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New Pet Food Stamps Program Gaining Popularity

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – If you are struggling to buy food and supplies for your pets, there may be help for you.

Pets are like members of the family, so when their family is in need, so are they.

That gave Marc Okon an idea. He founded the non-profit company "pet food stamps" in New York City.

The company started two weeks ago, and already thousands of people have logged onto his website.

"I intend to keep people from choosing from having to feed themselves or their pets or having to surrender their pets to a high kill shelter."

The greater Pittsburgh community food bank says it gets a lot of requests from clients who need food for their pets. They have been referring pet owners to the humane society for help.

David Janusek, Executive Director of the humane society says, "We have Ellie's pantry for individuals who have fallen on hard times just to get them through the next month."

Janusek says pet food stamps is a resource the humane society would definitely use to help with its own efforts.

Animal Friends has a program called "chow wagon" and distributes pet food to more than two dozen food pantries. It too would utilize pet food stamps.

Cynthia Moore of the greater Pittsburgh community food bank says "just as you would imagine that people are struggling to pay utilities, transportation, people have pets and they are just like part of the family, naturally this is another concern for the household."

To apply for the pet food stamps you must prove you are already getting some sort of state assistance, and if approved you will get a monthly shipment from the national retailer, pet food direct.

If you would like to learn more about the pet food stamps, click here.

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