Every month, more than 45 million Americans receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.
The program, formed in the early 1960s, was created to provide low-income families with the means to obtain adequate nutrition for themselves and/or their families.
Although the program has functioned well over the years, there are some problems that have been associated with the system, such as people submitting false information on applications and people buying or selling food stamps for money or other items.
However, a non-profit corporation known as Pet Food Stamps has found a different issue with SNAP and is attempting to fill the void.
With the new Pet Food Stamp program, low-income pet owners can now qualify to feed another part of their family — their pet, which is excluded in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
I have to admit when I read the headlines about the new program last week my initial reaction was, “Come on now, if you can’t afford to feed your pet then you shouldn’t have one.”
When you are in a low-income family why risk having a pet you can’t afford to feed?
I know it may sound insensitive and it’s obviously coming from someone who doesn’t own a pet herself, but the truth is I’ve wanted a dog since I first moved to Enterprise in September.
But I stopped myself from getting one because I understand the financial pressures that go along with having a pet from the initial price of the pet, pet food supplies, veterinary bills to boarding when I take out-of-town trips.
On the other hand, one of my colleagues made an important point — what if the person loses their job and doesn’t want to get rid of their beloved pet?
Well then this program will provide the individual with the financial assistance they need, and it’s not costing taxpayers a penny. The program is not a government-sponsored program.
Other points in favor of the Pet Food Stamps is that it would keep stray dogs and cats off the streets and would prevent animal shelters from having to put owner’s beloved pets to sleep.
I understand this program may be an alternative to these problems, but I’m not sure people can rely on this program 100 percent just yet.
For instance, the program’s website doesn’t say what standards individuals have to meet to qualify for the program, except that a person has to be under the poverty line or already receiving food stamps — that could mean up to 45 million people if everyone has a pet.
The program’s website also doesn’t say how long it will provide pet owners with the free food or how many pets qualify.
Lastly, because of the short staff and thousands of applications the company is receiving daily, the wait time to know if you qualify or when you will be able to get the free food may take up to several weeks.
The truth is, although Pet Food Stamps is a heartfelt idea, it is a donation-based program. Other programs such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and animal shelters struggle to help animals everyday and it is for that reason I’m not sure this program will be able to help either.
I think in these rough economic times low-income pet owners are going to have to make a crucial decision between taking care of yourself or taking care of your pet.
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