County to Open Pet Food Pantry for Residents in Need

Camden County is opening a pet food pantry at three locations throughout the county April 11.

Locations will be at the County Animal Shelter on County House Road in Gloucester Township, the Animal Adoption Center on Berlin Road in Lindenwold and the Animal Welfare Association on Centennial Boulevard in Voorhees.

Camden County Pet Food Pantry’s purpose is to keep pets with their families by offering food assistance.

The pantry is part of a community pet food assistance program supported by the Animal Alliance of Camden County, set to launch on April 11.

On that date, the pantry will be open at all locations from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for food pick-up. After that, it will be open the second Saturday of every month.

The Animal Alliance of Camden County consists of the County Animal Shelter, Camden County Shared Services and local animal welfare agencies that include Animal Adoption Center, Voorhees Animal Orphanage, Animal Welfare Association and Independent Animal Control.

The alliance’s goal is to find homes for unwanted and neglected animals, including efforts to keep owned pets with their families.

“As the Alliance’s first cooperative program, we are extremely excited to unite in a collective effort to help pets and pet families,” Animal Adoption Center Shelter Director Chris Harris said.

Owners surrender pets to local shelters regularly, and financial hardship is a common reason for doing so, according to the county.

It looks to provide nutritional assistance in an effort to keep animals in their homes. The only requirement is a need for assistance in providing food for a pet.

“This is a great resource for Camden County pet owners that are going through difficult times,” Camden County Freeholder Michelle Gentek, liaison to the Camden County Animal Shelter, said. “Families should not be faced with the difficult choice of giving up a cherished pet when purchasing food becomes a challenge.”