In times of economic downturn pets can feel the stress as much as humans do. Colorado Pet Pantry works with local “human” food banks to help people keep their pets in their loving homes.
“What started Colorado Pet Pantry was people falling on hard times and looking at relinquishing their animals because they can’t afford to feed them,” said Jordan DiMarco, Longmont volunteer lead for nonprofit Colorado Pet Pantry . “When the economy takes a dip, we definitely see a marked increase” in pet supply needs.
Born in 2013, Colorado Pet Pantry saw a need to help owners supply pets with food. It began with a “bimonthly pet food bank at one ‘human’ food bank partner,” according to the website.
The pet food bank works in close partnership with “human” food banks because of pre- established neighborhood relationships, the ability to leverage administrative processes and buildings and the availability of pet food ensures that humans don’t feel obligated to share their limited supply of food the website states.
DiMarco said the pet food bank is a supplemental food bank with the goal of offsetting about 50% of pet food needs. It works from a list of registered participants who alternate visits each monthto gather pet supplies.
In six years of operations the Colorado Pet Pantry has established 54 pet food banks supplying nearly 60,000 pets a month, according to the website.
In Longmont the organization partnered with the OUR Center, 220 Collyer St., where participants can pick up pet supplies on the third Tuesday of every month.
Fizgig and his people patiently waited in line to receive food assistance. Fizgig is a disabled dog who requires a diet of soft food.
“It means a lot to us because we have a hard time getting food. We have a disabled dog … and it is hard for us right now because I am not working,” said Renee, a Longmont resident who declined to give her last name.
Diane Carson, a 78-year-old retiree and Longmont resident, has two dogs and three cats at home, all of which came to her through a rescue organization.
“If I get pet food here, then I don’t have to spend cash money for pet food and I can get things like eye glasses which are not covered by Medicaid or other items that I don’t get in food share. It really, really helps,” Carson said.
For a time, Carson was confined to a wheelchair and her money was going toward medical supplies. During that time, before Colorado Pet Pantry began distribution in Longmont three years ago, she was desperate for assistance in caring for her animals, she said.
She begged other animal support organizations for help.
“No one would help me. I had to do without a lot of things that were important so I could feed my animals. I sure could have used this help back when I was in a wheelchair,” Carson said.
The pet food bank can’t promise the brands of food offered as that is largely determined by donations. Local pet food stores including Chuck and Don’s, Four Paws & Co and High Drive Pet Supplies house donation bins. The Colorado Pet Pantry even accepts donations of supplies pets didn’t like or could not use.
The organization also offers emergency requests, assistance with spaying or neutering pets through vouchers and other resources.
Colorado Pet Pantry has big plans for 2020. It hopes to expand from the 54 distribution points it reached in 2019 to 65 monthly pet food banks, which it estimates will feed over 70,000 pets a month.
