“We generally see an increase in need around the holiday time without the added stressor of the SNAP benefit issue.”
Angela Hollinshead is the Director of the Kent County Animal Shelter which is taking in hundreds of pets each month.
“We kind of prepared to see an increase and then we did. We did see an increase in need. We also saw an increase of people calling us and saying I'm struggling to keep my pet because I'm struggling financially. Secondarily we see a lot of people struggling right now with housing instability.”
A $10,000 gift from the Standale Meijer team couldn’t have come at a better time.
It’s part of the “Meijer Team Gives” program and will fund essential needs at the shelter.
“Treatment, veterinary, surgical needs and then enrichment, comfort supplies like toys, beds, treats. We do a lot of enrichment here at the shelter to make sure that the pets are happy and healthy and not stressed.”
For others who would like to help, Hollinshead says adopting a pet is the most helpful along with volunteering and in-kind donations.
All of the items needed are listed on the shelter’s website and social media.
“We're definitely going to use some of that $10,000 gift to buy some of those things. We’re so grateful for the Meijer team for choosing the Kent County Animal Shelter as the recipient of that, and it is definitely going to have lasting impact on the pets that call us home.”
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