Pretty pupper Maya receives goodies from Charlie's
You & Me BC
November 17th, 2022
Charlie's Pet Food Bank helps low-income pets owners by providing their furry friends with lots of love, care, and goodies. We talked with the BC SPCA's Diane Waters about the support Charlie's offers and why our pets mean so much to us.
How does Charlie's help low-income pet owners?
Diane: Charlie's is the Vancouver BC SPCA's animal food bank! We are located at 543 Powell Street and hand out free pet food and supplies like leashes, collars, toys, litter boxes etc. every Thursday from 10:00am - 12:00pm.
Anyone needing pet food is welcome - no registration required! We are also able to help with nail trims and shaving matted fur. We can also provide vet referrals and low-income vet resources. What type of animals does Charlie's helps?
Diane: We are able to help any domestic animals, like cats, dogs, rabbits, rats, mice, birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and degus.
Charlie's loves dogs, but they help all domestic animals, including cats, birds, bunnies, and more
Why do you think our pets mean so much to us?
Diane: Pets are like family! There is also so much research to show that pet ownership decreases rates of depression in people, as well as increase in sense of responsibility and autonomy. We want to help everyone keep their family together and so we offer support in any way we can.
Can people outside Vancouver get this type of help?
Diane: There are 35 BC SPCA locations that host food bank programs. If anyone is in need in other areas of the province, you can call the local SPCA and inquiry about the pet food bank - we are eager to help.
So far this year we have provided over 27,000 animals with a week worth of food and are looking forward to helping many more.
Learn more about Charlie's Pet Food Bank
Spencer van Vloten is the editor of You & Me BC. To get in touch, send an email to spencer@bcdisability.com!
