‘WE CAN’T ALWAYS AFFORD PET FOOD’
Alexandra Symons, 52, lives in Mancot, Flintshire, with her husband Gareth, 50, their two daughters Lillibeth, 16, and Isabella, 14, five cats and a dog.
I went back to university in 2020 to study art therapy, and with Gareth working full-time as a property data officer for the council, we were comfortable enough to get by. But after my grant dried up, fuel costs escalated and now with the rise in energy bills, we barely make ends meet.
Our animals are a huge part of our family – we took our five cats in when they didn’t have a home and we’ve had our dog since 2017. We pay pet insurance every month, as unexpected vet bills would be crippling, and their food costs £25 per week. When Mel opened PET Foodbank, it was such a lifeline. We’ve had to turn to human food banks twice recently, and it’s a relief to know that our animals won’t go hungry.
It’s heartbreaking to hear of pets being abandoned by owners who can no longer afford to keep them. We’re so grateful to those who donate.