Facing Food Insecurity: The Struggle for Pet Owners at Pittsburgh’s Pet Food Pantry

The Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry recently found itself facing a pressing challenge. After a productive weekend packing non-food donations like beds and bowls, we realized we might run out of pet food by the end of May.

We currently assist 48 households, which translates to over 960 pounds of dry food. These families care for stray and homeless cats, doing vital work in our community. We’re proud to support them.

We’ve had to make some adjustments, including shifting our pantry distribution location. Now, every Sunday, we carry supplies from one place to another, which adds time and effort to our routine. We’re looking for new food donation sources and possibly collaborating with The Parking Pad.

One significant change is that after May, we won’t distribute canned food regularly because our storage isn’t suitable. We’ll offer it upon request, but the focus now is on increasing our dry food supply. Many of our caretakers are already feeding large groups of cats, making our resources even more critical.

Pet food pantries often operate on limited supplies, and it’s tough to say no when someone desperately needs help. Each household typically receives 4 pounds of dry food, but that isn’t enough for everyone. Some people feed over 80 cats, and the struggle is real. We encourage caretakers to set aside a bit of their supplies for leaner months.

As we look forward, our goal is to boost community outreach and gather more dry food donations. We’re also seeking volunteers for tasks like setting up a shed to keep our supplies in the shade.

It’s disappointing when we receive unusable items, like dirty litter pans. Please remember that donations should be clean and usable.

If you’d like to help, we always need dry food (ideally 11-20 lb bags), dental treats, paper products, and pet supplies. Every contribution counts.

Additionally, in 2022, pet ownership in the U.S. rose to 70% of households, illustrating the growing need for resources like ours. Local pet food pantries play an essential role in ensuring that pets remain healthy and well-fed, especially during peak times like kitten season.

Together, we can make a difference in keeping our community’s pets nourished and thriving. If you want to support our efforts, please consider making a donation. Thank you for being part of this crucial work.



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