Have a pet and are worried about SNAP benefits ending? A Milwaukee organization is dedicated to keeping your furry friend's bowl filled

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- If you have a pet and are concerned about how to keep them fed as SNAP benefits could come to an end on Saturday, Nov. 1, a Milwaukee organization is dedicated to making sure their bowl stays filled.

Roxz's Resources & Awareness is a pet food and supply pantry that hands out goods for dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, and more. 

Besides wet or dry food, they also offer leashes, collars, harnesses, litter, and other necessary items. 

Founder Vicky Van Lare said she never wants our furry friends to go hungry, or for their owners to feel like they don't have options.

"I need help. Please help me. I've been contemplating because of SNAP being gone, because of EBT being gone, I might have to surrender my pet," Van Lare said. "That is the very, very last thing we want anybody to do."

In just the last three days, Van Lare said she's received more than 125 calls for help.

While CBS 58 was at Roxz's, a woman who did not want to be identified said she knew this was a place she could turn to for her cat, Cheetos.

"It's rewarding and just letting you know someone's there to help and not judge you but offer the help that you need," she told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White, adding that she'd walked 40 minutes and taken three separate buses just to get to Roxz's. "It's kind of embarrassing but everyone needs help once in a while so I'm gonna take the help while I can get it, you know?"

But Van Lare said no one should feel embarrassed.

"Don't be ashamed, things happen, we can't control this, that's why organizations like us are here to help you," Van Lare said.

And while her garage is packed with items and hundreds of pounds of food, Van Lare noted that it goes fast, which is why community donations are extremely important.

Now, TrueNorth Martial Arts in Brookfield is hosting their own pet food and supply drive through the month of November with all donations going to Roxz's.

"One of our values in our school is we strengthen our community, and we leave it better than we found it and it's really important to us that we're making a difference not just for our students but our community as well," said sales manager Jess Hansen. "We're going into a tough time and if we can make the burden a little bit less for anybody, it'd be amazing."

If you want to donate at the martial arts school, Hansen said to bring items after 2 p.m.

If you want to donate to Roxz's, you can bring items in person and check out their wish lists here. 

And if you are in need of assistance, click here for Roxz's application. You can expect a response back within a few hours.

If you are in need of help during the government shutdown, CBS 58 has compiled a list of resources which you can find here.