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Inflating costs of food are putting a strain on pet food banks in Kamloops and the Okanagan, where the number of pet owners in need have increased exponentially over the past year.

Nikki Lussier is the executive director of Kamloops Four Paws Food Bank Foundation that has been supporting pet owners in the area since 2016.

“There is a shocking increase in need, every single week we have more people signing up, it’s exponential and just getting busier,” she said.

The demographic of clients of Four Paws Food Bank is broad and includes seniors, families who need a helping handout once in awhile, and other people who are regular users.

“One fellow, a senior on a fixed income said costs of pet food have gone way past the margin he could accommodate in his budget,” Lussier said. “He was getting Caesar dog food but it’s tripled in cost. Many people tell us they’re at the point they decide whether to feed themselves or their pet, and they’re choosing their pet.”

Serving the Okanagan, Lend A Paw Pet Food Foundation is a similar organization supporting pet owners from Lake Country to Osoyoos.

Harmonie Corrinna is one organizer of the Kelowna-based team, and comparing statistics from January 2024, said the need for support has doubled, with 155 requests for food for more than 320 dogs and cats coming in last month. 

“It’s a giant area and we’ve seen an increase in need across all of it,” she said. “We’re seeing a lot of families, young families who are just having a tough time making the end of the month bills with rising costs of food.”

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A lot of Corrinna’s clients have dogs with special needs and can’t afford the increasing costs of specialty foods. Urinary food needs for cats are the organization’s biggest demand.

A common criticism Corrinna hears is, “if you can’t afford a pet, you shouldn’t own one.” She said, the reality is far more complex than that.

“There are countless stories of individuals who have had to part ways with their pets due to financial hardships or have faced the difficult decision of choosing between their own meals and their pets’ needs.

“Most of us are one big emergency, one medical diagnosis away from needing help. Most people don’t go into having a pet thinking they’ll need help.”

She said pets offer emotional support and companionship which is why it is crucial for her team to help out when pet owners are going through challenging times.

“We must recognize the connection between pet food insecurity and human food scarcity,” she said. “While many outstanding organizations focus on human food insecurity, they often lack the resources to assist our four-legged companions.”

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Volunteers at the Four Paws Food Bank Foundation in Kamloops at 185 Royal Avenue from left to right: Leona Pickard Smith, Dave Carlson and Shivam Sethi

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Nikki Lussier

Both the Kamloops and Kelowna organizations work together to share and trade donations to better cover pet food needs in the region. 

Four Paws Food Bank Foundation first opened in 2016 and became a major support for pet owners during the wildfire seasons in 2017 and 2021. The organization was going through a growth period when the pandemic hit and it was forced to shrink and focus solely on supplying food.

The team has since rebuilt to help with veterinary costs and works collaboratively with local veterinary clinics and other local helping organizations including the Kamloops Food Bank, Sammy’s Forgotten Felines and Elder Dog.

“Last year we were able to organize spay and neuter days and the vet clinic was able to give us a larger discount,” Lussier said.

Four Paws Food Bank works closely with the Kamloops Food Bank, who also offers pet food but it isn’t as regular of a supply.

“We focus purely on pet food, so there have been cases we’ve received a large donation of food and we’re able to send some over to the Kamloops Food Bank where they have more storage,” Lussier said. “Folks are going to all the local resources and it’s still barely keeping up.”

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Four Paws Food Bank is in need of volunteers and dry dog food. Potential volunteers work for a week with the organization before deciding whether to commit to the team. 

Located outside The Stir food hub at 185 Royal Avenue, Four Paws Food Bank is open on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. excluding the last Tuesday of every month.

Lend A Paw Pet Food Foundation collaborates with other helping organizations in the Okanagan including The Salvation Army, homeless outreach programs and local food banks to bridge the gaps in pet support systems during times of crisis.

Donations are dropped off at various locations listed on the Lend A Paw Pet Food Foundation website here, along with more information on the foundation. 

Go here to volunteer or donate at Four Paws Food Bank Foundation.

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