The Hawaii Island Humane Society is opening Community Pet Pantries to provide pet food for those families impacted by COVID-19.
The Community Pet Pantry program is targeted at those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis including community members who have lost their jobs, frontline health care workers, kupuna and those at high risk or immuno-compromised, according to a press release from the organization.
“All of us at the Hawaii Island Humane Society want to make sure that the economic circumstances facing everyone in our community is not a crisis for your pets,” said HIHS Community Program Director Lauren Nickerson.
As supplies allow, Hawaii Island Humane Society will provide a two-week supply of pet food to those in need. The amount of pet food received is based on the weight of your pet.
Community members can request pet food by logging on to hihs.org/item/pet-pantry or by calling any of the shelter locations in Keaau, Waimea or Kona. After an application is received, a member of the HIHS team will call to schedule a pick up.
The pantries rely solely on donations.
“We continue to need donations of new, unopened bags and cans of adult dog food, adult cat food, puppy food and kitten food. Donations can be dropped off at any of our three shelter locations,” Nickerson said.
For those who want to help from the safety of their own home, donations can be made by purchasing pet food from our Amazon wishlist. Log on at https://www.hihs.org/donations/wish-list
For more information, call the Kona Shelter at (808) 329-1175, the Waimea Shelter at (808) 885-4558 or the Keaau Shelter at (808) 966-5458.