The alliance has received more than 300,000 meals to distribute.

Some of the UK’s biggest animal charities have joined forces to help distribute pet food to owners who are struggling to feed their pets during the cost-of-living crisis.

An alliance made up of the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Cats Protection and Battersea is working alongside industry body UK Pet Food to organise donations from pet food manufacturers as part of the Pet Food Partnership.

The donated food is distributed throughout the UK by FareShare’s network of almost 9,500 frontline charities and community groups, which run food banks as well as other services including homelessness shelters, women’s refuge centres, and after school clubs. Insurance company Petplan has given £100,000 to cover distribution costs.

Many owners are finding it difficult to meet the costs of looking after their pets, with charities seeing a steep rise in people giving up their pets in the past year. Dogs Trust received more than 50,000 handover inquiries in 2022, and other rehoming charities have also seen increased numbers of pets being relinquished.

Paul Cardwell, 55, from Preston in Lancashire and his eight-year-old cat Lucky are among those who are struggling with the cost of living. He began using a food bank in 2020 and volunteers to help with deliveries.

Mr Cardwell said: “The food bank makes a huge difference to my life as my food and pet food keeps going up in cost. Getting food from the food bank means we have enough for both of us and I don't have to choose between cat food and my own food.
 
“The cost of living has made life much harder. I’ve never considered giving Lucky up as she is my life, my family; she is my sole source of company. It doesn't matter what happens in life, we will always be together.”

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare, said: “The cost of living crisis is having a disproportionate impact on people already struggling to make ends meet. We’re incredibly proud to be working with these animal welfare charities and their pet food partners so that people won’t have to choose between feeding themselves or their pets during what is a challenging time for many.”


Images (C) Dogs Trust