A Welsh charity that feeds hungry dogs has seen demand boom in the last year.
Pet Food Bank Service served provided 40,000 meals to owners who could not afford to feed their dogs in the last year alone. This was up from 9,000 in the previous year.
The charity serves a variety of people, including the homeless, people in financial crisis, and furloughed workers.
Read more: A baby wrapped in blanket tied with string as a mother weeps by her sleeping children.
Chief executive Debi Emmett, 47, said: “This year the service has exploded. We can’t keep up. I am having to turn people away from areas outside those which we cover.
“It’s getting a bit much to do alone. We really need monetary contributions to help set up permanent premises and expand to the whole of south Wales.”
The charity currently has outlets in Cardiff, Newport, Caerphilly, Swansea, Gilfach Goch, Merthyr and Bargoed.
They hope to be able to serve the whole of South Wales as soon as possible.
Miss Emmett started the service with her friend back in 2017.
She has always loved animals and has previously fostered dogs. Now, her own dog Ruby comes with her to the food bank.
Miss Emmett said: “I fostered frenchies for years but one of them I just couldn’t give up. So Ruby is now my dog and she comes everywhere with me.
“She has become a mascot for the food bank and it can be a real ice breaker. Homeless people who normally wouldn’t speak to us will pet her and it starts a conversation.”
As well as running the charity, Miss Emmett is a full-time carer for her elderly mother. She spends up to 90 hours per week making sure that hungry dogs are getting fed.
This year, the number of dogs in need seems to have worsened.
Miss Emmett said: “We see a real variety of people coming to us. It can be people on low income or benefits, homeless people, or more recently people who have been affected by Covid.
“A lot of people have been struggling with furlough, especially if their partner is also furloughed. That’s a big pay cut and it can be a difficult situation.
“One woman recently had been feeding her dog pasta until she found out about us. That’s not good for the dog but it is all she had.”
The charity aims to prevent owners from sharing their food with their dogs, which in turn can cause the owners to become malnourished.
Miss Emmett added: “It feels great when I can help someone. But it is hard when I can’t always help and animals go hungry.”
You can read more about Pet Food Bank Service’s appeal here.
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