Dear ALl, I received my monthly $200 addition to my SNAP/Food Stamps balance this AM, bringing my total to $238.09 ($38.09 left over from June).  I have not received any Notice of Action (change notice) even though I (i) notified Human Services that I'm getting Jewish Family & Children's Services food deliveries, & (ii) mailed in proof of my medical expenses about a week late, potentially causing teh computer to sspew out a conclusion that I did not have any May medical expenses ....  Here, no news IS good news, it means that my August SNAP will probably remain at $200 .... 

Does anyone know whether SNAP covers pet food?  I have so much SNAP to use, & I'll need to feed Heart, my service-dog-to-be, so it would be great  if I could use the SNAP for Heart's food.

Yours in Hiim, Deb

Deborahmichelle:

Does anyone know whether SNAP covers pet food? 

Deb, I don't know the answer. But if SNAP doesn't cover Heart's food, would you consider making your own food for her? There are several recipes on the Internet that use "people" ingredients to make pet food. Some pet owners might say that making your own food for her would be healthier, since you know exactly what ingredients are going into it.

Dear Stacie, What a GREAT, WONDERFUL idea! I'm sure that Heart would appreciate Whole Food's free-range chicken & hormone-free ground beef, let alone sooome grains & veggies as specified in te recipes to round things out.  I didn't even think of cookign for Heart.  THis is odd,as when I had cats, I used to cook for t hem at times.  ANyhow, THANK YOU SO MUCH for yourexcelelnt idea!  Love in Hiiim, Deb

Heart is going to be a very loved pooch. (And she will have a pretty great Mommy, too!)

Deborahmichelle:

Does anyone know whether SNAP covers pet food?

I know in WI, it wouldn't. Trust me, I wish they would consider pets "people" when it came to food and necessities.

Thanks, Slk/Stacie & Luvd_Lioness, Love in Him, Deb

Deborahmichelle:

I'm sure that Heart would appreciate Whole Food's free-range chicken & hormone-free ground beef, let alone sooome grains & veggies as specified in te recipes to round things out.  I didn't even think of cookign for Heart.

Heart is going to be in competition for the most spoiled pet! (among the forumites)

How much of the care and other things does the agency cover when you get Heart? Maybe you could get help with a couple of bags of food and transition the dog to avoid the upset tummy situation (and other negative things that happen with dogs)? 

A very good point, Luvd_Lioness.  I am going to the Orientation for volunteers at San Francisco's shelter, ANiimal Care & Control, on teh 11th (yes, I know it is the Sabbath ....).  There will be an all-day class after that, & if I pass, then I'll be able to volunteeeer to work with the dogs.  My Darling brother says that I mgiht find Heart that way.  I found 2 boks on AMazon on training service dogs, & my friend & former JFCS voluntere Janet has her eye out for a professional dog trainer who will help me out for free.  I think it is a VERY long shot to get a professionally trained psychiatric service dog from an agency.  They cost more than $20K! & scholarships must be few & far between, & then if I couldn't get a full scholarship, what could I do?  It will be expensive enough to handle vet bills.  (The SPCA offers low-cost certain vet services, luckily.)  Food & ADvantage flea treatment are all that I can really afford.  BTW, The Dollar Stretcher's Inflation Fighters e-letter had an article on affordable dog care that said that they love carrots as treats, or banana, or peanut butter, or ICE CUBES made of dilluted broth.  (However, I SAY that they also need leather/plastic "bones" for good oral/teeth care.  Although I guess a whole carrot would help.) 

Anyhow, to make it clear, I will indeed transition Heart frmo Animal Care & Control's diet to her new diet.  It's only fair! not to mention healthy!!  Thank you again, Luvd_Lioness  Love in Him, Deb

Dear Susie, If I were rich, or if I were terribly lucky, I'd probably be getting a Goldendoodle service dog (poodle/Golden retriever mix).  Those are favored these days for service dogs.  I say if I were rich as they cost $20K-pllus, fully trained.  I say if I were terribly llucky, as I do not expect to be able to get a full scholarship to get one of these dogs.

Therefore, one of the mutts at Animal Care & Control, or maybe if there were a pure-bred dog at Animal Care & Ccontrol who seems suitable, whom I walllk as part of my volllunteeer duties, will become my Heart service-dog-in-training, & not too long thereafter my certified Service Dog.  What I need to look for is a gentle & intelligent dog, mediiium sized or small as I live in a studio apt.  My former Jewish Famillly & Children's Services volunteer, & now my friend, Janet, says that she'llll be on the look-out for a professional dog trainer to help me out.  I have ordered the only 2 books on training service dogs that Amazon lissts, from Inter-Library Loan. 

So glad that we both love dogs, Susie!  Yours in Him, Deb