Drop-off bins for donations to the Humane Society and the Community Pet Pantry are located on the right side of the Humane Society building, 4700 S. County Road G, in Janesville.
JANESVILLE With the recent new year and rising community need, a food pantry for pet items, run through the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin, has seen increased traffic and donations in recent months.
The Community Pet Pantry, housed in the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin, offers free pet food and pet items to community members.
COURTESY KAITLYN FLINN
Created in 2013, the Community Pet Pantrys mission is to get pet food, cat litter, treats and other animal care items into community members hands for free.
Kaitlyn Flynn, community outreach and volunteer coordinator for the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin, said the pantry helps community members who might be struggling to keep pets in their homes.
We dont want people to have to choose between feeding themselves and their animals, Flynn said.
For donors, its a chance to share what might otherwise go to waste.
How to donate
Drop-off bins for donations to the Humane Society and the Community Pet Pantry are located on the right side of the Humane Society building, 4700 S. County Road G, in Janesville.
MADELINE WESTBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Flynn said the humane society accepts donations year-round, both animal items and monetary donations, to help the nonprofit care for and rehome animals in Rock County. Donations can be left at any time in bins outside at the Humane Society, 4700 S. County Road G, in Janesville.
Pet food items can be donated even if theyve been opened, but must be in their original packaging, so humane society staff can see the ingredients.
And Flynn said that even expired pet food doesnt go to waste. Because of the humane societys partnership with a nearby raccoon rehabilitation center, expired food donations can still be accepted and used to feed raccoons cared for by another organization.
After the holidays, donations typically rise, Flynn said.
Its pretty common after the new year, everyones cleaning out their homes, Flynn said.
Any items that arent used in-house by the society are given to the Community Pet Pantry for distribution to Rock County residents.
The Community Pet Pantry, housed in the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin, offers free pet food and pet items to community members.
MADELINE WESTBERG
We receive a lot of donations, being a nonprofit, and were very, very grateful. Most of them, we use in-house. Everything that we dont need, or dont need at the time, or if we have an abundance of it, we put it in our Community Pet Pantry.
Using the pantry
Flynn said the pantry is available for those who need items from it during regular humane society business hours. Community members needing the pantry can call the society, email Flynn or message her on social media, and request items. Humane Society staff will set aside needed items for pick-up at the front desk.
Theres no application or documentation required to donate or receive donations, Flynn said.
The humane society also holds designated open pantry hours, during periods of higher donation volumes, when community members can walk through the garage space, pick out items they need and take them for free. Open pantry hours are announced on social media, typically the day before.
Flynn said the humane society sometimes has extra items for humans in the pantry, like wrapping paper, feminine products or other household items, to be passed along, as well.
The Community Pet Pantry has been more active in recent months, due to the holidays and the recent federal government shutdown. It saw both higher traffic and higher donation volume.
We got quite a lot of food in and it helped a lot of people out, Flynn said. All the people who donated, Im sure theyd be happy to hear that. They played a big role in helping the community out when people were in need.
Flynn said the society held two open pantry hours before Christmas and Thanksgiving, and opened every week in November during the federal shutdown.
The Community Pet Pantry, housed in the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin, offers free pet food and pet items to community members.
MADELINE WESTBERG
We wanted to make sure that everyone was able to get food, whether you are a human or an animal. Because its important for both, Flynn said.
Open pantry hours are dependent on the volume of donations, whether the society currently has a lot of animals in-house who need supplies, and the time of year.
Flynn said its harder to staff the open pantry in the winter, because of the cold weather and the location of the pantry in its garage. Some times of year also see higher community need for pet items.
Flynn said the society is always accepting donations, and has a list of needed items and wish lists on its website.
While the humane society is known for helping place animals in new homes, it also helps keep pets in their homes, through community pet pantry offerings.
Sometimes people do have to give animals up for different situations and its always heartbreaking to see, Flynn said. No one wants to give up their animal. But sometimes life happens. It happens sometimes and we just dont want to have anybody have to experience that.
The humane society also accepts monetary donations, which community members can specify to be used specifically for the pet pantry, Flynn said.
The Community Pet Pantry, housed in the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin, offers free pet food and pet items to community members.
COURTESY KAITLYN FLINN
The organization is always seeking volunteers, who can apply to help at the humane society website.
We have a lot of great volunteers who are super dedicated, even when its freezing weather like it has been, theyre still helping us out, Flynn said.
Flynn said that while the pet pantry doesnt have concrete attendance counts, she knows the pantry has made a difference in Rock County.
I know it helps a lot of people, a lot of families, a lot of animals, Flynn said.
