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Alert – We Need Pet Food

How much pet food does Colorado Pet Pantry distribute each month?

About 100,000 pounds at our 100+ monthly locations across Colorado. All of the pet food we distribute is donated to us. This is how we are able to feed one pet for 30 days, with just a $5 donation.

However, over the last five years, many things in the pet food industry have changed and the result is more efficiency, less waste, and therefore, fewer donations. This change has resulted in us looking to our community for support.

What can you do to help?

1. We Need More Donation Stores

Do you frequent a specific animal supply store? Where do you get your pet food from? Talk to your local store about becoming a donation partner for Colorado Pet Pantry. Many stores can help by donating short-dated pet food, ripped or damaged bags, or by simply hosting a donation bin where anyone can come by and drop off pet food donations.

When a store becomes a Donation Partner, a Colorado Pet Pantry volunteer (this could be you or someone we find in your area) is assigned to the store. This volunteer will come by and pick up donations either “as-needed” or on a regular schedule. They will bring the donations to Colorado Pet Pantry, where they will be sorted and sent out to our pet food pantries.

We are more than happy to provide a donation bin, signs, and more literature if the store is interested.

What’s in it for the donation partner? Well, first off, all the good vibes that come with contributing to a healthier pet community. We will share their store name on our website. We will also tag and shout-out to their business on all of our social media pages, telling our supporters about how awesome they are for helping us feed community pets!

We are more than happy to provide a donation bin, signs, and more literature if the store is interested.

Need more support before reaching out to a store? No problem. Please feel free to ask us for advice on how to open up the conversation, what sorts of things to talk about, or any other questions you may have. Email info@coloradopetpantry.org with your questions, and we’ll be happy to chat with you.

2. Host a Pet Food Drive

Hosting a pet food drive helps by bringing in donations to our organization and also spreads the word about our existence to those who may be interested or those who may be in need of our services.

  • View our Pet Food Drive Toolkit and get all the supplies you may need to start your pet food drive.
  • What are the basics?
  • Dates of the drive.
  • Location where people should bring donations.
  • Spread the word – share with your friends, family, co-workers, neighborhood! Everyone has extra pet food and supplies they’re not using. You can be the facilitator of good, helping people clear out these unwanted items and getting them into the hands, paws, and bowls of those who can really use it.
3. Create a Recurring Donation

With just a $5 donation, you can supply one pet with 30 days worth of pet food. Take that donation and put it on a monthly basis, and you’ve now secured pet food for an entire year. Monthly giving is truly one of the best gifts for nonprofits. This gives organizations the ability to plan ahead and make strategic decisions based on the knowledge that they have the available funding to support them.

Helping Pets When It Matters Most

Colorado Pet Pantry and American Red Cross Join Forces

Emergencies strike quickly, leaving families scrambling to find safety, and for pet owners, that means ensuring their furry family members are safe too. In those chaotic moments, every bit of support counts. That’s why we’re so excited to share some big news: Colorado Pet Pantry has partnered with the American Red Cross to make sure pets get the help they need during disasters!

Through this partnership, Colorado Pet Pantry is providing Pet Comfort Kits — carefully packed with essentials such as food, leashes, toys, grooming tools, and waste bags — for American Red Cross first responders to distribute where help is needed most. These kits are designed to bring a little relief, a little normalcy, and a lot of love to pets and their families during times of crisis.

We officially kicked things off on April 19th, when Colorado Pet Pantry and American Red Cross volunteers gathered for a brief tour at our Englewood warehouse, gaining a firsthand look at how donated pet food is sorted and redistributed throughout the state.

Then the work began, assembling over 200 Pet Comfort Kits. Those kits are making a real difference: just days later, several were distributed to families impacted by a devastating house fire in Westminster – it’s a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

But the support doesn’t stop there!

Through this collaboration, the American Red Cross has also joined our Animal Welfare Share Program, which provides organizations with access to not only pet food but also crates, carriers, and other essential items to help families keep their pets safe and well cared for.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of KONG, headquartered in Golden, CO, each kit is packed with even more care. KONG donated hundreds of high-quality bags, toys, treats, and enrichment items, helping pets not only feel comforted but also providing a healthy outlet for stress during difficult times. Their support brings an extra level of love to every kit, and we are so grateful to have them as a vital partner in this effort.

