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Pet food bank in Bedfordshire goes "bonkers" in six months

Helping Hands Animal Foodbank Denise Harris with some of her rescue dogsHelping Hands Animal Foodbank
Denise Harris rescues dogs, looks after her own pets, and runs a Facebook food bank from her home in the village just off the M1

A woman who started a food bank for pets said it had gone "bonkers" as so many people needed its help due to the cost of living crisis.

Denise Harris, from Ridgmont in Bedfordshire, said she started Helping Hands Animal Food Bank, for local people and it had grown "far and wide".

Donated items are handed out on "trust" through its Facebook page.

"We're here for everybody; we don't judge; if you need help, just pop a message onto the group," she added.

Helping Hands Animal Foodbank Charlotte Harris holding a dog and surrounded by pet foodHelping Hands Animal Foodbank
Charlotte Harris, Denise's daughter, helps her mother and has set up her own food bank group

She said she started the service on social media after seeing a woman on television explaining she had had to give up two beloved pets because she could no longer afford to feed them.

Ms Harris, who has 14 rescue dogs, said she thought "this isn't right - I've got to do something".

Denise started the group in September "asking people if they could donate food, and for people who were struggling to contact me for help".

"There's no shame in asking for help and it all went a bit bonkers," she said.

She said she would rather people asked her for help, than give up on their animals as "shelters are bursting at the seams - they can't take any more pets".

Michelle Connelly Charlee Girl, the catMichelle Connelly
Donated food helped to feed one of Michelle Connelly's seven cats, Charlee Girl

Michelle Connelly, from nearby Marston Moretaine, who received food for her seven cats, said: "They're an amazing charity who helped me when I really needed it, so don't be afraid to ask for help.

"With the cost of living the pet food bank has been a lifeline, and I had been going without food myself to feed my animals."

Ms Harris said she had had so many donations, items have had to be stored at her two daughters' homes and the local pub.

"I never know what I'm going to wake up to on my doorstep; my dogs think it's Christmas," she said.

The reaction spurred her daughter, Charlotte Harris to create an off-shoot group five miles away in Maulden.

Helping Hands Animal Foodbank Donated pet food in a bagHelping Hands Animal Foodbank
Denise said she has had some "amazing donations" and some have come from "vans delivery huge sacks"

"Initially it started for local people, but it's now for people far and wide needing help - in Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Bletchley," said Denise.

"Tell us how many animals you've got, what they are, what they like to eat.

"I hope everyone is genuine, we have to trust them."

All goods need to be collected because they do not make deliveries.

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