Maryland SPCA seeks donations of supplies amid shortage

Maryland SPCA seeks donations of supplies amid shortage

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Maryland SPCA seeks donations of supplies amid shortage

Cat owners know cans of wet food have been hard to find, and the supply chain shortage is hitting Maryland animal shelters particularly hard.

Every can counts. The Maryland SPCA's supply closet shows the supply of dog food is in pretty good shape, but the cat food side has empty shelves and individual cans instead of cans in bulk.

Katie Flory, with the Maryland SPCA, told 11 News the shortage of wet food isn't just affecting them, but also shelters across the country.

"(The) supply chain is really hard right now," Flory said. "We are going to multiple different retailers and vendors to try to find the food, and unfortunately, no one has it right now."

"The problem with cat food is not so much the cat food itself. It's the containers are in the aluminum shortage, that's part of the problem. And then, also the manufacturers, there (are) only a few in the United States that make cat food and they take turns," said Jen Swanson, executive director of the Humane Society of Harford County.

Swanson said wet food is an important source of moisture, and not all cats can eat dry food. Cat food isn't the only thing the shelters need. They also need vinyl gloves and donations of paper towels and laundry detergent.

"With buying limits and less things available now, shelters are actually having to purchase items that are typically donated. (That's) eating into our budget. So, it's really affected a lot of us across the country," Swanson said.

Last year, the Maryland SPCA helped feed more than 15,000 animals through its Kibble Connection, sort of a food pantry for pets. But Flory said it will be a struggle this year, and there are ways you can help.

"You can go to our Amazon wish list, you can order it from Chewy, you can make a monetary donation, anything that people can do would really help our shelter and shelters around the community," Flory said.

| LINK: Maryland SPCA -- Donate Supplies

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