An online petition wants to let recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or, SNAP, use their benefits to pay for pet food. A Mississippi man who is a SNAP recipient started the petition because he said he has a difficult time feeding his dog.
"This is where we keep our pet food for our food bank," said Laurie Green of the Southern Alliance for People and Animal Welfare.
Green's nonprofit helps feed both people and pets in need. She said she'd love it if SNAP benefits could also be used to pay for pet food but doesn't think it will happen.
"I don't think right now the mood of the country is to increase to allow for dog and cat food," Green said.
So far, more than 100,000 people have signed the Care2 petition.
"This dog food will last for another week or so," Green said of her nonprofit's supply of pet food.
More than 40 million Americans are enrolled in the SNAP program. It would take an act of Congress to change the program's regulations.
