FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Morgan Pulleyblank
Director of Development & Communications
mpulleyblank@berkeleyhumane.org
BERKELEY, Calif –Families in need can now pick up dog and cat food at Berkeley Humane’s Adoption Center by appointment or simply drop-in on Sundays in an expanded program to support community members. Volunteers expect to distributed over 26,000 lbs of donated dog and cat food to support the pets in our community need.
Already this year, a record amount of over 8000 lbs of food have been distributed to families across the East Bay. This represents a sharp increase in requests for food from the Pet Food Pantry, pointing to the very real financial impact COVID-19 is having on families and people who have few resources. When someone must choose between feeding themselves or feeding their pet, they often will go hungry to make sure their pet is fed.
TWEET THIS: Free dog and cat food available on Sundays at Berkeley Humane, 2700 Ninth Street, Berkeley CA
“Berkeley Humane works every day to provide help for the most vulnerable pet owners/guardians in our community – and help keep pets out of the public shelter system,” said Jeffrey Zerwekh, Executive Director of Berkeley Humane. “We know that when a family must choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pet, they will make sure their pet has food. Our Pet Food Pantry bridges that gap for hundreds of families in the area.”
With all the shelter animals in foster homes, the Berkeley Humane volunteers who normally clean litter boxes and walk dogs are coming together, wearing protective gear and adhering to all social distancing guidelines, to create food packages for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens.
“Our Pet Food Pantry has been a vital part of the area’s safety net for years,” noted Dan Lang, President, Berkeley Humane Board of Directors. “At this time of crisis, we have the opportunity now to come together with some amazing organizations to help even more pets and the people who love them.”
WHO: Families in need of emergency pet food
WHAT: Free dog and cat food
WHEN: Sundays from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, or by appointment
WHERE: Berkeley Humane, 2700 Ninth Street, Berkeley CA 94710
About Berkeley Humane
With its origins dating back to 1895, today Berkeley Humane serves the people and animals of our community by providing life-saving programs for cats and dogs, cultivating compassion, and strengthening the human-animal bond. With the support of a dedicated and talented volunteer and staff team, Berkeley Humane intakes animals from municipals shelters around the Bay Area who are often in need of medical care, improved nutrition, enrichment and lots of love. In 2019, Berkeley Humane conducted over 1,200 adoptions and touched the lives of an additional 1,000 additional pets through related services. Learn more at www.berkeleyhumane.org.
