DETROIT (WWJ) - One local animal welfare group is stepping up to help Detroit pet owners facing financial hardship provide food for their animals as costs skyrocket — but need the help of donors to keep the mission going,
The Detroit nonprofit Providing Animals With Emergency Resources, or PAWER, pledges to offer free food for cats, dogs — and even horses — as owners struggle to afford feeding their animals, WWJ's Mike Campbell reported.
The Downriver pet food bank organized by PAWER runs on donated food and the organizers say they could use help from the community to make sure pets in the area stay fed.
"Inflation is at everybody really hard," Colleen Medere, PAWER director and owner of Bubble Puppy Salon in Trenton, told Campbell. "Grocery bills have doubled for everybody. You may have the same amount of income but there's a lot less money you have to spend."
The same goes for dog or cat food — bags of kibble or cans of wet pâté aren't cheap, says co-partner Crystal Kochoian.
"Some of these bags of dog food are a $100 a bag," Kochoian added. "Say you have three large dogs and you could afford paying to feed them for months, and years even, then all of a sudden your income goes down — how are you supposed to afford that food?"
That's where PAWER steps in. In the last five weeks, the nonprofit said they've handed out enough food to fed roughly 2,500 pets. While PAWR has kept up with demand, the need for supplies is high and organizers are seeking the help of donors to make sure their wares don't go empty.
"The group buys these pallets of dog food that's been returned... maybe it has a hole in the bag or their pet didn't like it, so [PAWER] buys up these pallets of food and then makes it available for those that can't afford the food," Campbell explained.
The food bank is operated out of Medere's pet grooming salon at 2505 West Jefferson. Organizers said cat food is always sought after as it is the item that is not donated very often when compared to dog food.
PAWER said cash donations are also very helpful.
In the future, organizers say they hope to be able to expand their food bank to provide feed for other animals. Another future plan is to be able to help pet owners out with veterinary bills.
Those looking to help the cause can find additional information through the Bubble Puppy Facebook page or the PAWER Facebook page.
Cash donations can be sent via PayPal at pawer501c3@gmail.com or Venmo at pawer501c3.
Those in need of assistance can apply here.