
Submitted by Stacey Zeitlin, San Diego Humane Society Vice President, Community Impact
For many families throughout San Diego County, these are challenging times. The rising cost of living means that people are often faced with difficult decisions — and for some pet families, being unable to afford a pet’s care can result in the heartbreaking decision to surrender them to a shelter.
But San Diego Humane Society is committed to keeping animals with the people who love them. The organization accomplishes this by offering Community Support Services, including a low-cost veterinary clinic, behavior and training resources and a Community Pet Pantry that provides free pet food and supplies.
The Community Pet Pantry helps ensure pet owners can meet their pets’ basic needs even when financial resources are limited. Anyone can access the pantry by visiting San Diego Humane Society’s campus locations in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, to pick up dog or cat food and other supplies as available. There are also regularly scheduled neighborhood distribution locations in Sherman Heights and Spring Valley. No appointment is needed, and there are no eligibility requirements to access services.
For people like Kathy, a disabled senior living on a fixed income, the Community Pet Pantry is life-changing. “Once the pandemic began, I found it very difficult to cope with the constantly increasing prices of basic necessities,” she said. “How was I going to be able to continue taking care of my family of cats?”
Fortunately, Kathy connected with the Community Pet Pantry to get the support she needs. “When I first came in contact with the Pantry,” she recalled, “it was a crucial lifeline in my quest to keep my feline family together. It still is that for me.”
Last year, the Community Pet Pantry distributed more than 2.3 million pet meals, including those provided directly to families and to the organization’s rescue partners — and the demand for services continues to increase. Kathy said, “I am constantly amazed by the amount of supplies needed for the Pantry to continue fulfilling its goal of helping anyone who needs it.”
Members of the public can support the Community Pet Pantry by donating supplies or volunteering. To view a list of items currently needed, visit sdhumane.org/wishlist. For more information about this important resource, visit sdhumane.org/pantry.