THIS MESSAGE.
40 MILLION AMERICANS RELY
ON FOOD STAMPS TO HELP BUY
GROCERIES FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
ONE MAN SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO USE THEM TO BUY PET
FOOD AS WELL.
IT IS A MISSION THAT'S
ATTRACTING A LOT OF ATTENTION
AND CAM GABLE'S REACTION FROM
LOCAL ADVOCATES.
Reporter: EDWARD JOHNSON IS
FROM MISSISSIPPI WHO SAYS HE
DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO
BEAR HIS DOG. HIS ARGUMENT,
ALLOW AMERICANS TO USE THE SNAP
PROGRAM TO HELP PURCHASED AT
FOOD EXPERTS ADMIT IS A
CHALLENGING MISSION GETTING THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MODIFY
FOODSTAMP USAGE.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE
TAKING NOTICE.
Reporter: THERE ARE
THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS IN
SHELTERS ACROSS WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.
THE REASONS WHY VERY BUT A BIG
ONE IS JUST THE INABILITY FOR
PEOPLE TO AFFORD PET FOOD.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHOICE OF
FEEDING YOUR FAMILY OR FEEDING
YOUR PETS, IT IS SOMETIMES THE
ONLY OPTION FAMILIES CANNOT
AFFORD PET CARE BUT EVEN FOOD.
BREAKS OUR HEART.
Reporter: WE TOLD ANIMAL
FRIENDS ABOUT THIS ONLINE
PETITION.
EDWARD JOHNSTON HAS GATHERED
NEARLY 100,000 SIGNATURES FROM
AMERICANS WHO THINK THEY SHOULD
BE ABLE TO USE FOOD STAMPS TO
BUY PET FOOD. WE KNOW THE
PEOPLE LOVE THEIR PETS AND WILL
DO ANYTHING TO KEEP THEM.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE
GETTING A NUTRITIOUS DIET BUT
ALSO THE PETS ARE.
Reporter: ALL OF THESE ITEMS
ARE DONATED.
THEY TAKE THEM TO LOCAL
PANTRIES.
NORTH HILLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH
SAYS THAT IS A GOOD PLACE TO
START FOR NEEDY FAMILIES WITH
PETS.
IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
SNAP BENEFITS, THEY ARE
PROBABLY ELIGIBLE TO USE THE
LOCAL FOOD PANTRY.
Reporter: AS FAR AS THE
PETITION IS CONCERNED, IT WOULD
HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
NAVIGATING GOVERNMENTAL
CHANNELS.
AGENCIES WE TALKED TO SAY IT
WOULD GIVE PET FAMILY SOME HELP
.
BEING ABLE TO USE STAFF
BENEFITS FOR ANY ITEM TO FUTURE
FAMILY IS WORTHY OF
CONSIDERATION.
SOMETIMES WE CAN ONLY TAKE
IT SO FAR.
WITH THIS OF A PROBABLY SPREAD
FURTHER ACROSS THE REGION.
LESS ANIMALS IN SHELTERS AND
MORE ANIMALS HAPPY AND HEALTHY
AT HOME.
SEVERAL ANIMAL WELFARE
AGENCIES ARE APPLAUDING
