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‘Pet Food Stamps’ Program Launches to Help Low-Income Americans Feed Their Animals

Feb. 26, 2013 8:07am Billy Hallowell

America’s food stamp epidemic is well-documented. At the government level, the focus is obviously on creating programs that help feed humans — but what about pets? What happens to those animals with owners who simply can’t afford to pay for expensive cuisine?

Alas, there’s a solution. A new program called Pet Food Stamps has launched, an initiative aimed at using private donations to help those who cannot afford nutrients for their furry friends. The organization assists low-income Americans who are already struggling and potentially relying upon government assistance to put food on their tables.

Naturally, many would argue that those who cannot afford to feed themselves probably shouldn’t have pets. Still, others would counter that circumstances change and that people sometimes find themselves newly poor and in need or assistance.

Either way, the Pet Food Stamps program is an intriguing concept.

Pet Food Stamps Program Launches to Help Low Income Americans Afford Animal Nutrients

Screen shot from PetFoodStamps.org

Already, more than 45,000 pets have been signed up — and that’s only in the first two week’s of the program’s opening. Based in New York, Pet Food Stamps is available for any family in the U.S. Once verified, recipients will receive pet food for a six-month period from Pet Food Direct.

Unlike government-funded food programs, Pet Food Stamps are doled out through private donations — although the potential for public assistance and partnerships may arise in the future.

“We’re not looking for government funding at this point,” explained Pet Food Stamps founder and executive director Marc Okon. “Should the government be willing to provide assistance further down the line, we will look into it.”

Those interested in the program can apply through an online application on the organization’s web site. With 46.6 million Americans relying upon actual food stamps in 2012, it will be interesting to see how many people sign up for this private opportunity for pet food.

(H/T: Christian Post)

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Comments (147)

Moliminous
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 12:28pm
Are these pets legal?

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Abigail Adams
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 12:22pm
It’s not a Goverment program. It’s privately funded so I have no problem with it.

When my son was in the hospital they had a dog visiting all the patients. Why? Because pets bring people happiness. A family that has suddenly been hit by unemployment and hard times shouldn’t have to give up thier beloved pets. It certainly wouldn’t help them in any way.

Did you know that in Greece, which has unemployment of 29%, many people can’t afford to feed their dogs so they just turned them out on the street? The pets would be much safer with thier families, receiving privately funded doggie food stamps.

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- vickivick
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 12:35pm
  We have enough problems LET Alone feeding all the frigging animals.
  
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- vickivick
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 12:40pm
  Think like liberals. Abort it if you cant feed it.” Oh but but but,thats an animal and animals should not be aborted lets abort children instead”
  
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Runt_Caustas
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 12:19pm
If you can’t afford to feed a pet, Don’t get a pet.

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Owt_Raged
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:56am
I don’t see a problem with this as long as every penny is from private donations. However, the first time they put their hand out for money from my tax dollars, I will have a problem with it.
People seem to have forgotten how to care for themselves, they forgot that it’s their own responsibility to take care of themselves. Society now expects that others will take care of them. This is not how our country is supposed to work.

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gryffn
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:53am
I am With GHANDI
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.
I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man.

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:37am
Ok, sounds great, because those bestfriends, lovable creatures are now being dumped in the neighborhoods. Agreed, they are expensive to have, but, are worth it! I know, I just lost two that gave me friendship for just over 16-years, due to death because of age.

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vickivick
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:33am
Tigress1- i got nothing against the private founding! It better stay that way and not tax payers money.

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- Tigress1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:46am
  We have common ground then. :)
  
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- gryffn
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:57am
  I’d rather feed the animals than the moslems being brought over and immediately put on every damn program there is..
  
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- vickivick
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 1:04pm
  ok Tigress1 :)
  
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Tigress1
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:04am
Dog food prices are through the roof, mainly due to the corn they contain. If the gov. wants to help feed animals, then they need to stop using our food sources (corn) for FUEL! This will bring down the prices that will help both HUMANS and animals!

