The city of Warrenton is developing plans for a food pantry for pets, to help struggling families keep their animal companions in their home.
Animal control supervisor Brenda Klingler presented …
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The city of Warrenton is developing plans for a food pantry for pets, to help struggling families keep their animal companions in their home.
Animal control supervisor Brenda Klingler presented plans for the food pantry to the city’s board of aldermen Oct. 6. She explained that assisting families in need could directly reduce the number of dogs and cats coming into the shelter.
“When people are struggling financially, one of the first things they do is get rid of the family pet,” Klingler said. “Based on the most recent statistics, a safe estimate is that 1,400 pets in the city reside in homes that are at poverty level. If we can keep (pets) in those homes and not filling up our shelter, it benefits everybody.”
Klingler said the city’s animal control shelter has already been providing small assistance to struggling pet owners, but that opening an official pantry would scale up what they can offer.
“I had a lovely lady ask for some assistance the other day. ... Her husband had lost his job, and she was working and taking care of a household of four with just her salary,” Klingler commented. “She didn’t want to give up her pets, but she was not able to make it with just her paycheck.”
Klingler proposed using a former residential property the city owns on Willow Road as the site of the pet food pantry. She said a charitable supporter has already offered to renovate the interior of the home on the property for that purpose. Pet food and other supplies would also be provided through donations.
Once the building is ready, Klingler said she and a staff of volunteers would open it once per month to serve registered clients.
The service will initially be limited to Warrenton city residents. Klingler explained that, just like with a normal food pantry, clients will have to apply and be vetted to verify their need.
“That’s to make sure the supply we have goes to those most in need. Because there will be a somewhat limited supply from time to time,” she explained.
She added that volunteers and supporters of the animal shelter have proposed starting a nonprofit foundation to help fundraise and seek grants for the pantry and shelter services.
“I fully support this. I think this is great,” said Ward 1 Alderman Cheryl Dyer.
Her fellow aldermen echoed that sentiment, voting unanimously to approve the plans for the pet food pantry. Ward 3 Aldermen expressed special concern for families who are going through additional struggles due to COVID-19.
Mayor Eric Schleuter also gave an acknowledgment to the work and additional community outreach the city’s animal control officers have done in recent years.
“I have received a tremendous amount of compliments on the work you’ve done in our city since you’ve come into this position (in 2015). I’m very thankful for it,” Schleuter told Klingler.
