You might have heard about “food deserts,” which are, as the American Nutrition Association defines as “parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers.” But did you know there are veterinary deserts as well? That’s something the Humane Society of the United States with its Pets for Life program. As they write, “Many pets don't have access to the care they need because they live in vet deserts — vast areas of underserved communities without access to the vets and pet care suppliers clustered far away in better-served neighborhoods. It's basically impossible for the loving pet owners in these areas to cross vet deserts when they don't own cars and can't take their pets on public transportation.” To address this problem, the Humane Society is having a ‘Day of Giving’ for Pets for Life on March 31, 2016, with donations being raise to bring pet healthcare to ‘vet desert’ communities. The funds will go toward spay/neuter services, vaccinations, emergency care, medication and pet supplies for those pets in underserved community. “By comprehensively addressing the lack of accessible, affordable pet care in under-served communities, Pets for Life keeps pets in the homes they already have, improving their quality of life and elevating the human-animal bond,” the Humane Society writes on their website. Find out Pets for Life works in this video: To learn more about the campaign, go to the Humane Society website.
