Food banks are not something we associate with our pets. Pet nutrition is a growing focus for pet owners - even as we attempt to improve our own eating habits, we also want to make sure our pets get the best nutrition possible. But, the recession has actually put a damper on that purpose. Many pet owners are having trouble feeding their pets.

This NY Times article shows how needed pet food banks are. In this article, "More Food Banks Helping to Feed Pets", the writer, Stephanie Strom quotes the president of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals (a non-profit that works to find way of limiting the number of animals in NYC that are euthanized, something we can all get behind), saying, "One of our goals is to keep pets in their homes if we can. It's heartbreaking when an animal has to go to a shelter simply because its family doesn't have the money to feed it."

When I was back in Rochester, Tom and I volunteered for PINC, a local veterinarian's attempt to help give proper care to pets whose owners could not afford to do the basic, routine care of vaccinations and regular vet visits. While there, we learned from another volunteer that the pet food issue was pretty serious. He said he worked with Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to folks who couldn't leave their homes or who couldn't afford to buy groceries. He told us that some of those people would take the food he delivered and share it with their pets, rather than give up the pet.

There you have it - a need for sharing and caring. I know Purina does its best to contribute to pet welfare in a number of ways. But, they are just one pet food company. It's up to us - pet owners - to donate time or funds, to food banks and shelters like PAWS Chicago, or any local endeavor.

Think of the good you do, when you take an hour a week, or a dollar a day - and donate it to the health and welfare of pets.