Pet Food Stamp Program Started For Low-Income Families [taxpayer dollars NOT involved]

CBS News - Dallas ^ | Monday, May 6, 2013 | N/A

[upchuck]

There is no question that some individuals and families across North Texas and the nation have had to ‘tighten their belts’ during rough economic times. Now one organization is focused on the pets belonging to those people.

The non-profit Pet Food Stamps program is looking to help provide food for the pets of low-income families. Organizers say often the only option for poor pet owners is to abandon their family pet to the ASPCA or a high-kill shelter. “We feel that should not happen and provide free pet food to prevent that decision [high-kill shelter] from happening,” Pet Food Stamps founder Marc Okon explained.

Given that pet owners need to vaccinate their animals and provide other sometimes costly care, petfoodstamps.org is meant to help pick up the slack and help those who are less economically fortunate.

Anyone receiving public assistance through the United States Food Stamp program is prohibited from using the funds to purchase pet food and supplies. “There is zero ability to use food stamp money in any state in the U.S. for any pet food whatsoever, even though you are able to use food stamps for unhealthy things like Coca-Cola (which gets about $4 billion a year from food stamps),” Okon said.

[upchuck]

Anyone receiving public assistance through the United States Food Stamp program is prohibited from using the funds to purchase pet food and supplies.

For now. Hey CBS, quit giving nobama ideas.

Mr. Okon, if you want to voluntarily give pet food to a bunch of takers, that's fine by me. Knock yourself out. But keep your hands off taxpayer dollars.

Related.

[GraceG]

Why can’t poor people buy some canned meat for their pets?

They don’t seem to want to ask this question....

[C210N]

Lets expand this PFSP, pet food stamp program BIG TIME. Make it a government department, stock it with BILLION$ in dog and cat food. When its going good and big and fat... we CLOSE DOWN SNAP and EBT. In it’s place, we have PFSP - at your service! Let’s see if 47 millions want PFSP in place of EBT!

[upchuck]

Why can’t poor people buy some canned meat for their pets?

I've had lots of folks on food stamps tell me they buy cheap beef cuts, mixed vegetables, stew, corned beef hash, even Cheerios for their pets.

Food stamp fraud is rampant, really, really rampant.

[EinNYC]

Canned meat by itself is not a balanced diet for dogs or cats. They need several supplements that humans may not need. For example, cat food MUST have taurine added or cats fed the deficient food can get heart disease. Besides, isn't canned meat for humans rather expensive?

I see ads on craigslist every single day asking people to adopt a dog or cat because the person can't afford it any more. If the pet is not adopted, it will go to the NYC Animal "Care" and Control, which is a certain death sentence. If the difference between that innocent and loving pet living and dying is pet food stamps that are not funded by taxpayer dollars, I'm all for the pet food stamps.

[upchuck]

Let’s see if 47 millions want PFSP in place of EBT!

Hell no! If you remove the takers' EBT card, how will they pay for their cigarettes, booze and lottery tickets.

The food stamp program is completely out of control.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[Cenobite]

Hey guys, relax a sensitive liberal who cares deeply about all God’s creatures has 200 million bucks to share with the little guys. NOT!

[Excellence]

Our local shelter distributes donated food. It’s better than having the animals turn up at the shelter. We have taken in two abandoned cats.

[Moonman62]

...even though you are able to use food stamps for unhealthy things like Coca-Cola (which gets about $4 billion a year from food stamps),” Okon said.

Another reason why Big Business loves Big Government.