Many people find irreplaceable companionship with animals, in this challenging year of the pandemic and every other year. Whether they curl up with us on the couch or we care for them in their outdoor homes, often we depend on the cats and dogs in our lives as much as they depend on us.
So in this time of great need, during the holiday season and beyond, Alley Cat Allies is committed to doing our part to keep familiespeople and animalstogether.
Alley Cat Allies President and Founder Becky Robinson meets Shepherdstown Mayor Jim Auxer to deliver a load of cat and dog food bound for families and community cat caregivers in need in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
To help cats and dogs stay in their homes for the holidays, Alley Cat Allies delivered a bulk donation of cat, kitten, and dog food to Shepherdstown, West Virginia this week that will help animals across Jefferson County.
The food will be distributed to families and community cat caregivers across the area as part of our Keeping Families TogetherTM initiative, which provides critical resources to help animals stay with the families who love them through the COVID-19 crisis.
Our President and Founder Becky Robinson delivered the donation in person, kicking off a lifesaving relationship with the Shepherdstown community.
“Many people are hurting, especially as the difficulty from the pandemic drags on,” Robinson says. “We don’t want anybody to go hungry during the holidays. So this is to not only keep families together but to really give them a boost. And we’re not just here for Shepherdstown, but all of Jefferson County.”
Since the pandemic began to sweep the United States, Alley Cat Allies has donated thousands of pounds of animal food through Keeping Families TogetherTM. We have also set a precedent for stocking cat and dog food in pantries that have historically only served people.
By providing food for cats and dogs during this pandemic induced financial crisis , we are helping to relieve the pressure many people may be feeling to care for their animals properly. Our goal is to prevent relinquishment of animals to shelters and to allow caregivers to continue feeding community cats.
Volunteers unload pallets of Alley Cat Allies-donated food that will ensure meals for Jefferson County cats and dogs this holiday season and beyond.
“It would be tragic if someone had to give up their pet because they really couldn’t afford the food,” Mayor Auxer said to local news reporters at the distribution site.
Alley Cat Allies will continue to work with the Shepherdstown and the greater Jefferson County community to provide support during the pandemic and take steps to implement Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the official policy for community cats.
“Mayor Auxer has relayed his commitment to working with Alley Cat Allies to protect cats and kittens,” says Robinson. “Our goal is to provide for animals and their families in need during the winter season, and then to start laying the groundwork for long-term policy change in the community’s approach to cats, whether they live indoors or outdoors.”
We will keep you updated as we move forward with our lifesaving plans in West Virginia.