New Ottawa Initiative Helps Families and Pets Stick Together

There’s a new non-profit in Ottawa that’s dedicated to helping both pets and their humans stick together through tough times. Launched in early January 2016, the Ottawa Paw Pantry is a not-for-profit committed to helping qualifying families and individuals facing tough financial times by providing them with temporary food assistance for their companion animals. Think of it as a food bank created specifically to help Ottawa fur-babies.

This initiative is run entirely on donations and will help prevent families from having to surrender their pets during times of need. They offer two modes of support for individuals as a part of their Emergency Paw Program. The first, Crisis Support, is designed to help people who are facing an unexpected difficulty in their lives and generally lasts for three months. The Temporary Assistance program lasts six months and is aimed towards people who are experiencing financial hardship. Both programs help supply pet food, and in some cases, essential pet medication and community aid. Anyone who needs a little helping hand can apply here if they fit the qualifications for the Ottawa Paw Pantry’s support programs.

The Ottawa Paw Pantry is only made available primarily through kind donations from the public and in some part from brand distributers. They are currently accepting dog and cat food as well as cat litter. If you wish to make a donation to this awesome cause, you can email donate@ottawapawpantry.com for more information. Donations to help can be made in the form of pet food or litter, gift cards to stores selling pet food, or via e-transfer. Donations can be dropped off at Purrdy Paws Pet Spa in the Glebe, Chew-That in Riverside South, and downtown at Healthy Pets HQ. If you can’t reach any of the current drop-off points, donations can be arranged for pick-up via one of Ottawa Paw Pantry’s hard working volunteers. The Ottawa Paw Pantry is also looking for volunteers to be a part of their team, or community members who would like to register as a donation drop-off point.