FOOD poverty doesn’t just affect people, according to a dog warden.

Darlington’s Dog Warden team is appealing for donations of pet food in an attempt to help struggling families.

The team has distributed donation boxes at shops throughout Darlington and will hand everything collected to a foodbank in the town or to Deerness Kennels.

The scheme was launched by warden Andy Wood after he noticed a rise in families struggling to feed their pets.

He got to work after realising that families dependant on foodbanks may find it difficult to afford pet food.

He said: “I heard from a family who were considering giving up their dog that it was the cost of food that was causing them problems.

“When I asked if being given food would help they leapt at the chance.

“If we can help families keep their much loved pets and stop dogs from becoming strays at the same time, then everybody wins.”

A spokeswoman for the Darlington FoodStore Network said: “A number of our clients have pets who are much loved companions and it is fantastic to be able to give some food for their pet as well as for them.”

Donation points can be found at all Darlington ASDA branches, Sainsbury’s on Victoria Road, Wilkinsons, Discount Pet Foods on Lingfield Road, Petco on McMullen Road and Pets at Home.