spcaLA pet food reserves running dangerously low

HAWTHORNE, Calif. (KABC) -- The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles faces a serious pet food shortage.

"We're about to run out. We're into our reserves of food, and we're going to run out if we don't get some help," said Madeline Bernstein, president of the spcaLA.

At the spcaLA shelter in Hawthorne, their reserve food shed is nearly empty. And while the dog and cat food is dangerously low, the number of rescues has jumped dramatically.

The spcaLA says they have seen a 27 percent increase in the number of animals they're taking in compared to this time last year.

"Not only are we feeding about 500 animals a day, and not only are we helping other charities feed their animals if we get enough, but we're also your first responders, very often, during disasters," Bernstein said.

The spcaLA says they have enough food to feed all of the animals through the end of the month, but after that they say things will be getting tight.

The spcaLA uses an average of 40,000 pounds of pet food a year at its three shelters and at Long Beach Animal Care Services. All of it comes from donations, saving the non-profit from using its cash for such a big ticket item.

But with contributions harder to come by, the spcaLA may be forced to buy food for the first time in more than two decades.

"We've been here 137 years. We've been serving this area, and really if you can help us with some food for the animals, wet food, dry food, cat food, litter, we would really appreciate that," Bernstein said.

Donations can be made at https://www.spcala.com.

Unopened pet food donations can be dropped off at any spcaLA location during business hours: 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach 90815 (562) 570-7722; 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne 90250 (310) 676-1149; 5026 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles 90016 (323) 730-5300 during business hours.