We all know times are tough in the state as they are around the world.  The high US dollar in Australia has strangled so many people, leaving us with a clear picture of what it’s like over there.

I read an article today at the Wall Street Journal by Al Lewis that really makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.  It’s no surprise to anyone that I love my pets.  They are as much family to me as are my children.  To some that’s nuts but to me and millions upon millions of other people, we understand each other.

People doing it tough who’ve lost their jobs due to outsourcing or ill health without medical insurance, lost their homes due to foreclosure are often feeding their pets before themselves.  In the US 47 million people are receiving some sort of food relief called Food Stamps.  That’s one in seven people.

The bigwigs seem to think if you can’t afford your pet, have it euthanized but seriously, who can do that easily?  Certainly not me.  I’d do everything I could to keep Charlie fed and with me no matter what happened.  He’s my best friend.

Food stamps cover most food items but they don’t cover pet food.  Okay, I can hear some of you say that the taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for your pets, that’s your responsibility and if you can’t afford a pet you shouldn’t have one.  BUT…  food stamps cover sugary drinks like Coca Cola.   They pay for FOUR BILLION DOLLARS of soft drinks a year through food stamps.  It’s a case of let’s get them fat and sick so they can not only be poor but sick with no insurance.

Coming to the rescue is Mr. Marc Okon, a former stockbroker, consultant and entrepreneur, has created a nonprofit called Pet Food Stamps that gives out pet food to those already on government food stamps.  Okon said he’d seen how the top end manipulates the the weak and he was sick of it.  He said his group has been swamped by requests for assistance so they can keep their pets.

My hat’s off to Mr. Okon. PetFoodStamps.org accepts donations. Okay they don’t just accept them, they’re begging for them. If you have it in your heart to make a small donation to help with the thousands of requests a day, visit their donation page.