HILLIARD, OHIO (April 15, 2020) — Earlier this week Columbus Humane received a donation of more than 20 palettes of pet food and supplies from the national nonprofit organization, Greatergood.org to distribute to individuals in the community in need of pet food assistance. Within 24 hours of announcing the opportunity to the community via social media, Columbus Humane received more than 500 requests for support. Even this generous donation that filled a semi-truck will not be enough to help everyone who submitted a request for support. Until additional supplies can be secured, the request process has been paused.
Columbus Humane will continue helping those in need by working to secure additional food sources and continue distributing food to those in critical need. In addition to providing daily care to the sheltered animals, investigating animal cruelty complaints and helping council clients in crisis; the agency’s staff is actively seeking in-kind support of dry and canned dog and cat food, cat litter and other supplies to help those struggling to afford pet care essentials. Staff assists with an average of 50 food pick-up appointments per day and will make more than 20 deliveries every day this week around Franklin County.
“We’re seeing a big need for dry cat food in particular,” says Jessica Nelson, Director of Operations at Columbus Humane. “One client shared that she started feeding her cats bread because she had no other food for them. People are struggling.”
Contrary to popular concern, Columbus Humane is not seeing an increase in the number of people wanting to surrender pets. Nelson shares the opposite is true. “Really, our experience is that people are trying very hard to keep their pets—they just need help to do it. And that’s where we come in.”
Those in the community with the means to support the effort are encouraged to mail or drop off pet food to Columbus Humane at 3015 Scioto Darby Executive Ct., Hilliard, OH 43026. There are donation bins set up outside the front door for those dropping-off supplies. Specific shelter needs can be found on the Columbus Humane Wish List online here.
Columbus Humane is also accepting monetary donations to purchase additional supplies and underwrite care for the animals sheltered. Gifts can be made online at www.columbushumane.org/give.