“Working with organizations like Colorado Pet Pantry makes a real difference for the families we serve,”  said Ann Vastmans, Interim Regional Communications Director for the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming.  “Disasters don’t just affect people; they affect pets too — and pets are part of the family.”

Thanks to this new partnership and supporters like you, we’re making sure pets have a lifeline when disaster strikes.

YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

Since 2013, your support has enabled us to distribute over 42 million pet meals throughout the entire state of Colorado.  We’ve fed more than 700,000 dogs and cats through our network of over 100 monthly pet food pantries across the state. And now, together with the American Red Cross, we’re reaching even further — keeping pets fed, comforted, and safe by their families’ sides.

Your support makes a difference — Explore additional ways to DONATE to Colorado Pet Pantry—and help us continue changing lives, one pet and one family at a time.

Your Friends at Colorado Pet Pantry

Read our press release about this exciting new partnership.

World Spay Day (2/25/25)

Thank you to our partner, SpayToday

Did you know that in six years, one unspayed female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies. And in seven years, one female cat and her offspring can result in 370,000 kittens.* Spaying and neutering is the single-most important thing we can do to prevent homeless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens from a life of suffering. 
*Source: Dogster Cat and Dog Neuter Statistics

One of the most common requests from clients at our pet food pantries is: Do you offer spay and neuter services? 

The short answer is no, but thanks to an incredible ongoing partnership with SpayToday on the Front Range of Colorado, we have the ability to provide the next step for our clients to have a resource for their pets to be spayed or neutered, free of cost.

Thanks to funding from an anonymous donor and Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary, SpayToday was able to clear the Colorado Pet Pantry waitlist and schedule free spay/neuters for all waiting clients on February 25th, World Spay Day.

Eileen Lambert, Executive Director of Colorado Pet Pantry shares, “For many years, SpayToday has helped our clients to receive a spay or neuter at no cost when times are tight. This important surgery can relieve stress in the home, improve the health of the pets, and makes a huge difference to the local animal shelters that are already at capacity. But we always have more clients that need the service than there are spaces available, so we have a running waitlist. This very generous gift from SpayToday and Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary means relief for many pets and families. We can clear the deck and focus on helping people to feed the pets that are already part of their loving family.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary and Colorado Pet Pantry!” shares Amira Watters, Executive Director for SpayToday. “On February 25th, we will be performing 40+ spay/neuter surgeries and preventing thousands of unwanted animals from suffering a life of homelessness and neglect.  💕 Together, we’re making a difference, one pet at a time!”

Thanks to the strength of our community, the support of our partners, and collaboration with fellow nonprofits, we are making Colorado an incredible place for pets and their families to thrive.

Your Friends at Colorado Pet Pantry

LA Fires: Ways to Help

This week has been emotional and all too familiar for us Coloradans. The stories and images coming from the Los Angeles fires have brought back memories from some of the scariest times in our lives. In an effort to send some much needed aid to our dear neighbors, we have created a short list of three incredible local agencies who are doing life-saving work for pet families in Los Angeles.

At this point, our sources on the ground have indicated that there is already a tremendous influx of physical supplies headed to Southern California. Donating funds will allow these organizations to address immediate and dynamic needs without the logistical challenges of storing and distributing physical items. If you feel compelled to assist, trusted groups like the ones below are working tirelessly to care for people and pets affected by the fires.

Pasadena Humane Society

They have taken in hundreds of displaced animals, and have staff and volunteers working nonstop to assist animals in need of veterinary care. Additionally, they are hosting pet food pantries to distribute food and supplies to those in-need. To help, please donate here.

Los Angeles
Animal Care & Control

Mobilizing to provide critical support to those during evacuation, the animal care agency has boots on the ground and is actively out saving lives. We have highlighted their Animal Care Foundation website here.

LA Family Housing

This agency helps individuals transition out of homelessness through a continuum of housing enriched with supportive services. Their emergency response efforts have focused on these critical areas: evacuation, staffing, food, emergency supplies and equipment. To help, please donate here.

Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by this tragedy. Thank you for being part of a community that cares so deeply for pets and the people who love them, both here and beyond.

Keeping Pet Families Together – your support makes all the difference

As we approach 2025, and think about all the pets that will need assistance in the next 12 months, we want to introduce you to a family that is still together due to your foundational support.

Meet Emerald. Her words sum up our purpose so well.

“Keeping people united with loved ones, including pets, is a vital part of helping us stay physically and mentally healthy; it’s also essential for maintaining our ability to stay hopeful, which in turn, is one of the most crucial factors in any kind of recovery from economic or other traumas. I have been unhoused or housing-insecure at any given time for close to a dozen years,” she shares.  

Emerald is currently living in her truck with her two dogs, Avery “Mouse” Lee (left) and Pantera (right). This family receives pet food and supplies at our Denver area locations.

“As a public health student and something of a medical resource liaison for my peers in the homeless community, I’ve both formally studied and witnessed firsthand the impacts of family separation on people in chronic trauma populations like ours.”

Families like Emerald, Mouse and Pantera are able to stay together thanks to the resources they receive from Colorado Pet Pantry, which you make possible.

Can you help pets like Mouse and Pantera stay with their loving families, with a monthly gift or one-time donation?

A gift of any size at any time is always deeply appreciated and impactful. If dividing your donation into 12 months is possible, so that you can become a monthly recurring donor, that is very powerful for these three vital reasons:

1. In 2025 we plan to host at least 341 pet food pantries that are “open to the public” (additionally, we provide food for our “mini pet food pantries” where a partner organization distributes the food). This type of assistance requires ongoing, consistent support. Pledging a monthly donation allows us to plan ahead and continue to be the stable resource that pet families need.

2. When you invest in our mission each month, you are part of the ongoing solution to prevent pets from ever entering rescues or shelters. Animal shelters often face high costs and limited resources to re-home pets, while pets themselves endure the emotional trauma of being displaced. Your monthly gift helps save shelters funds, food, and time; helping to ensure families receive the support they need, and saving pets from unnecessary stress while keeping them where they belong — with their loving people.

3. The best reason to pledge your support right now? A generous donor is challenging us to secure 40 monthly recurring donors by midnight on Tuesday, December 31st, and in turn is matching each new or increased monthly commitment of $25 or more with a donation of $250. This opportunity expires at midnight on New Year’s Eve. We need 3 more donors to meet this challenge. Please help pet families like Emerald’s and pledge your support today.

How to Start Your Monthly Donation

We are deeply grateful for your support whether monthly or one-time. Every contribution — no matter the size — will advance our mission to support Colorado’s pets and the families who love them in 2025. From feeding a pet for a month with just $5, to ensuring families like Emerald’s can stay together, your generosity makes a difference to those in need. 

Wishing you a wonderful New Year, and sending a huge thank you for your continued dedication to help others. YOU make the world a better place.
~ the Colorado Pet Pantry team

Monthly Giving Match

Last week we made Colorado Pet Pantry history by raising $179,000 on Colorado Gives Day to support struggling pet families across the state. This achievement was only possible because of your generosity–thank you! While we celebrated this success, we also came up short of our $200,000 goal, a number we set for a reason. Over the past 11 years, we’ve seen a consistent increase in the need across every region of Colorado.

Now, thanks to a generous opportunity from one of our amazing supporters, we have a $10,000 match to help us achieve this goal by the end of the year.

Monthly donations provide consistent, reliable support, which allows us to plan ahead, meet growing demand, and ensure families never have to choose between feeding themselves or feeding their pets.

Set up a monthly donation of $25 or more and our donor will give $250 to amplify your impact. 

Already a monthly donor? THANK YOU! If you increase your monthly gift by $25, our donor will add $250 to boost your support.

Already donating through our website? Instructions to increase your monthly donation found here.

How to Start Your Monthly Donation

  • Visit coloradogives.org/donate/pet
  • Select MONTHLY
  • Select AMOUNT ($25 or more) 
  • Our Monthly Giving Match will automatically kick in $250 on your behalf
Join the Movement – Become a Monthly Donor

Stories of Impact – December 2024

“You have SAVED us from parting each other’s company!” says Kathryn in Boulder when asked how Colorado Pet Pantry’s pet food assistance affected her pet family, consisting of both this beautiful orange kitty, plus the two kitties and dogs below.

