MOOSE JAW MAN AIMS TO KEEP FURRY FRIENDS FED THROUGH PET FOOD BANK

Everyone has heard of a food bank. But what about a pet food bank?

It’s a concept being used by a Moose Jaw resident to help keep the bellies of our furry friends full.

Clayton Finnell created the Moose Jaw pet food bank Facebook page in the New Year, offering pet owners in need, free food for their animals.

The idea started after Finnell noticed people asking for pet food on social media.

“Some of the comments were just out there … ‘If you can’t afford a pet, then why should you have a pet? … some of these people are hardworking who just fell under hard times,” Finnell said.

“I wanted to stop that stigma of asking for help and feeling bad. We all fall under hard times.”

Watching how successful food banks are, Finnell thought “why not pet food banks?”

Finnell runs the initiative out of his home but is working to have eight locations throughout the city available for pick up by the end of January.

“It sucks when you have to ask for help, and it sucks more when the internet decides to tell you that you are an awful person because you can’t afford cat food,” Finnell said.

Finnell said he will be working with about a dozen people, including a project manager and a distribution management team.

Customers will be required to sign a liability form before receiving any products.