When humans are in crisis, organizations like the Red Cross, fire departments and food banks are there to help.

But who is there for the pets affected by those emergencies?

Westmoreland/Fayette/Allegheny County Animal Response Team established a pet pantry to provide food and other supplies to furry friends whose owners have been affected by crisis. Then it was expanded to include people affected financially by the pandemic.

Now, CART needs supplies and monetary donations to keep it stocked.

“Pet Pantry began originally as an extension of the pet supplies we kept on hand to give out to our emergency clients affected by fires, floods and such,” according to the CART Facebook page.

“Essentially, I had a little pet pantry at my house,” said Lori Mozina-Ogurchak, the team’s chief coordinator.

Team members realized the greater need when many of the smaller food pantries that collected pet food were closed due to the pandemic.

“Westmoreland County Food Bank doesn’t distribute pet food, so we relied on all the smaller church and community food banks for donations,” Mozina-Ogurchak said. “When covid shut everything down, that all ceased.”

“We plan to continue offering support to those financially hit hard, especially those out of or losing work, due to the Covid,” the Facebook page says. “We try to fill as many requests as we can from the three counties we cover.”

No toys, please

Thanks to a grant from the Pittsburgh Foundation, CART was able to purchase a 20-foot metal pod to house the pantry.

“Then we had to fill it with food,” Mozina-Ogurchak said.

In addition to dry and canned dog and cat foods, needs include food bowls, treats, clumping litter, litter boxes and scoopers, shampoo, plastic lids for food cans, beds and bedding.

[gps-image name=”3771794_web1_gtr-petpantry2-042421.jpg”]

Monetary donations are used to buy specialty items like prescription foods that some veterinarians will supply at cost. Funds also go to purchasing food for other domesticated animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chickens, ducks, goats and horses.

“The specialty foods are very expensive. You wouldn’t believe how many people have ferrets,” Mozina-Ogurchak said.

“Toys are the most donated, but least needed thing,” she added. “We can’t provide medications. We can provide flea collars or shampoo, but no topical meds.”

CART also is looking to partner with grocery, feed and big box stores.

“We’ll take damaged or close-to-expired items,” Mozina-Ogurchak said. “Sometimes stores will throw things out when the manufacturer changes the packaging. We’ll take it.

“We’ll also take quality used items, like stainless steel bowls and carriers, if they can be disinfected.”

Kits are customized to the client’s need. Team members will arrange to meet clients to deliver supplies.

“We have done some drive-thru distributions, but I find those are not always successful getting help to people who really need it,” including the elderly, disabled or people who don’t have vehicles, Mozina-Ogurchak said.

Since its inception last year, the pantry has assisted 453 dogs, 490 cats, and 102 other domesticated animals. The list of clients continues to grow.

“When we started, we thought we’d be done by this point; but now we see this will be a continuing need for a while,” Mozina-Ogurchak said. “(The pantry) could be a long-term thing, if we have the funds to support it.”

How to help

• Donation bins for physical items are located at Eastgate Plaza Giant Eagle, 5142 Route, Hempfield; Pet Market, 250 S. Third St., Youngwood; Abie & Bimbo’s Pizza, 1017 Highland Ave., South Greensburg; and Petagogy, 240 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg.

• Gift cards for any pet store, farm feed, grocery store or gas station (to help with delivery costs) or checks can be sent to Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team, 8355 Route 819; Greensburg, PA 15601.

• Credit card donations can be made through the state website at paanimalresponse.org. Donors can specify which county should receive the funds.

For information on receiving assistance, email westmorelandcart@comcast.net or message Westmoreland/Fayette/Allegheny County Animal Response Team on Facebook.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)