A Calgary small business owner is launching a campaign to help ensure veterans can feed their pets.

Dexter’s, your local pet store in Ogden accepts pet food donations to help Calgary veterans.

“It’s about helping because everyone needs help from time to time,” said owner Drew Brown.

“This is a moment to remember those who have served,” he added. “Those who have done their part to try to help us have the freedom to enjoy themselves, so I think it’s very important that everyone embraces (this initiative) because giving back is the reason I opened as an independent venue in the first place, it was so I could give back to my community and help people prosper.”

This is the third year of the pet food donation drive. In the first two years it was presented by Chris Malmberg at MOMMS Premium Pet Foods in Bonavista.

Now Brown has taken charge and aims to collect 500 bags of pet food. It has already received about 100 bags from its suppliers.

“If you buy food here, even if you want to buy it over the phone, we’ll give you a 10 percent discount because it’s going to the Veterans Association Food Bank,” he said.

Robert Cairns, Veterans Association Food Bank, says the organization accepts food donations for both people and pets because, in many cases, veterans’ pets are like family to them, helping them through difficult times.

“Many of our veterinarians have pets that are their companions and help them with their PTSD,” she said. “If they are in trouble, the pets will come to them and calm them down.”

miss molly

John Senior is a veteran who served 23 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. His companion is a three-year-old mixed-breed dog named Miss Molly who spends much of her time riding on Senior’s shoulders.

“I’ve clearly had stressful days or just angry days and that kind of thing,” the 56-year-old said. “She goes everywhere except grocery stores, so I go to Canadian Tire quite often and the staff stops and people love it everywhere we go, (Molly) gets a lot of attention.”

Senior says that Molly is not a service dog but rather his companion dog which is important to him.

“She allows me to go out and do things regularly,” he said. “She’s what allows me to go out because sometimes I don’t, I just don’t get out of bed and that’s sometimes a bad day.”

Seniors hear stories about other veterans struggling financially in this economy.

“Our fixed salary as a pensioner doesn’t change, so when we hear that inflation has gone up, we say, ‘Great, that’s just another pay cut,'” he said. “Sometimes, believe it or not, in many more cases, the veteran will be left alone to feed his pet.”

Senior is grateful that Dexter’s is hosting a fundraiser to get pet food to veterans in need.

“The event will actually be held from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. (Saturday, Nov. 9) and there will be veterans here at that time to help accept the food,” Brown said. “We hope to raise enough food.” so they can get through another year.”

Learn more about Dexter here: