Mayor Martin J. Chávez announced a food bank for pets that will help low-income owners of dogs and cats in Albuquerque; a partnership between the Mayor, PETCO Foundation, The Storehouse food pantry in downtown Albuquerque and Albuquerque Animal Welfare.  Pet food will be offered at The Storehouse, 106 Broadway SE, a food pantry that has provided free food supplies to low-income households for nearly 40 years.  “Lately, media accounts have demonstrated that many families have been faced with either paying for such things as prescription medicines or food for their pets,” says Mayor Chavez. “Now, thanks to the generosity and efforts of the community, people have another way of finding help during hard times. This couldn’t have come at a more opportune time, given the national economic downturn.”

PETCO Foundation has agreed to contribute about two tons of pet food per month for distribution to qualified clients of The Storehouse. 

Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department will be seeking additional supplies through a community food drive to benefit the Storehouse program and other potential charitable uses. Pet food can be donated at city animal shelters. Jeanine L. Patterson, R.N., director of Albuquerque Animal Welfare says “This program just underscores our mission to find permanent, loving homes for pets. It also reinforces that our pets are lifelong members of the family, even if it requires a little help during hard times.”

The City of Albuquerque already provides pet food for the dogs and cats of homebound seniors, as part of a nutrition program that offers home-delivered meals to senior citizens. The program uses donated food and operates in partnership with Animal Humane New Mexico.