New foodbank helps hard up owners feed their precious pooches

Glasgow has launched its newest foodbank – for dogs.

Dog lover Kelly Ann Stevenson says she is responding to need among the city’s homeless people and the need to feed their canine companions.

She says many are going without food themselves just to ensure their canine friends are fed.

Stevenson currently runs a dog walking and dog care business but rehomes and distributes food to dog owners voluntarily in her spare time.

Some people can be too embarrassed to ask for help but I want them to know that help is available

She was inspired to launch the initiative after her sister lost her job and found herself in the position of having to use a foodbank.

The-36-year-old from the Gorbals has rescued dogs for a number of years and devotes her time to helping them.

"I can't resist a sob story. I once drove across the UK for a disabled bull terrier,” she said.

"I have had the care of dogs who it was said could not be fixed and I have managed to socialise them and see them move on to good homes.

"But it is difficult to financially support dogs through the process so we do get donations of food or collars or coats."

She said her plan is to have a regular time and place to distribute food so that homeless people and people who need help to feed their pets can come and collect it.

"At the moment I am dropping off food to anyone who needs it but demand is getting too high for me to keep doing that,” she said.

"Some people can be too embarrassed to ask for help but I want them to know that help is available."

Ideally she wants a core of dedicated donors who give £1 a week to make sure supplies can be constantly topped up.

Stevenson added: "I'm not asking anyone for loads of money, but if we can encourage, say, 1,000 people to give £1 a week then we will be able to provide a really good service."

To donate to the foodbank see www.gofundme.com/yfwh9wwk