“It was either I don't eat or they don’t… so of course they’re going to eat.”
Unfortunately, this is the reality far too many people are facing lately.
In over 10 years, we have never been so desperate for pet food. The cost of living crisis is pushing more families to the brink and the demand for support is absolutely skyrocketing.
That's why we've set ourselves the mammoth target of raising 150,000 pet meals to fill furry bellies this winter.
Is it a stretch? Yes.
Do we have our work cut out for us? Most definetly.
Will it ensure families aren't torn apart due to financial hardship? Absolutely.
And that's why this matters.
Read Ben's story to hear firsthand why our pet food support is saving lives and keeping families together.
Meet Ben, Nacho Chacho & Pinto Beans
Overnight, Ben was forced to leave his home due to family violence.
One day he had a roof over his head. The next, he had nowhere to go.
“I went from a happy life, to being on the streets for two weeks,” Ben shared. “I didn’t think it could happen so quickly. I was 32 years old, I didn’t think I’d ever be in that position.”
“It affected my job, my mental health, my work life - everything.”
Ben managed to secure a new home for his little family of three beloved cats, Hallie-peno, Nacho Chacho, and Pinto Beans. But starting over came at a cost. Bond, furniture, the basics most of us take for granted.
Surrendering his cats might have made things easier financially. But for Ben, that was never an option.
“They’re my sense of security. They're my best friends. They're my everything.” Ben emphasised.
“I struggled with mental health at one point and they were there for me. They didn’t judge me, they put up with my tears, my laughter, with my insanity and they gave me a reason to get out of bed. It wasn’t about me – I’ve gotta change their litter. I may not want to eat, but they need to eat.”
But even that became difficult.
“There were times where I had to contact utilities and say ‘don’t turn the electricity off - I’ve got the last $20 and it needs to go to cat food’.”
That’s when Ben discovered his local food pantry was offering pet food support through Pets Of The Homeless (POTH). With access to cat food and litter, he could finally breathe knowing his cats were well-fed and cared for.
“POTH have been there through the worst and the best,” Ben said.
Right now, as the cold sets in and the cost of living continues to rise, people and pets like Ben, Nacho and Pinto are at real risk of going without.
That’s why we’ve just launched our Virtual Pet Food Drive, and we urgently need your help.
By filling your virtual cart today with nutritious pet food, you can make an immediate difference. Your tax-deductible gift will help fill empty bowls for hungry pets across Victoria this winter.
This year’s Virtual Pet Food Drive is proudly supported by the Petstock Foundation. And our target is the biggest yet - a whopping 150,000 meals.
But we can’t do it without you, and winter won’t wait. Please give today and help to keep best friends together.
