Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC SPCA

An early start to the wildfire season has added to the already rising demand at pet food banks across British Columbia.

The BC SPCA is looking for donations of unopened pet food for community food banks and the biggest need is dry and wet cat food and cat litter. The organization is also looking for volunteers to help collect and distribute the food and supplies.

“When guardians and their pets are evacuated due to a natural disaster like wildfires or floods, they can be away from their homes for weeks at a time,” Diane Waters with the SPCA said in a media release. “They often rely on the BC SPCA’s pet food banks for food and supplies until they are allowed to return.”

READ MORE: Vernon woman braves the elements to save her dog

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC SPCA

When some residents of Fort St. John were evacuated last week, including the BC SPCA staff and animals in their care there, supplies were diverted to help displaced pet guardians.

There has also been a general increase in need across the province in the past four months, particularly for people living on fixed incomes.

Waters said the number of organizations BC SPCA is supporting has risen from 139 to 155, and there are constant requests for pet food and supplies, including Victoria which has seen a big surge in demand in just one year, a 25% increase.

READ MORE: Injured trumpeter swan rescued near Penticton

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC SPCA

“The current food security landscape in our community and rising costs of living have had an impact," Victoria Breanne Beckett with the BC SPCA said in the release. "The SPCA’s efforts to increase awareness of the program have also meant more people are reaching out for help.”

Last year, BC SPCA supported pet food banks provided a whopping 532,000 pet meals.

If you wish to make a donation toward pet food and supplies, go to the BC SPCA webpage here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2023