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"KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER"

We've all seen the headlines, (see excerpts
"Pets in Foreclosure", "Food pantries see spike
in households in need". Many of us, including
our animals are experiencing economic tough
times. It is to serve our animals, and their
owners, that CoPAL has initiated its Keeping
Families Together project.

Keeping Four-Legged Family Members in their
Homes:
Families are struggling to feed their pets and
keep them in their home. Statistics show that
almost two-thirds of Massachusetts' residents
have at least one pet – mostly considered
beloved family members. CoPAL initiated a
"Keeping Families Together" Program
designed to help families cover some of the
food costs of pet ownership. An additional
byproduct of this initiative is reducing the
increasing pressures on overwhelmed local
animal shelters that have been inundated with
pets surrendered by financially strapped
owners unable to keep their pets.

Recently CoPAL donated 800 pounds of pet
food to Neighbor's In Need's food pantries.
(See some of our photos on this web site).
We hope through our efforts, and with YOUR
help, to assist pet families like an e-mail sent to
CoPAL by a local vet clinic about the owner of
4 dogs:

"I just had a client call me crying. She has 4
dogs and cannot afford to feed them. I have
dealt with her before and know that her family
is in a bad way. She is looking to try to adopt
out the youngest so she doesn't have to feed it.
She doesn't want her older dogs put to sleep,
but doesn't feel they are adoptable, and is
having a very hard time. How can I direct her to
get your help".