New partnership helps provide pet owners with readily available supplies at food shelves

It’s Pet Hunger Awareness Day and a new partnership between the Animal Humane Society and Second Harvest Heartland is looking to expand its reach to pet owners in need.

While pet food has been available at Second Harvest Heartland locations for a fairly long time, the new partnership will make dog food, cat food, and cat litter more readily available at food shelves.

"Pets are an important part of many families, including those that are facing hunger," Director of Sourcing And Demand Planning at Second Harvest Heartland Lindsey Ochmanek explains. "We've heard stories of neighbors sharing their own food from the food shelf with their pets because they couldn't afford pet food. We are so grateful to the Animal Humane Society for joining us in this vital effort."

Leaders with the Animal Humane Society say the goal this year is to get 50,000 pounds of pet food out to the community.

Chief Community Engagement Officer at the Animal Humane Society, Sunnie Kaufmann-Paulman, says this new partnership will make a huge impact on the community.

"In the face of economic uncertainty, pet owners nationwide are struggling to care for both the people and the pets in their family," says Kaufmann-Paulman. "So it only made sense for us to align with Second Harvest Heartland."

Program leaders say they’re working to expand the program to include other products for other pets as well.