Carson City Group Works Nationally to Help the Homeless and Their Animals

Feeding Pets of the Homeless coordinates pet food collection and distribution

By Linda Eissmann, Best Friends Network

A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog. – Jack London

Feeding Pets of the Homeless (FPOH), a national nonprofit program based in Carson City, Nevada, is helping to keep “families”—homeless people and their pets—together.

Nationally, about 10% of homeless people have dogs and/or cats, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. In some states that rate is as high as 24%. Most homeless people are homeless for a short period of time and usually need help finding housing or a rent subsidy.

For those with pets, it becomes even more difficult because most homeless shelters will not accept pets. This creates the heartbreaking decision of choosing between their pet and a roof over their head.

An Emotional Bond
Surprisingly, many choose to stay on the streets with their pets. Their pets are nonjudgmental, offer comfort, and provide an emotional bond of loyalty. In some cases, they provide the homeless protection and keep them warm. In many cases, they are the homeless person’s only family. That means the pets are also homeless and must often go without food or veterinary care.

FPOH provides veterinary care and helps to reduce hunger in pets of the homeless in 23 states and in Canada. Pet food collection bins are located at participating veterinarian offices, pet hospitals, pet-related businesses and retail stores. Members collect pet food and deliver it to food banks and/or soups kitchens which have agreed to distribute the food to the homeless and impoverished.

Interested veterinarians and pet-related businesses can get more information about the program on the organization’s website. The website also includes a list of participating locations that distribute the pet food collected.

Northern Nevada Members
Sierra Veterinary Hospital in Carson City has the distinction of being the first vet hospital in the United States to enroll in the program. Other participating veterinarians and businesses in Nevada include: All Creatures Animal Hospital (Pahrump), Animal Care Center (Fernley), A Doggies Dream and Kanine Kreations (Reno), and Healing Arts (Carson City). Distributing food banks include Sun Valley Food Pantry (Sun Valley), Friends in Service Helping (Carson City), and Meals on Wheels (Carson City).

With the help of volunteers, the organization’s major activities include:
* Promoting the importance of joining the program to veterinarians and pet related businesses;
* Speaking out about pets of the homeless and disadvantaged;
* Campaigning to food distributing organizations the importance of distributing pet food to the less fortunate; and
* Providing grants to licensed veterinarians to administer medical care to pets of the homeless.

"Publishing and implementing this program for veterinary practices and pet businesses of all types has enabled us to assist doctors and small business owners in the art of public relations while aiding and supporting an enormous forgotten part of our society - pets of the homeless," explains Genevieve Frederick, Executive Director and Founder and resident of Carson City, Nevada. "Through memberships, grants and donations we can assist the pets of the homeless. The response from the public has been phenomenal."

What You Can Do
Among the fundraising efforts recently undertaken is a variety of items available with the attractive “Feeding Pets of the Homeless” logo through CafePress. Purchase of items supports the daily operations of the organization. Cash donations received by the organization go to licensed veterinarians to provide vaccinations and medical care to pets of the homeless through the Feeding Pets of the Homeless grant program.

For more information, visit the organization’s website.

Posted by Julie Snyder, Best Friends Network

Photo by Tim Hulsizer courtesy of Feeding Pets of the Homeless