For pet owners in Lititz and nearby communities who rely on the Pet Pantry of Lancaster County to feed their animals, a half-full donation bin at Neffsville Veterinary Clinic in November 2015 was a sign of lean times.
“It’s usually full,” a clinic employee said.
From 18 families to 301
For the nonprofit Pet Pantry, the week before the Extraordinary Give, Lancaster County’s annual day of online giving, was the leanest time of year, just as more pet owners than ever were seeking help.
“We started with 18 families, we’re now up to 301,” said Melody Sanders, the charity’s founder and director. “We will not add somebody on until we guarantee we can sustain them.”
Pet owners must apply and show financial need, and they agree not to add pets to their household while receiving assistance.
Keeping pets at home
Volunteers collect donations from bins around the county and bring them to the pantry’s Lancaster headquarters at 26 Millersville Road, where dry food is mixed and distributed to families who might otherwise have to surrender beloved pets. Help is also available for animals with food allergies.
“My cat needed prescription food, and I was unable to afford the food or a vet visit for a new prescription,” one county resident said. “Pet Pantry provided both.”
More than food
Beyond free pet food, the organization operates a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in its surgical suite, serves as a no-kill shelter accepting a limited number of surrenders, and offers pets for adoption. LititzDailyNews.com partnered with the Pet Pantry to feature cats available for adoption.
How to help
Anyone could drop off dry or canned food, treats, toys and other pet items at the bin in the lobby of Neffsville Veterinary Clinic, 2555 Lititz Pike, or at more than a dozen other donation stations from Atglen to Willow Street. Monetary gifts were accepted online, and the pantry maintained an Amazon wish list for shipping items directly.
Items the pantry requested included:
- Unopened dry and canned dog and cat food
- Kitty litter
- Food and water bowls, leashes and collars
- Toys, dog and cat beds, and cat scratching posts
- Gently used towels and blankets
- Pet carriers and collapsible dog crates
- Gallon zip-top bags and clean 5-gallon food-grade buckets with lids, for packaging
- Dish soap, paper towels, copy paper, tape and 13-gallon trash bags
- Monetary donations
Donation stations
Along with Neffsville Veterinary Clinic and the pantry’s headquarters, drop-off locations in 2015 included Atglen Veterinary Hospital in Christiana, VCA Smoketown and VCA Bridgeport animal hospitals, Drake’s Pet Place and Uptown Petz in Lancaster, That Fish Place – That Pet Place, River Hills Veterinary Hospital in Conestoga, Dog Sense, Complete Canine Center in Landisville, Keystone Pet Place in Mount Joy, EM Herr Ace Hardware in Willow Street, In Grandma’s Attic in Kinzers, and Baldwins Garage and Stoltzfus Feed & Supply in Gap.
Why it matters
When household budgets tighten, pets are often among the first to feel it, and shelters see more surrenders. Pet food banks like the Pet Pantry help families keep their animals through hard times, easing pressure on shelters and keeping pets in loving homes.
Those wishing to apply for assistance, donate or volunteer can contact the Pet Pantry of Lancaster County.
Ways to help
Besides food, pet pantries often welcome cat litter, leashes and cash donations, which let them buy what is most needed in bulk.
Even a single bag of food helps keep a pet at home with its family during a hard month.
This article was originally published in November 2015.