In Boulder, we partner with human food bank, Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA). We are thankful for our supporters and partners who make helping multi-pet families such as Kathryn’s, possible.

“My four rescues. Thank you for helping me keep them fed and healthy!” Kenna in Cortez shares.

In our opinion, this picture shows everything we want to see. Beautiful, loved and healthy pets giving their focused attention to the human who loves them. Our Cortez location opened up this year along with our satellite warehouse, serving the Four Corners Region in Colorado. There is a large need for pet food assistance in this area and we are honored to be able to meet this need on a consistent basis.

“I am so very grateful for all of you. I have been down for the last now three months, struggling for food. You guys gave my girls a month and a half of food and treats you didn’t shame me for needing help…” Blu and Moo’s Mom, Dianne shares.

These two dogs join us at our Lafayette pet food pantry, in partnership with Sister Carmen. Anyone can fall on hard times for any number of reasons. Colorado Pet Pantry notoriously has some of the most gracious animal lovers in existence, but on top of that, our volunteers are there because they want to help fellow pet parents maximize the level of care they give their pets. We are not here to shame or judge anyone for their circumstance. We are here because if you need pet food, we are more than happy to supply you with that bag of dog or cat food, to help you bridge the gap until your next paycheck.

“I have utilized your services once and it was incredibly helpful! Being in a situation where I could use the support the Colorado Pet Pantry provides was humbling, however, your staff was so nonjudgmental, kind and thorough that it made the experience peaceful. Saving even $50 a month right now helps a lot and the donations I received certainly exceeded that value. The thoughtfulness of your organization is exceptional.” Kris from Thornton shares.

When we reached out to clients this October, this photo of Bella was one of the first to come in. Opening the email and seeing the backlit beauty of this calico feline took our breath away. And the personal moment that her mother, Kris, shared about her one and only experience with Colorado Pet Pantry was the perfect testimonial of why we exist.

Many people often find themselves in a financial predicament and do not know where to turn. We work hard to make sure Colorado pet families know we exist, so they can sleep easy at night. If you need pet food, we are here for you. We have 28 open-to-the-public locations where those in need of pet food can simply show up and walk away with what they need. We partner with human food pantries to target our services to low-income populations. We plan to be there for pet families well into the future and we thank our donors, partners and volunteers for supporting our mission in this pet-loving state. Our impact is felt by many of our clients during the hardest times in their lives. To be a small beacon of hope for some pet families is simply an honor.

Donate Now to Support Pet Families in Colorado

December 2024 Impact Report

Download Printable PDF of Impact Report

At Colorado Pet Pantry, each year is an opportunity to strengthen our mission and reach more pets and families across Colorado. In 2024, we expanded our services, deepened partnerships, and continued the focus on ensuring pets remain with the people who love them.

2024 BY THE NUMBERS

Our numbers tell a story of resilience and growth as we expand our reach and respond to the evolving needs of Colorado’s communities.

Sustaining Families & Pets: A Year of Growth

This year, we’ve seen increasing need across the state as more families face economic uncertainty. Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to keep pace with demand, preventing the heartbreak of pet surrender for thousands of Colorado households.

Supporting Colorado’s Animal Welfare Network:

We’ve made a significant impact on the animal welfare community by helping fellow nonprofits stretch their budgets, directing more resources toward medical care and re-homing efforts.

*129,497 pounds of food is a subset of total food number listed in pet food assistance section

SPOTLIGHT ON KEY
PET FOOD PANTRIES

100% of the pet food we distribute is generously donated by individuals, businesses, and pet food brands. In 2024, we redirected one million pounds of quality pet food, often near best by dates or with blemished packaging, preventing waste, and helping feed pets in need.
See where your donations have made an impact:

Read more about these pet food pantries here.

Download Printable PDF of Impact Report

Spotlight on Key Pet Food Pantries

100% of the pet food we distribute is generously donated by individuals, businesses, and pet food brands. In 2024, we redirected one million pounds of quality pet food, often near best-by dates or with blemished packaging, preventing waste, and helping feed pets in need.

