Thanks to the efforts of local donors, some cats are feasting on Friskies and dogs are devouring Dog Chow.
Last month, officials with Forsyth County Animal Control sent out a plea for pet food for its AniMeals program, which is sort of like a food bank for dogs, cats and birds.
The program, which was started in California, is set up to provide free pet food for pet owners who are elderly, disabled or struggling financially, said Matt Smith, the manager of the county's animal shelter.
Since the program began two years ago, the number of people asking for help has increased 150 percent, Smith said.
This year, more than 100 people have asked for help. Sometimes, people need food for a month; other times, they may need long-term assistance, Smith said.
The amount of food the program stocks varies. Before Christmas, Smith said, he sent out public-service announcements to let people in the community know about the need for donations.
"There is usually a lot of demand before the holidays, with people trying to make ends meet," Smith said. "We got a ton of response, and we're real appreciative of that."
A storage room at the shelter is now overflowing with cans and sacks of dog and cat food. Bird food is also accepted.
Mitchell Spindel, a veterinarian at Animal Ark Veterinary Hospital in Clemmons, said that such programs as AniMeals can make a big difference to people who need to cut expenses.
In the last 15 months or so, several cats in boxes have been dropped off at his practice.
"Some people are so distraught because they can't afford insulin or food, and they are forced to make a difficult choice," Spindel said. "And sometimes, these animals are the best things in their lives. Animals can waste away and get really sick, so a program like this is huge."
To be eligible, a person's pet must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. Each person is given about a month's worth of food based on the pet's weight.
"A lot of times people will feed their pets table scraps or whatever they have," Smith said.
"That's what this program is for, to improve the animal's quality of life and hopefully, keep pets with owners."
The program accepts any brand of pet food, but Smith asked that bags be sealed. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter, 5570 Sturmer Park Circle.
lo'donnell@wsjournal.com
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