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- vickivick
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:09am
  the reason this country is going downhill so quickly. are you serious. dogs are NOTHING like children. they are animals, if you cant afford it oh well, get rid of it. its not a baby
  
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- Tigress1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:13am
  You are heartless.
  
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- Tigress1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:19am
  Vickivick, Of course pets are not children, but if you truly care about people don’t you realize that it HURTS (at least to most pet owners) to get rid of a pet? A pet is a LIVING CREATURE, not an inanimate object. If an organization (PRIVATELY FUNDED) wants to help people feed their pets, what’s the problem???
  
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- vickivick
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:29am
  Not paying for it. My money will have to pay for the kids and that’s enough and that’s MOST IMPORTANT . Im not paying for someone else’ s animals.
  
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- Tigress1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:38am
  Well good! Good for you! Don’t donate then! As a parent (of REAL children) AND a pet owner, I understand that this is as much about caring for other people as it is for animals. It’s about sparing HUMANS (this includes children) pain. If it gets a family through difficult times then there’s not a thing wrong with it. The government should just have no part of this – except for doing something about the inflation. It’s ridiculous.
  
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RaydocX
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:52am
While almost ridiculous, so long as this is privately funded i have no problem with it.
Except you KNOW that there will be some psychologist insisting that pets are vital to the mental health of families, and encouraging the government to subsidize the limited funding of such an organization.
Within two years, the founders will be highly paid executive staff, overseeing the squandering of millions of dollars to feed all manner of pets… any investigative work would uncover individuals somehow collecting thousands of dollars to feed their pit bulls… dogs they are raising and training to fight, a job that keeps them from working and so mandates their collecting unemployment as well…

seem outlandish?

It will.

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jungle J
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:48am
keep them pits full.

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Shrugged
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:39am
Here’s a solution used elsewhere in the world: Cook the dog and get off of food stamps. Both problems solved.
And, its a program obama has participated in.

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republic2011
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:30am
Hey.. Marc Ocon… you moron. “Should the government be willing to provide assistance further down the line, we will look into it.”. Really? The phrase should have been… “Should the “”American Taxpayer”" be willing to provide assistance further down the line, we will look into it.”. And, I can assure you, the American Taxpayer is done paying more taxes for bone headed schemes like this. If you want to keep it private, we are all for it, but don’t you dare take a dime of taxpayer money.

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Phattdad144
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:23am
So how long will it be that the politicians that give their pets rides on the roofs of their cars or eat them will be pushing for the publicly funded pet food stamps.

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vickivick
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:16am
I’m sick of people comparing animals to kids.

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Liberalismsamentaldisorder
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:10am
OMFG. we have $17,000,000,000,000 on the credit card and the plan is to slap some more on it to buy dog food?
Liberalism is a mental disorder. Try and deny it. I’ll point you to this story.

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everydaywoman
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:09am
Being that this money is from private donations and not the government, I don’t have a problem with it. Many people fall on hard times and in a horrible economy such as this? One month, someone has a job. Things might be tight, but they’re holding their own. Many of these family have pets. Suddenly, they’re called into the boss’s office and their job is gone. Kicking Fido and Spot to the curb is not an option for many people (and I don’t blame them) and it’s not always so easy finding another good home for your pet. Hopefully, these private donations will remain private.

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vickivick
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:53am
Well ,whats next? I got to say I wouldn’t be surprised if it we end up having to pay tax dollars for peoples dogs. I can see it coming already. Ever looked in your facebook news feed?all you see is pet photos and some really gross stuff and uncalled for stuff.I have to delete people when i see them compare dogs to kids. Its disturbing. This has been coming for a while so im not surprised. Next it’ll be the right to marry your dog.

