"The donations haven't been coming in like we hoped for. Currently, we have about 30 to 45 days of food and that’s at the critical level," explained J.J. Messervy, president of the board of directors for the Summerville SPCA.

While 30 to 45 days worth of food may seem like a lot, feeding nearly 200 dogs and cats daily causes the food to go by fast. Also, tough economic times have slowed the rate of donations. The SPCA won't let the animals go hungry, but they may have to make cuts to keep the animals fed.

"We don't have money in our budget to purchase food. We get broken bags from warehouses and donations from the great community around us. If we have to start purchasing food, we're going to have to cut back on other things like personnel and medical attention to the animals,” said Messervy.

The SPCA's food bank also helps needy families feed their pets by providing food for them so they can keep their pets at home. The organization is struggling to meet this need due to the food shortage.

"If you look around, you will see that ‘can't afford’ is the reason why the owners gave many of these animals up. They can't afford to feed their pets. That's why its crucial we get donations to help fed not only our animals, but our animals in the community," explained Kay Hyman, the director of outreach and communication with SPCA.

The other Lowcountry SPCA shelters in Charleston and Moncks Corner need donations as well. They say they especially need puppy and kitten food. The locations can accept cash donations, gift cards, and bags of food. 

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