Donate to Support Pet Food Pantries Across Colorado

See where your donations have made an impact:

Grand Junction: We reached the Western Slope of Colorado in 2020 with the formation of our Grand Junction/Clifton pet food pantry. With coordination between Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies and Clifton Christian Church, this pet food pantry has grown to be the largest location we have.

Thank you volunteers!
All of these pets seen here are recipients of
our Grand Junction pet food pantry

Summit County Pet Food Pantry: The newest and only expansion of 2024, we are excited to partner with another pet food pantry in an effort to serve the area of Summit County, just beyond the Continental Divide of Colorado. This area hosts a large population of pet-families, many of whom are not able to take advantage of low-income services, due to owning pets. We are here to assist these families with essential pet food needs in an effort to keep families in this region together.

We Don’t Waste – Bruce Randolph School in Denver: Our largest location on the Front Range of Colorado, opened in November 2020. Since its inception, we have distributed over 159,363 pounds of dry food, 30,775 cans of wet food to 5,789 families and their 14,715 pets. To accomplish this, we partner with We Don’t Waste, a nonprofit specializing in human food distribution, to create a one-stop-shop for the entire family (humans and pets alike) to receive pet food assistance.

Thank you volunteers!
All of these pets seen here are recipients
of our We Don’t Waste pet food pantry
at Bruce Randolph School

Alamosa County Fairgrounds – La Puente’s Food Bank Network of San Luis Valley: Stretching across the South Central region of Colorado is the San Luis Valley. Our pet food pantry, hosted at the local fairgrounds, in partnership with Dumb Friends League and La Puente’s Food Bank Network of San Luis Valley is a valued resource for pet owners in this area. Where the pet to human ratio is 4:1, these families need all the help they can get to keep their pets at home, and prevent the possibility of relinquishment to the over-crowded shelters.

Thank you Volunteers!
Thank you Dumb Friends League!
All of these pets seen here are recipients of
our Alamosa pet food pantry

Towaoc – Ute Mountain Reservation: 386 miles from our Englewood Warehouse, over six mountain passes, we reach the Ute Mountain Tribal Lands and our furthest location from our Front Range hub. This pet food pantry has received almost 100,000 pounds of kibble since its inception in January 2021.

Thank you volunteers!
Thank you volunteers!
All of these pets seen here are recipients of
our Towaoc pet food pantry
Donate to Support Pet Food Pantries Across Colorado

Holiday Pet Food Pantry Schedule

As we navigate through seasonal holidays and various weather events, we will keep this page updated with the most current reschedules. The following are a list of pet food pantries that have been rescheduled:

NOVEMBER:

DECEMBER:

JANUARY:

October is Pet Wellness Month

This October we are celebrating National Pet Wellness Month. Here at Colorado Pet Pantry, we take this subject very seriously. Part of our mission as a nonprofit is to provide pet food assistance to families with the goal of helping them increase their ability to care for their pets.

Our hope is to help ease the burden of rising pet food costs, so families can spend their precious funds on other important things, such as veterinary care.

In addition to pet food assistance, Colorado Pet Pantry also partners with nonprofit low-cost veterinary organizations, such as SpayToday Healthy Pet Center, Bergen Spay & Neuter Alliance, Docs on the Block, Harley’s Hope Foundation and CSU Spur. Through these partnerships, we are able to connect clients in our pet food assistance program to lower cost veterinary care in their areas.

Colorado Pet Pantry joins SpayToday at their July vaccination clinic.

How can you help? What can you do to support Pet Wellness Month?

There are three ways you can support our mission and increase the wellness of pets in your area:

  1. Donate: Through our pet food partnerships, we are able to take a $5 donation and supply one dog or cat with 30-days worth of pet food.
  2. Volunteer: Work directly with our clients by volunteering at a pet food bank. When you volunteer at these events, you are able to see just how much this program means to so many pet families in our community.
  3. Start a Pet Food Drive: We cannot do what we do without pet food! Visit our pet food drive webpage to obtain all of the tools you need to start your own pet food drive. Get your friends, workplace, or neighborhood involved. This is a fun and easy way to support our cause.

