Victorian Virtual Pet Food Drive Critical as Winter Demand Bites
With the cost of living seeing food insecurity on the rise, hardship is not only impacting people but their beloved pets, too.
So as Victoria braces for another cold winter, Pets Of The Homeless has launched their Virtual Pet Food Drive, calling on Australians to help vulnerable people feed their companion animals during tough times.
The appeal comes as the charity announced a major milestone: 3 million meals distributed from their dedicated Pet Food Bank, with around 60,000 meals going out across the state every month.
“Three million meals is a huge achievement, but behind every meal is a person doing everything they can to keep the pet they love safe and fed,” said Yvonne Hong, Founder and CEO.
"We know that when people are facing hardship, their pets provide comfort, companionship and hope. No one should have to choose between feeding themselves or feeding their best friend. Our goal is to ensure there is enough food so that no one goes hungry this winter and beyond."
Ben, Nacho Chacho & Pinto Beans: A Story of Survival and Devotion
Read Ben's story to hear first-hand why this pet food support is saving lives and keeping families together.
Overnight, Ben was forced to leave his home due to family violence. One day he had a roof over his head. The next, he had nowhere to go.
"I went from a happy life, to being on the streets for two weeks," Ben shared. "I didn’t think it could happen so quickly. I was 32 years old, I didn’t think I’d ever be in that position. It affected my job, my mental health, my work life—everything."
Ben eventually managed to secure a new home for his little family of three beloved cats: Hallie-peno, Nacho Chacho, and Pinto Beans. But starting over from scratch came at a massive cost, draining his resources for a bond, furniture, and the basic necessities most of us take for granted.
Surrendering his cats might have made things easier financially, but for Ben, that was never an option.
“They’re my sense of security. They're my best friends. They're my everything,” Ben emphasised.
"I struggled with mental health at one point and they were there for me. They didn’t judge me, they put up with my tears, my laughter, with my insanity and they gave me a reason to get out of bed."
"It wasn’t about me – I’ve gotta change their litter. I may not want to eat, but they need to eat."
But even making sure they could eat became a heart-breaking struggle."There were times where I had to contact utilities and say, 'Don’t turn the electricity off—I’ve got the last $20 and it needs to go to cat food'."
That’s when Ben discovered his local food pantry was offering pet food support through Pets Of The Homeless. With reliable access to quality cat food and litter, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing his cats were well-fed and cared for.
“Pets Of The Homeless have been there through the worst and the best,” Ben said simply.
The support Ben received meant he could keep his feline family by his side during one of the most difficult periods of his life. Today, they are all doing much better, but their story reflects the harsh reality facing many vulnerable pet owners amidst the rising cost of living.
Help POTH Reach Their Stretch Goal
Right now, as the cold sets in, people and pets like Ben and his cats, are at real risk of going without. That’s why Pets Of The Homeless urgently need your help to keep families together.
This year’s Virtual Pet Food Drive is proudly supported by the Petstock Foundation, and while their initial donation matching allocation has now been completely exhausted thanks to incredible community generosity, the need remains urgent.
The Virtual Pet Food Drive will continue to run until 30 June. We are now pushing toward our vital stretch goal to expand our reach to more community food relief organisations who are currently on our waiting list.
"If we can reach our stretch target of 220,974 meals by the end of June, our reach will extend further and so many more pets will have full bellies, and their humans will have the comfort of knowing they don't have to face hardship alone," said Yvonne.
How to Help
By filling your virtual cart today with a bag, basket, or trolley of nutritious pet food, you can make an immediate difference. Your tax-deductible gift will help fill empty bowls for hungry pets across Victoria this winter.
To fill your virtual cart and help keep people and pets together, please visit the Pets Of The Homeless Virtual Pet Food Drive.
About Pets Of The Homeless
Pets Of The Homeless is a not-for-profit working to keep vulnerable people and their pets together by alleviating the burden of providing essential pet care during times of hardship. By providing pet food and supplies, veterinary care and safe shelter, Pets Of The Homeless works to ensure that the important bond between a person and their companion animal is never broken.
- Website: www.petsofthehomeless.org.au
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pothaustralia
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pothaustralia
