Pet food bank struggling after major kibble heist

The Victoria Pet Food Bank is scrambling to recover fromthe theft of thousands of dollars worth of kibble,

The break-in at the group's storage shed in Sooke was discovered Oct.12 and the group estimates $6,000 worth of pet food was taken.

Margarita Dominguez, the president of the pet food bankboard of directors,said the loss is devastating for her group as well asthe homeless and low-income pet owners itserves.

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"We had food packed almost to the ceiling and the wallsand it's gone," Dominguez toldAll Points Westguest host DavidLennam.

"If we would not provide food for the pets of the people who live on the street and in the shelters, those people would have nothing to provide to the pets," she said.

"Sometimes, they give the only food they have for themselves to the animals."

Dominguez said she believes the thief or thieves will try to resell the items.

To add to the group's difficulties, its main fundraising event, a Halloween-themed dog party at Clover Point, was postponed last Saturday because of stormy weather.

The fundraiserhas been rescheduled forOct. 29.

Deliveries to low-income families

Meanwhile, donations have been coming in response to news of the theft, though Dominguez said she doubts they will be able to replace all that was lost.

The pet food bank assists pet owners staying at the Victoria Cool Aid Society's Rock Bay homeless shelter, which is the only shelter in the Victoria area thatallows pets to stay inside with their owners.

The group also distributes pet food to families who use the Salvation Army's Stan Hagen Centre for Families on Quadra Avenue, and Dominguez delivers pet food directly to about 30 low-income households around Sooke, where she lives.

"We go to homes where people really have nothing," she said.

Dominguez, who is originally from Uruguay, said the pet food bank started nearly 12 years ago, though it has been registered as a society for about fiveyears.

"When I came to the Island, I saw so many Canadians on the street with the animals," she said. "It broke my heart, so I decided to someday do something about it."

With files from CBC Radio One's All Points West

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