New Midland initiative aims to feed pets of local families in need

A new, local food distribution initiative, focused on Midland and surrounding areas, aims to boost pet food supplies for those in need.

“Some people are choosing between feeding themselves or feeding their animals. Most of the time, they will choose their animals over themselves,” says Krista Grant, community outreach co-ordinator with the Ontario SPCA Midland and District Animal Centre.

A $500 grant from the Huronia Community Foundation’ A Mother’s Love Helping Hands Fund was awarded the Midland and District Animal Centre for the initiative.

Three donation bins will be built by the Georgian Bay District Secondary School woodworking class this fall. They will be installed in three locations: the Midland Pet Valu, the Elmvale Pet Valu, and The Pet Shoppe in Penetanguishene.

Pet food collected from the bins will be distributed to local food banks. Grant says these supplies will reach those who need it the most and prevent people from needing to drive to outside areas like Barrie.

Based on conversations with the food banks and those who use the services, Grant noticed growing needs.

“Especially within Midland, there is such a great need for pet food,” she says.

The Ontario SPCA reports the 2024 impacts of its Pet Food Distribution Program. With 54 food bank partners, it distributed 367,239 pounds of pet food to northern communities. It also recognizes a 39 per cent increase in distribution to food banks compared to 2023.

Grant is working with five local food banks and organizations this year: the Georgian Bay Food Network, the Salvation Army, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Victoria Harbour, the Elmvale food bank, and the Maison Rosewood Shelter.

One food bank she spoke with reported 75 per cent of the people who use it are looking for pet food. Another said that, on the low end, 120 families using its services are looking for pet food.

“One thing I’ve noticed is people say, ‘I never thought about donating pet food.’ It’s not on a lot of people’s radar,” Grant says.

Based on surveys conducted by Rover.com, the average annual cost associated with having of a dog in 2025 ranges from $1,418 to $4,485.

Of those costs, food is a large chunk.

The estimated annual cost to feed a puppy is $635 to $3,345. For an adult dog, it costs anywhere between $575 and $2,520, and senior dogs cost between $640 and $2,590 to feed annually.

Overall costs increase for larger breeds of dog.

Similar surveys conducted by Rover.com assess the costs of cat parenthood in 2025.

This year, overall costs for cat parents are expected to increase by 32 per cent. Rover attributes this to the rise of premium cat toys and supplies.

The reported annual cost of food and treats for kittens and adult cats in Canada ranges from $510 to $2,375. For senior cats, the cost of dietary needs ranges from $470 to $2,750.

The Midland and District Animal Centre is supplied food for the animals in its care by Royal Canin. This fall, when the donation bins are set up, all food collected from them will be distributed among the local food banks.

By combining the new initiative with local food drives, Grant set a steep goal to raise 20,000 pounds of food by year end.

“I started back in March, so I missed a few months, but I think we’re well on track with how much we’ve been seeing people donating. People are being very generous,” she says.

She hopes to spread awareness about the rising costs of living affecting pet ownership, and that the Ontario SPCA is more than an adoption service and hosts a number of outreach and wellness programs.

“Whether you’ve fallen on hard times, you might have just lost your job, maybe you just need something to get you through to your next paycheque … We do a lot of community support programs and this is one of them, because we do want to try and help people keep the animals with them, rather than having to re-home them,” Grant says.

The Ontario SPCA Midland and District Animal Centre will be collecting unopened food items for local food distribution programs at the Port McNicoll Lion’s Club Toy Drive and Corn Roast on Aug. 24.