Food Stamps ... For Pets?

ABC OTUS News - Food Stamps ... For Pets? (ABC News)

When man falls on hard times, what's his best friend to do?

A new donation-based program called Pet Food Stamps aims to provide food stamps for pets of low-income families and for food stamp recipients who otherwise could not afford to feed their pets, reported ABC affiliate KVIA in Las Cruces, N.M.

Based in New York, the program is open to anyone in the United States. More than 45,000 pets have already been signed up in the past two weeks, according to the program's founder and executive director Marc Okon. Once need and income is verified, the families will receive pet food each month from pet food retailer Pet Food Direct for a six-month period.

"We're not looking for government funding at this point," Okon told ABCNews.com. "Should the government be willing to provide assistance further down the line, we will look into it."

The only way to apply for the program is through an online application, but Okon said applications would be accepted through mail once the program moved to its new office.

Okon said the program's nonprofit status was still pending.

There is currently no federal pet food stamp program in place, although the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service tries to provide protection for animals in case of emergencies or natural disasters. The 1966 Animal Welfare Act also makes no mention of providing food for pets.

Okon's program isn't revolutionary. Other animal shelters and rescue leagues around the country, such as the Washington Animal Rescue League, have been providing pet food banks, in addition to discounted pet care, for years.

"One of our missions is to provide income-qualified families with discounted pet care, vaccinations, vaccine clinics, neutered clinics and vet care," said Washington Animal Rescue League spokesman Matt Williams. "We have a new medical center on site. … We also have a food bank run entirely on donations."

Pet Food Stamps

The new pet food stamp program comes at a when monthly food stamp assistance could be phased out. A temporary food stamp boost for low-income families was initiated in April 2009 to help offset the effects of the 2008 recession and is set to expire on Oct. 31, 2013, unless Congress passes legislation to extend the benefits.

Approximately 46.6 million people used the federal food stamp program in 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Pet Food Stamps program, NYS non-profit corp. pending, with a Tax ID/EIN,  has been created to fill the void in the United States Food Stamp program which excludes the purchase of pet food and pet supplies. In these rough economic times, many pet owners are forced to abandon their beloved pet to the ASPCA, North Shore Animal League or other animal shelters due to the inability to pay for their basic food supply and care. There are over 50 million Americans who currently receive Food Stamps, many with dogs or cats, who simply cannot afford to feed their animals, and these cherished companions are dropped off at animal shelters where they will most likely be put to sleep. A recent New York Times article states that “animal shelters have reported a steep rise in the number of cats and dogs being surrendered as owners face unemployment, home foreclosures, evictions and other financial hardships.” As more families struggle with difficult choices like paying the rent or buying food, some have to choose between keeping their pet and putting food on the table..

The Pet Food Stamps program, due to the generosity of contributors and patrons, are able to eliminate that heart-wrenching decision by making sure these pet owners are given free monthly home delivery of all necessary food supplies to maintain the health and vitality of their pets. 

With the continued growth of the Pet Food Stamps program, it is expected in the 4th quarter 2013 to expand into offering free or heavily discounted veterinary care for all qualified program beneficiaries as part of the Pet Food Stamps program.
Once you are a verified and approved member of the Pet Food Stamps program, our staff will place your pet food order with  www.PetFoodDirect.com  based on the amount awarded with your application approval and your pets needs.
PetFoodDirect is an independent retailer and is NOT a subsidiary or affiliated in any way with the Pet Food Stamps program.

If you are not a member of the Pet Food Stamps program, we are able to offer a 10% discount on all orders over $49 with the code: DONATE2PFS at checkout @ www.PetFoodDirect.com 


If you are receiving Food Stamps or are in a low income bracket and would like to apply for Pet Food Stamps, please click HERE. If you would like to help the program by making a secure  donation, please click HERE. For any questions, comments or corporate sponsorship's, feel free to contact us HERE.

CBS News discussing the Pet Food Stamps program with Founder & Executive Director, Marc Okon.

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Food stamps for Fido?

Pet Food Stamps, a New York-based non-profit, wants to help low-income families feed their pets.

UPI /Monika Graff 

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Published: Feb. 25, 2013 at 4:06 PM

By KATE STANTON, UPI.com

Pet Food Stamps, a non-profit organization based in New York has started a new program offering "food stamps" to families who can't afford to feed their animals, KVIA-TV reported last week.
The program's organizers hope that financial assistance will prevent low-income pet owners from abandoning their animals or leaving them at shelters. According to ABCNews.com, Pet Food Stamps gives six-months worth of pet food from Pet Food Direct to qualifying families anywhere in the United States.
So far, the organization's so-called "food stamp" program runs on donations, though executive director and founder Marc Okon said he would be open to federal funding.
"We’re not looking for government funding at this point," he told ABCNews.com. "Should the government be willing to provide assistance further down the line, we will look into it."
Okon said he came up with the idea after receiving a letter from a single mother who couldn't afford to take car of the family dog that helped her disabled son communicate. He said the program receives thousands of application each day.
"So in total we have over 40,000 cats and dogs already awaiting food," Okon told KVIA.