Workplace Giving:

Simplify Your Life

Recurring donations are the crown jewel for nonprofits. The impact of a consistent monthly gift cannot be overstated. These donations provide the stability nonprofits need to plan ahead, maintain operations, and respond to growing demands. One of the most convenient ways to make a recurring gift is through payroll workplace giving programs, offering a simple and impactful way to support our mission regularly.

Many common payroll systems already have this ability. Talk to your employer about setting up contributions to Colorado Pet Pantry each pay period.

State and Federal Employees

We have exciting news! Colorado Pet Pantry was recently added as an approved charity to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and Colorado Combined Campaign (CCC). These are unique to State and Federal employees, and have an enrollment period, happening from September 16th to the end of the year.

This is the only time of the year where you have the ability to add your charity of choice.

Stories: Monique, Mito and Smokey

Monique first learned about Colorado Pet Pantry six years ago when she was struggling financially and saw a flyer at Food Bank for Larimer County, our human food bank partner in Loveland. Feeding her human family, in addition to her dog Mito, and cat Smokey, Monique was grateful to learn that she could get help with both human and pet food, all in one place.

“Mito (pronounced my-toe) was adopted from NoCo Humane Society and it has been amazing having such a loving, sassy, goofy dog. He brings so much unconditional love and joy to our household.”

Smokey is 13 and was adopted from someone to whom Monique used to give respite care. “She is a screamer, she will make sure to wake you up for pets and breakfast. She also is a purr machine and is very soft and cuddly. It’s been a treat being able to take in a senior and help her lose weight.”

Both Mito and Smokey have food sensitivities and special dietary needs, which often requires expensive pet food. Without the help of Colorado Pet Pantry, Monique told us she would likely have to buy cheaper pet food and at times feed Mito less. “My dog does have a sensitive stomach and often needs mid to higher priced food. With him being 120 pounds, it would become very expensive. With everything increasing in price and our dollar spreading thinner, it is hard to afford any quality animal food.”

“Colorado Pet Pantry has helped when our income has reached all-time lows and allowed us to continue to feed Mito. It has helped us when we needed food to get through for our cat Smokey. It has allowed us to keep our pets healthy and happy.”

Colorado Pet Pantry’s mission is to temporarily feed Colorado pets, allowing families to increase their ability to care for pets, with the goal of keeping them out of shelters and with their families. Monique is the perfect illustration of how donating a few extra bags of pet food can help someone and their large dog feel a sense of security in supplying a quality pet food diet. She also exemplifies the strategic move on Colorado Pet Pantry’s part of partnering with human food banks to create a one-stop-shop for everyone in the family to receive food assistance. We are only able to continue this work thanks to the generosity of our donors. Please consider donating today, and with just $5, you can supply one dog or cat with 30-days worth of pet food.

September is Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month, and while we frequently think about the people who face food insecurity, we must also remember the pets who are part of these families. At Colorado Pet Pantry, we partner with human food banks across the state to ensure that pets don’t go hungry either. We work tirelessly to support pet families, but we can’t do it without your help.

Becoming a monthly donor is the most effective way to make a lasting impact. A recurring gift of any size provides steady support that allows us to efficiently plan, distribute food, and quickly respond to emergencies. It’s the best way to ensure pets in need have access to nutritious food all year long.

With your ongoing support, we can provide meals to pets, keep families together, and meet the growing demand for assistance.

Setting up a monthly donation is easy! Simply click HERE, select the “Monthly” button, then choose an amount, and know that your support will be making a difference every single month. A gift of just $25 will provide 300 meals to animals in need each month. 

Set Up Monthly Donation

Support pets like Sir Odin.

Tammy is a client at our pet food pantry in Longmont with OUR Center, where she gets dog food for Odin, and cat food for Jazmine. 

Like many clients we speak to, Tammy told us that without help from Colorado Pet Pantry, “I would have had to see them not be as healthy, because they would not have had a stable source of meals. If it came down to it, I would have gone without food instead, so they could eat. They are my family and best friends.”

Thank you for being part of the Colorado Pet Pantry community and for making a difference this Hunger Action Month to help pets and their people!

With gratitude,
Meredith Allin
Director of Development