A pet owner in Melksham has set up a pet foodbank to ensure people can still feed their animals in the current cost-of-living crisis.
Wendy Isaacs of Melksham, who previously owned a pet care shop in Melksham for 13 years, set the foodbank up in the first week of December, after being inspired by a post she saw on Facebook from the Corsham pet foodbank.
After contacting Corsham to find out more information about how it works there, Wendy announced on Facebook the start of the town’s pet foodbank.
The service currently operates via a Facebook page. To use the pet foodbank, owners can post if they have anything to donate for pets; those who are interested can liaise directly with the donator. Those who do not want to make contact with people directly can take their items for pets to a designated drop off point in the town.
Wendy will then collect these at the end of each week and put a list on Facebook of what is available for people to respond to.
Wendy, who has had a mix of pets throughout her life including cats, parrots and dogs said, “Pets have been in my life forever. Animals are my life. Many people are struggling to feed their families at the moment, let alone their pets and as a result, people’s pets are hungry, or they are having to get rid of them. Pet food is so expensive and vet bills are high. Even if you have a guinea pig, you might think the cost is low, but it could cost £5 to £10 a week and that adds up!”
The pet foodbank will accept any pet-related items and not just food.
Wendy said, “Anything anyone has got for pets can be accepted. We don’t just take food. No money will change hands, people are giving for free.”
Currently there is no eligibility criteria to use the pet foodbank, it is open to anyone and everyone who needs support for their pets.
Wendy said, “It doesn’t matter what you earn or who you are, the foodbank is open to anyone who has pets.
“We want to help everyone to look after their pets because in turn, that means we are helping people to look after themselves.”
Eventually Wendy’s aim is to have several drop-off points dotted around the town and to one day have a central location in which the foodbank operates from.
At the moment, some of the drop off points are: Morrisons Daily Pembroke Road, The Salon, Unit 3, Verbena Court, SN127GG, Melksham Town Football Club, Oakfield, Orchardlea Clinic, Bay Tree Farm, Lower Woodrow, SN127RB and the Pig and Whistle Pub.
Other locations can be found on the Facebook page by searching for Melksham Pet Foodbank.
For any questions visit the Facebook page.
