Christmas gift drive for Downtown Eastside pets

Dozens of different fundraisers collect gifts and food for vulnerable people during the holiday season but Charlie's Food Bank toy drive is one of the few that collects toys for the pets of low income and homeless people.

The charity, part of the B.C. SPCA, has been operating a pet food bank and a monthly veterinary clinic in the Downtown Eastside for more than fifteen years. Kim Monteith, manager of animal welfare at the SPCA, said the holiday season is an especially important time to reach out.

"It's a hard time of year for a lot of people who maybe don't have anybody else. Their pets - their dogs or cats or rats - are pretty much the only thing they have," Monteith said.

About 10 per cent of homeless people own pets and among homeless youth, that number jumps to more than half, according to a survey in 2014 by the McCreary Centre Society.

Kathy Powelson, founder of the organization Paws for Hope that assists vulnerable people and their animals, said there are huge benefits to having a pet.

"Many people who are considered vulnerable or marginalized are often very isolated as well, they don't have a lot of social support or a large network," said Powelson. "Pets provide constant companionship, it's really where they get their emotional support from."

But owning a pet can be costly and sometimes prevent people from accessing certain services. In Vancouver, only a handful of shelters allow pets.

The New Fountain Shelter is one of the few options for people with pets.

The pet toy drive ends on Dec.18. Gifts for can be dropped off at the Vancouver B.C. SPCAbranch during business hours and donations can be made online.