Shelters, rescues and pet families in need have another resource for pet food and other necessary pet-related items thanks to Chicago Party Animals (CPA). The off-leash, dog-friendly party space has been collecting pet food at their events and now plans to open a pet food pantry to help out Chicago’s rescue community.
“We’ve been inspired by Catherine Steinberg and the work she’s done in the suburbs for Patrick’s Pantry,” says Josie Jendro, owner of CPA. “We have access to so many people through all of the events that we host and also have connections at a lot of independent pet stores and pet food companies. We’d love to use those connections to collect cat and dog food to help out the wonderful organizations in Chicago that do so much to help rescued animals.”
CPA is accepting donations and will soon have a 24-hour drop-off box for Patrick’s Pantry at their location. Jendro says that many of their local sponsors – Paw Naturals, Pet Care Plus, U.S. Bones and Nutro have already donated bags of high quality food to past events held at Chicago Party Animals. She’s now going to use excess space at her location at 1133 West Fulton Market to store the food and then offer those donations to shelters and rescues in need.
“I would also like to open up the pantry once a month to low-income families to help them out as well,” adds Jendro. “Some families are in danger of losing their pets because they just can’t afford to purchase pet food. This will bridge the gap to keep those animals out of the shelter system and with their families. I’d also love for people to donate leashes, clothing and bowls in good condition.”
Patrick’s Pantry has collected pet food and other items for shelters, rescues and those in need in Chicago’s Northern Suburbs. Like many people in the animal welfare community, Steinberg was inspired by the story of Patrick, the pit bull that was nearly starved to death and dumped down a garbage shoot over 20 floors into a dumpster. The very emaciated dog was found and rescued last March and has been an inspiration for the animal welfare community.
“After I saw his (Patrick’s) emaciated body and haunted eyes, I thought that no dog should have to suffer like that, and if people were going to food pantries to feed their kids, chances are their pets were hungry, too,” says Catherine Steinberg, founder of Patrick’s Pantry. “Then, more and more stories came out about people having to give up their pets to shelters because they simply couldn't afford to feed them. As I got deeper into the world of rescue and animal advocacy, I wanted to help the shelter pets that were housed and fed, but needed a little something of their own. That is why I'm up to my eyeballs in fleece making the snugglers and braided toys for them!”
After Chicago Party Animals hosted an event for Patrick's Pantry in December to collect food donations, Steinberg encouraged Jendro to use those donations to start her own food pantry to give back to shelters and rescues.
Chicago Party Animals is a dog-friendly, off-leash event space at West Fulton Market and May Street in the West Loop. Along with hosting dog-friendly events such as dog meet-ups, dog training and other activities, CPA also hosts events for regular and animal-focused non-profits and hosts weddings, parties networking events and other festivities. Learn more online and by following CPA on Facebook and Twitter. Follow Patrick’s Pantry on Facebook.
Do you volunteer or work for a shelter or rescue that has programs you'd like to promote? Do you work in a pet-releated business that has an interesting story to tell? If so, contact me at kathypetexam@gmail.com. Enjoy this article? Receive email alerts when new articles become available. Just click on the subscribe button above. You may also follow me on Twitter, Facebook or read my blog.
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