COLD LAKE – A local organization is working hard to make sure no four-legged family members have an empty bowl during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Debra Marcellus, executive director of the Alberta Lost Pet Locator (ALPL) and Rescue Society Pet Food Bank Cold Lake division, the local pet food bank, located at 63109 Range Rd. 415A, has been doing what they can after being forced to change the way they serve the community in March due to the provincial health orders.
“We got an average of between 15 to 20 people a day last year and now we’re getting maybe five right now on average… That’s quite a difference,” she noted.
Due to the demand they were seeing and level of donations, the Cold Lake Pet Food Bank had to adjust their policy earlier this year, giving out food to clients on a monthly basis instead of biweekly.
The coronavirus has also seen the organization rework the way they get food to those who need it. Other than Marcellus, very few people are allowed to enter while the pet food bank is open on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I have people call in with their orders that they need and then I get it ready and deliver it out to their vehicle now instead of them coming into the building… There are some special cases who come inside, but for the most part, they’re in their vehicles, they call me and say ‘I’m here.’”
Marcellus said she’s still receiving donations from local businesses, such as Petland and Pet Mobile, but it’s slow coming in and their still in need of more. Some of their drop off locations, such as No Frills, had to remove their bins when concerns started to arise regarding COVID-19.
The local pet food bank takes any kind of items to stock their shelves, and Marcellus can even swing by to pick up donations if people aren’t able to drop them off.
“We’re always open for donations because we still have to buy the bags that we put stuff in and things like that. We still have to afford things and if we run out of money, I usually take it out of my own pocket.”
So far, they’ve been able to keep up with the demand from their clients and have even been able to restock most of their supplies.
“We’ve definitely been able to stock our shelves again with the difference too. It was pretty empty when COVID-19 started, our shelves were pretty empty,” she recalled. “Once it picks up again, we’ll be set to go.”
For anyone who needs assistance feeding their dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, or other pets, Marcellus said just give her a call at 780-812-8348.
“People don’t need to be shy or scared to ask for help because my number is on everything and it’s all private. We don’t disclose anybody’s name to anybody else, and nothing leaves this building type of thing. If they need help, call. If people don’t drive, I can deliver the food to them. I try not to do a lot of deliveries because it’s only me, but I do my best.”
