London, Ont., organizations partner to provide free dog food amid COVID-19 pandemic

A partnership between the Humane Society London & Middlesex (HSLM) and Habitat for Humanity Heartland Ontario will help make sure local dogs won’t go hungry amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The two organizations have come together to donate 738 bags of dog food to pet owners in need throughout the London area and will be distributed through the No Empty Bowls Food Bank, which provides area pet owners with free pet food during financial hardships.

“Habitat for Humanity Heartland Ontario reached out to us to contribute the large quantity of dog food to support our recent Virtual Food Drive,” said HSLM executive director Steve Ryall.

“The dog food falls outside of the three specific brands we feed the shelter animals, so we collaborated to have the food delivered to No Empty Bowls Food Bank, who we donate food and other supplies to on a regular basis.”

Ryall hopes the move will help pet owners keep their furry friends during the ongoing pandemic.

“I think it’s better for the animal always to stay with the homeowner. If you look at the different groups involved, the humane society — that’s always our goal first and foremost to try to give solutions to people to be able to keep their animals and stuff,” said Ryall.

“The real heroes in this are No Empty Bowls, the two people that go out and do this, fly under the radar, if you will, on a daily basis distributing food all year round.”

The donated dog food will be distributed through No Empty Bowls to the London Food Bank, Ailsa Craig Food Bank, Unity Project, St. Joe’s Soup Kitchen, Ice Foundation Dog Rescue, London Salvation Army, Woodstock Salvation Army, Stratford Salvation Army and the Caring Cupboard Food Bank in St. Thomas.

— with files from Global News Radio 980 CFPL’s Andrew Graham.