STEELE CREEK NEWS

Pet Food Bank Helps Keep Pets out of Shelter

(February 12, 2011) As Mecklenburg County pet owners began experiencing increased financial difficulty a few years ago, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control saw an increase in the number of pets being brought in to the Animal Shelter because the owners couldn't afford to feed them. To help pet owners keep their pets, and keep them out of the shelter, Animal Care and Control partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to establish the Pet Food Bank, which assists income-eligible families with food for their dogs and cats.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control staff will collect pet food for the Pet Food Bank at the Steele Creek Residents Association Meeting on Thursday, March 3 at Southwest Middle School. All types of pet food are needed – dry and canned food for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Open food containers cannot be accepted because this food is distributed to the public. Smaller bags of 10 pounds or less are preferred because they are easier to store and distribute. Animal Care and Control is part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Their offices are located at 8315 Byrum Drive, at the northern edge of Steele Creek.

The Pet Food Bank is one of many Community Outreach Programs the agency has to help control the pet population, to promote the health and welfare of Mecklenburg County pets, and to get pets out of the shelter and into homes with loving families. They also offer a variety of Humane Education classes to promote responsible pet ownership.

For more information, contact Animal Control Officers Melissa Knicely or Julia Conner.

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