Colorado Pet Pantry

Background Statement

MORE THAN A PET FOOD BANK

In 2017, Colorado Pet Pantry founded the Animal Welfare Share Program. This is a hub for donated dog and cat supplies, allowing animal rescues, shelters, low-cost veterinary services, and other animal welfare organizations the ability to reduce the amount spent on items like pet beds, collars, leashes, crates, kennels, bowls and prescription pet food, saving these items from landfills, and saving funds for other much-needed services, such as vet care.

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, a representative from the Red Cross contacted Colorado Pet Pantry (CPP) to ask for pet food for families who had lost their homes in a fire. The Red Cross had found emergency shelter for these families at a hotel in Aurora, and CPP was able to deliver dog food, cat food, cat litter and a litter box, dog and cat treats and toys, and guinea pig and ferret food and supplies - for a dog, a cat, 3 guinea pigs and a ferret!

After the Marshall Fine in Boulder County on Dec. 30, 2021, Colorado Pet Pantry worked with the Boulder Office of Emergency Management and Humane Society of Boulder Valley to provide pet food and supplies at the Disaster Assistance Center in Lafayette for two weeks. During this time, Colorado Pet Pantry, through the generosity of our donors, distributed approximately 2000 dog and cat beds to people who fled their homes with nothing, plus food, collars, leashes, bowls, toys, treats, and more.

TESTIMONIALS

"My cats, Mijo and Felix, are companions that follow me to the garden and snuggle next to me at night. The food from Colorado Pet Pantry allowed me the extra funds to pay for a vet visit and medication when one of them was sick. Thank you for your kindness." - Anne

"Times have been rough in this economy, making it difficult to purchase food for my cat. With the help of Colorado Pet Pantry it has lifted a lot of weight off of my shoulders." - Tesha

"Colorado Pet Pantry was a lifesaver when I needed it most. I only had two days left of dog food and no money. With their help, I was able to make sure that my babies were taking care of. " - Bettina

"We love the Colorado Pet Pantry!!!! My boyfriend and I live in our car with our two dogs. Knowing that the Colorado Pet Pantry is available when we need dog food is so positive for us. It's a weight lifted off of our back. Thank you for all your help." - Kristen

"Due to a traumatic brain injury and multiple surgeries within the last few years, I really have been in need of support to keep my furry kids well fed. Colorado Pet Pantry helps to keeps our family together!!!" - Jazzy, Chucky, Cielo and Ashley

"Colorado Pet Pantry does an amazing job supporting the community and local animal rescue organizations. Thank you for all you do!" - Amy, HoBo Boxer Rescue

The Colorado Pet Pantry (dba Animal Haus) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our EIN is 45-4210185.

Colorado Pet Pantry is the largest organization of its kind in the US. We partner with human food banks, human services organizations, animal shelters and pet rescues to make getting pet food as easy as possible for the people and pets who need our help. Your support allows us to operate more than 100 pet food bank locations each month in 32 counties across the state of Colorado.

BACKGROUND

The Colorado Pet Pantry pet food bank tested the waters in 2013 with a bi-monthly pet food bank at one "human" food bank partner. Once we established that the interest and need were significant, we quickly ramped up to four monthly pet food banks in 2014. During 2015 and 2016, the pet food bank held 5 monthly pet food banks in the Denver/Boulder-metro areas, serving each neighborhood once per month with the goal of ensuring that all families in a neighborhood have the resources to consistently feed their pets, keeping them out of shelters. In 2017, we grew to 15 pet food bank locations.

In March 2018, Colorado Pet Pantry merged with a separate local pet food bank called Animal Haus, to combine efforts and help even more people and pets. Prior to its spin-off in March 2018, Colorado Pet Pantry was a project of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC).

We now have 103 pet food bank locations throughout Colorado, including the Four Corners, Southeastern CO, and Western Slope. In addition we run the Emergency Pet Food Assistance Program to bridge the gap for clients until our next monthly pet food bank and the Animal Welfare Share Program where we partner with 100+ local animal organizations to share supplies.

In 2023, Colorado Pet Pantry distributed 9 million meals to dogs and cats whose families needed assistance so that they could keep their pets in their loving homes.