Portage County’s pet pantries look to help those in need

Pet owners sometimes face issues financially providing for their companions. Deirdre Reaves of Kent knows this problem all too well. Twelve years ago, Reaves was facing the possibility of parting with her dog, Dink. 

“I had nothing for him, and I was on a limited income,” Reaves said. 

Not giving up on her beloved Dink, she came across a flyer through Kent Social Services about free dog food available to struggling pet owners courtesy of People Care Pet Pantry, a nonprofit organization in Ravenna. 

Founded in 2008 by Rene Lamp of Ravenna, People Care Pet Pantry’s mission is to provide pet supplies to owners confronting financial hardship. With their help, Reaves received food, bowls, treats, a leash and a collar. She even received advice on Dink’s eligibility as an emotional support animal due to trauma and depression to ensure that she and Dink would never separate.

Thankful for the organization’s generosity, Reaves now spends some of her free time as a volunteer. 

“I had no way of feeding my dog,” said Reaves. “Rene made such a difference for me and my animal.” 

In Portage County, people can also turn to the Portage Animal Protective League for help. The Portage APL, also based out of Ravenna, began offering a pet pantry in 2015.

“There’s always a need in the community,” said Chalan Lowry, the executive director of Portage Animal Protective League. “We keep it going because it’s important.” 

In addition to the pantry, the league also provides other services, such as low-cost spay and neuter for cats, a humane agent who investigates reports of cruelty or neglect of animals in Portage County, and adoptable cats, dogs, and occasionally smaller animals like rabbits. These animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and given flea and worm preventatives. 

Lamp was inspired to start the People Care Pet Pantry by a Guideposts story on a Colorado Springs pet pantry. She started by responding to Craigslist posts from people trying to rehome pets due to financial hardship. 

“Almost all of them said it was because of (lack of) food,” Lamp said. “With the donated food, the owner was happy, the pet was happy, and shelters got one less surrender.”

She officially started the pantry in 2008. To promote her cause, Lamp would reach out to local shelters and animal rescues to get the word out, encouraging people seeking to surrender their animals from financial strain to instead reach out to People Care Pet Pantry. 

“People wouldn’t reach out if they didn’t care about their pets,” Lamp said. “We do the best we can to help the ones who need it.”

Run solely on donations, both organizations work on tight budgets, which makes finding resources to supply to the public even more difficult. 

“We run on a bare minimum budget,” Lamp said. “The more food we have, the more people we can help.”

Both organizations are accepting new volunteers, as well as monetary and supply donations. Additionally, both the People Care Pet Pantry and the Portage Animal Protective League have upcoming events that are crucial for their missions.

Portage Animal Protective League hosts a “Barktober 5K & 1-Mile” run in Rootstown every year. Started by volunteer Patty Wilson in 2017, the event proceeds help cover costs at the shelter, such as medical care, food, toys and spay and neuter treatments. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4. More information and how to sign up for the event are available at the organization’s website. 

People Care Pet Pantry’s “Share The Love” drive, which started in 2010, begins every year on Nov. 1  and runs through mid-December. The event has three parts. The pet section is dedicated to pets and supplying pet owners in tough financial situations with food, toys and other supplies they normally would not have during the year.

The kid’s Christmas section proceeds go toward supplying children in economically disadvantaged families with gifts on their wish list that their parents or guardians do not have the means to afford.

Lastly, the drive seeks to help the homeless community by accepting new or gently used items as donations for people in the Portage and Summit county area. Supplies can include clothes, housewares and toiletries.