Pet Foodbank

For the last three years we have worked with a local foodbank to provide pet food and supplies to their service users with pets. It was really sad to know just how many people were in desperate need of help, and it’s only got worse.  

The most common comment received about the pet food made available was that people were generally using food from the foodbank to feed their pets and not actually using it for themselves!  The provision of pet supplies meant that they could access both food for their pet(s) and food for their family.  

The answer is not to encourage people in financial hardship to give up their pets but to help them on a temporary basis whilst they find their financial feet again, but to understand that for the majority these pets are not just pets.  They may be the only thing keeping a person going; they may be a necessary mental health provision; they may just be their only friend!  Keeping pets with their owners also removes the possibility of animals looking for rescue spaces from already stretched rescue centres or to end up in shelters or kennels.

We have this year received a grant from Tesco and Groundworks to support our independent Pet Foodbank.  This is so exciting because it means we can continue to supply the local foodbank with pet supplies but can also reach people who may not qualify or owners that just need a one-off emergency pet package to get them through a couple of days.

We will also be forming relationships with other organisations who would, in their course of business, identify people who may need assistance with basic provisions for their pet(s).

We also offer a self-referral scheme that you can access by completing our Self-Referral Form.  Once your form is received, we will contact you to discuss and arrange an emergency pet parcel to be delivered.  As we operate solely on donations – in order to ensure that everyone has fair access to the provisions available at any time, self-referrals will be limited to four food parcels per four monthly period.  You may contact us on Facebook or at theanimalteamfoodbank@gmail.com if you require more than the offered parcels as we may be able to signpost you to other agencies or groups for additional help.

The Animal Team Pet Foodbank is only there to provide temporary support to enable pet owners to keep their pet, it is not to replace the owner providing pet food. If help is required for a longer period of time, then we may offer support and advice to help rehome the animal. 

As we encourage responsible pet ownership, if you are a returning client and have increased your pet numbers since your last request, we may not be able to help with any new pets taken on during a period of financial hardship.

As a Charity we already make supply donations to rescues across the country.  The funding for our Pet Foodbank will be used to help individuals only.

Depending on demand and funding we may at some point in the future be able to offer drop in and collect sessions but for now we are working on having emergency pet parcels at locations where our target audience would be able to access, supplies provided to the local foodbank and delivery to ME10, ME11, ME12 and parts of ME9.

We would also like to take the opportunity to say a huge Thank You to the customers and staff at Tesco at Carlton Hill in Nottingham.  They have, for over five years, allowed us to collect donated dog food, toys, collars and leads, coats, blankets etc. which has all gone to support local foster homes or rescues and Street Vets – helping hundreds of owners and dogs along the way.

For more information visit our Facebook page

If you would like to help The Animal Team Pet Foodbank you can donate via our PayPal page