The Massachusetts Pet Food Task Force
by Stacy LeBaron
In these trying times, when everyone is feeling the strain, both human and animal welfare organizations must work smarter, more strategically, and collaboratively to meet the needs of their community. The Massachusetts Pet Food Task Force (PFTF)--a rapidly-growing network of animal welfare organizations, retailers, and individuals committed to ensuring that pets in the Commonwealth do not go hungry--was built in response to the pandemic on exactly this type of dynamic and collaborative model. The PFTF membership is statewide and currently numbers more than a dozen organizations and more than 75 volunteers. The Task Force identifies areas of the Commonwealth in need of pet food and cat litter, then moves supplies from better-resourced regions to those in need.
The project launched in March 2020 when several animal welfare organizations in the Greater Boston area discovered a shared problem: their pet food pantries and services were underutilized. Some communities didn’t know that the pet food pantry existed. Or, the shelter was too inconveniently located for patrons to make regular trips. In response to this problem, the organizations formed relationships with local human food pantries and started to provide them with pet food. The effects were instantaneous. Community members were pleasantly surprised to find that their local pantry carried supplies for their pets, and many took advantage. This simple change capitalized on a well-known, centrally-located resource--the human food pantry--to address the needs of two overlapping populations: food-insecure
families and families with pets.
In response to this success, animal welfare organizations formed a collaborative network-- the Pet Food Task Force--to better coordinate with food pantries and retailers statewide, ensuring that pet food is available in all corners of the state. Shelters and rescues provide pet food and litter, volunteers work with retailers to identify overstock resources of food, and shelter staff and volunteers transport the food and supplies to local food pantries for community distribution. PFTF has partnered with more than 150 human food pantries and 150 retailers to secure and distribute pet food.
COVID-19 has exacerbated many public needs, including food insecurity and animal welfare issues. For example, before the pandemic, the food pantry at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Chelsea served 90 families. After the statewide shutdown and in the wake of rising unemployment, St. Luke's now serves between 600 and 700 families and provides 1000 pounds of pet food a week. This pantry is not unique; PFTF member organizations have reported increased demand from their own and other partnering pantries. The Task Force is ready to respond to this explosive need, but it requires community support of all kinds in order to keep up with demand.
How can your organization help? Join the Pet Food Task Force! PFTF’s strength is in its membership. If your organization is interested in joining or learning more about the Task Force’s operations, please join the next monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 4, at 12:00 PM ET. Please contact Stacy LeBaron at (978) 239 2090 or stacy@mrfrs.org for the event link.
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Each session will be 90 minutes - one hour of lecture and time for Q&A:
Session 1 - October 19, 2020 from 6pm-7:30pm - Reading Dog Body Language
Session 2 - October 26, 2020 from 6pm-7:30pm - Understanding Aggressive Behavior in Dogs
Session 3 - November 2, 2020 from 6pm-7:30pm - Understanding the AniMatch Behavior Observation
Session 4 - November 9, 2020 from 6pm-7:30pm - Observing & Discussing Videos of Live Behavior Observation Demonstrations
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Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 5pm
Ideal feline handling involves prevention of difficult handling situations by modifying the cat’s environment, continual assessment of behavior to avoid escalation of intolerance and low stress (often minimal) restraint. This lecture will address several of these methods as well as how to manage situations in which a difficult cat must be handled. There will be many practical tips mentioned that should be useful in daily feline care.
Sponsored by
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Update with MAC!
If you run an organization or clinic that provides any of the following services and would like to be included in our search engine.
Low cost spay/neuter
Low cost veterinary care for owned animals
Low cost dental services
Low cost euthanasia
TNR
Surrender prevention support
Pet behavior helpline
Pet food pantry
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Thursday, November 12, from 1-2:30 ET.
Animal welfare organizations are missing out on great adoptions due to outdated application requirements. This session will dive into the many ways that animal welfare inadvertently restricts marginalized groups, such as POC and those with disabilities, losing out on many wonderful adopters. This panel discussion will be led by James Evans, President of CARE.
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VOTE! on NOVEMBER 3 or Earlier
To learn about early voting (October 17-30) in your municipality, visit this page.
If you aren't sure what district you are in, visit
Click here for a list of candidates endorses by Massachusetts Voters for Animals
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If your organization is a MAC Organizational Member and you want us to include your program, idea, webinar, event or conference here. Email us at: info@massanimalcoalition.org. |
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CARE has been working with
Harvard's Project Implicit
to create a bias test for the animal welfare industry in order to better understand biases in an effort to work to remove unintentional barriers to life saving.
Your anonymous input will become a vital resource in helping CARE design strategies that better connect the field to people and the animals they love.
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Animal Rescue Aid
Our next Grant Application for pet beds & toys opens October 1, 2020.
Applications Accepted:
Between
October 1st and October 31st 2020 5:00 p.m. EST
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The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Virtual Fall Conference
December 1-3, 2020
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement is committed to helping you strengthen your talents and build partnerships.
JOIN US as we celebrate collaboration and help you, leaders in our field, continue to work together to maximize impact.
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Community Cat Voices
COVID-19 Video Series
Thursdays at 12pm
WEEKLY Zoom call for all animal welfare organizations in the area to come together and discuss concerns and best practices for handling this situation with regards to the corona virus.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 454 825 6521
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Maddie's Fund
Weekly Call
Mondays at 11am EST
(NEW TIME!)
Zoom call to talk about emerging issues, get advice and hear updates.
For Animal shelter professionals at every level, paid or unpaid because talking helps us come up with brilliant ideas, feel more supported and less isolated. It gives us information about things that are working, and helps us deal with the emerging waves of crises that are part of our daily lives.
Meeting ID: 607 482 466
Passcode: 249477
MEETING LINK:
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MAC is committed to keeping you all up to date on resources, tools and best practices during these unprecedented times. |
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Shameless Animal Video
Shelter Dog Costume Videos
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Check Out the Resources on MAC's Website
Are you aware of how much MAC has to offer beyond educational meetings, programs and task forces?
Have you ever checked out our Resources pages?
If you are looking for spay/neuter services in your area check out our Find a Spay/Neuter Clinic page. Simply enter your zip code and we will find clinics close to you!
MAC is here for you! Be sure to take advantage of all that we have to offer!
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For $10 A Year You Can Be A MAC Member!
Joining MAC is a great way to become more involved in animal welfare, meet others who are doing similar work, make friends and connections, and hear from experts in the field. For more info visit our membership page.
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Massachusetts Animal Coalition Facebook Page |
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