According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, nearly 50-percent of all households in the United States have a dog or a cat.
The Food Bank of Corpus Christi and People Assisting Animal Control, or PAAC, have teamed up to create a program to help low-income families care for their pets.
Bea Hanson, the Director of the Food Bank, said that many clients, especially the elderly, will compromise their own meals in order to accommodate their furry companions. So the Food Bank now offers families a bag of food for their pet and a card to take their pet to be neutered or to be fixed by PAAC.
"Once they bring back their card showing that their pet has been neutered or fixed, then every time they receive food for their family, they also receive food for their pet," Hanson said.
The partnership with PAAC allows for the animal group to target pet owners who are in need of financial assistance for animal services with the hope of reducing the amount of strays in town.