Food banks help family pets

An offer of free food and a complimentary manicure would lead to long lines any day of the week. But in Hamilton today, St. Matthew’s House partnered with some veterinarians and pet charities to offer those perks for pets.

Mike Riley brought his Angel down when he heard there was a pet pantry on Barton St. He says Angel eats better than he does. “A dog like this for me is like my child. Family comes first, right?”

“It’s a great idea. Our community needs more than this. Dog food is expensive like any other food and there’s a lot of people who can’t afford it.”

Veterinarians like Gabor Magyar were consulting with pet owners as they picked up bags of food and other supplies. Some dogs reluctantly consented to a professional nail clip. “With the advancements in medical care, costs have also gone up so it can be a burden to provide health care.”

St. Matthew’s House often gives away food to people who need it and they’ve long seen the need to help those people’s pets too. So when the Associate Vet Clinic came to them with the idea of a pet pantry, they thought it was perfect. Now they’re trying to start a monthly food bank just for pets.

Karen Randell of St. Matthew’s House: “We really strongly believe that the privilege of owning a pet shouldn’t be based on someone’s economic status. pets have an immeasurable impact on a person’s well being and mental health.”

“We often find people come for our services because they’ve spent their grocery money to help their pets out.”

St. Matthew’s House helps many people who are isolated after their children grow up or their spouse dies, and pets are often key to their physical and mental health.

“I appreciate it because you need a cat because you’re in a chair tied up all day long. At least you can pet something and play with something.”