals and their pets, a clear indicator of the pressing demand within the community.

Both Animal Foodbank UK and the West Bromwich Emergency Pet Pantry are acutely aware of the diverse and often harrowing circumstances that can plunge pet owners into financial distress. These are not merely cases of mismanagement but often stem from unforeseen life events. Ms Colledge shares a poignant example: "We have had a lady who escaped domestic violence and had to leave with her two dogs and the children. We’ve supported her a bit extra, while getting back on her feet and sorting benefits out." This illustrates how pet food banks offer support that transcends mere sustenance, acting as a crucial component in helping individuals rebuild their lives during moments of profound vulnerability.

Similarly, at Animal Foodbank UK, Ms Arthur recounts equally heart-wrenching scenarios. They assisted a widow who was struggling immensely after the financial burden of paying for her husband’s headstone left her with nothing. In another case, a woman found herself in dire straits after incurring significant costs to euthanise her beloved, suffering dog. "Using her money to end the suffering of her dog meant she was left without money to feed the rest of her pets," Ms Arthur explains, highlighting the difficult, selfless choices pet owners are often forced to make. The image of three kittens curled up in a grey bed symbolises the countless young, vulnerable lives that have found solace and sustenance through the West Bromwich group’s efforts.

A cornerstone of the philosophy shared by both organisations is the commitment to supporting struggling pet owners without judgment. They recognise that the implications of this support extend far beyond the pet itself, profoundly impacting the overall well-being and dignity of the people they assist. Ms Arthur articulates this broader impact: "If we can feed a pensioner’s dog for two weeks, that could allow them to have the heating on. If someone’s car’s broken on the way to work, we can step in." She underscores the grim reality many face: "Lots of these people would rather feed their pets than feed themselves." This sentiment powerfully conveys the depth of the human-animal bond and the sacrifices owners are willing to make for their companions.

Ms Colledge firmly believes in the importance of enabling people to keep their pets at home, recognising the profound psychological and emotional benefits animals provide. She has witnessed firsthand the extraordinary lengths to which owners will go, including homeless individuals who have turned down offers of accommodation because it meant separating from their cherished pets. This demonstrates the pet’s role not just as an animal, but as a family member, a source of unwavering companionship, and often, the last link to normalcy and comfort. Furthermore, Ms Colledge highlights another crucial benefit of their work: "Some people love their pets so much they’ll hand them into a rescue if they can’t afford food, so [our work] also supports the rescues." By preventing these surrenders, pet food banks alleviate the immense strain on already overburdened animal rescue centres, which face their own challenges with resources and capacity. "We do have people that are having to choose whether they feed themselves or their pets," she reiterates, a stark reminder of the essential, empathetic role these pet food banks play in communities across the UK, preserving invaluable bonds and offering dignity in times of crisis.