Food Pantry For Pets of Financially Struggling Owners Opens in Chester County
By Brad Segall
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- A food pantry is now open in Chester County, Pa., for low-income pet owners who have problems affording the food their animals need.
The pantry, "Henry's Cupboard," is now a part of the Chester County SPCA, in West Chester. It's designed to provide free food assistance to pet owners living below the poverty level.
Customers will need to fill out an application and, if approved, will be able to get food for up to four pets each month.
SPCA community engagement manager Julie Landy says the bottom line is keeping pets and their owners together.
"People's animals belong at home," she says. "Shelter life is hard for animals, and some animals are very difficult to re-home, so we do everything we can at the SPCA to break down those borders so they can keep their animals."
So, who is "Henry"? The cupboard is named in honor of Pennsylvania state senator Andy Dinniman's late poodle, which died in December. Landy says Henry was very recognizable around Chester County.
The SPCA received two grants to get the program started, and will rely on donations to keep the shelves stocked.
