Animal clinic aids pet food pantry drive

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Updated: December 17, 2011 8:09AM

As more and more families lose their homes to foreclosure and struggle to put food on the table, the current economic crisis also is forcing some to say goodbye to their beloved family pets.

“Animals get surrendered to shelters due to the financial stress,” said Ruthmary Treadway, office manager at the Animal Care Clinic in South Elgin. “And we don’t want to see that happen if we can help it.”

Through November, the clinic, at 477 Briargate Drive, is partnering with Nina’s Pet Food Pantry to collect pet food donations and supplies for needy families.

Operating from established food pantries at St. Vincent de Sales parish in Lake Zurich and in Palatine Township, Nina’s Pet Food Pantry provides free dog food, cat food and other necessary pet items to persons struggling to care for their animal families.

Items needed include unopened bags of dry pet food and cans of pet food, as well as other essential pet supplies such as treats and shampoo.

Treadway is pleased with the community’s response to the drive so far.

“We’ve had some donations from our food vendors that we work with,” she said. “And quite a few of our clients have dropped off food.”

She said it’s important to keep families with their pets.

“Obviously, we strive for the benefit and health of the pet,” she said. “Shelters are overrun. Every day, animals get euthanized. This is one way to avoid it.”

Food and supplies also can be dropped off at the other two Animal Care Clinic locations — 230 Stonegate Road in Algonquin, and the Barrington Square Animal Hospital at 2370 W. Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call the Animal Care Clinic at 847-742-5700.