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- Tigress1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:33am
  I agree with you that dogs are not the same as kids, however, there are many people who are unable to have kids (or are not ready yet) that keep pets to fill that void. There also are even more people who cannot handle the demands of children but can handle the simpler demands of a pet. These people consider their pets as their “children”. At least these people are responsible enough to realize their limitations and don’t have real children that will either be neglected or abused. At least they have something to love. Give them a break!
  
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Tigress1
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:46am
As long as it isn’t a taxpayer-funded program (AKA “government program”) it’s fine with me. Pets can bring a lot of happiness and stress relief to people during difficult times, I just think people should not get a pet if they can’t afford one, however, people who already own pets BEFORE the difficult times hit look at their pets as part of the family. It would only add to their pain to have to give up a family member.
I draw the line at this sympathy if it becomes a government program. Same as these people who are signed up for this program need to realize that our GOVERNMENT is just as broke as they are! We can’t afford ANY more programs!

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- vickivick
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:40am
  No i will NOT give them a break!! I see the bitterness towards kids so HELL no i will NOT. The dogs they own are never equal to ANY kids.
  
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- Tigress1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:00am
  I see bitterness to pets! What’s up with that? Humans NEED love. Humans NEED to give love, unless they are heartless. Pets give comfort when humans don’t care.
  
  Sorry kids, Daddy lost his job, so Poochie must go.
  
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Skeeterhawk
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:35am
Naturally, many would argue that those who cannot afford to feed themselves probably shouldn’t have pets or children. But what the hell, someone else (me) will pay for it.

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50Caliber
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:20am
…and all this is a surprise because?……..woof woof

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PlanetReality
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:14am
Private donations now!!! what happens when this gets tooo big and lets face it abuse starts hitting the system then the liberals will turn to gov aka THE TAXPAYERS and this is another system we cant afford!!!!!!
How r these people being able to purchase animal food does it address ANIMAL FOOD ONLY on the currency???
Or is it cash that they can spend elsewhere???

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decendentof56
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:08am
I’m financially strapped, and didn’t realize that when I bought my two motorcycles (in 1996/2001) that the financial situation would leave me unable to afford maintenance and repairs on those bikes. Plus, they need to be fed that expensive gas to run. I get great pleasure from those bikes, just like the animal-lovers do from their pets. Could I have some “free” money, too? Please!

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- Mermaid102458
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:17am
  A bike hardly is a comparison to a living thing with feelings and emotions.
  
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- vickivick
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:56am
  Agree with decendentof56
  
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- Liberalismsamentaldisorder
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:11am
  @mermaid
  If you’re serious. Please seek professional help.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:13am
  Yes. Where does one draw the line between ” I need/ want ” and the ” it is your responsibility to solve your problems ?” The Democrats have nurtured a following of irresponsible, often angry, dependent sheep whose votes give the Democrats power. Sad for all of us taxpayers.
  
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progressiveslayer
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 8:57am
Private donations are fine it’s when the government gets involved and uses force through taxation is when there’s a problem a big problem. I have no doubt the collectivists in our one party system will start a new tax to pay for somebody’s pets.

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Locked
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 8:54am
Wow, it’s been a while since Billy Hallowell has had SUCH a terrible article. I think this sums it up well:

“Alas, there’s a solution. A new program called Pet Food Stamps has launched, an initiative aimed at using private donations to help those who cannot afford nutrients for their furry friends.”

1. This is the second time in the last few weeks I’ve noticed Hallowell using “alas” incorrectly. It implies that something is unfortunate, which is the exact opposite meaning he was going for.

2. This is with PRIVATE DONATIONS. This is NOT a government-funded program! To imply that it is, as Hallowell does through the title and throughout most of the article, is the definition of yellow journalism. Shame on Billy Hallowell.

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HOOT_OWL
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 8:50am
I like this idea (no government)
PEOPLE food stamp programs should be privately run,
Then we wouldn’t have EBT cards with a $ 7,000 surplus.

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