We had great time yesterday at the Betty White’s Birthday Winter Cat Shelter Workshop, Over 20 neighbors got together at Allegheny City Brewing on the Northside. Owner Amy donated the space and provided complimentary beverages. Nearby Bistro-to-Go sent coffee (January weather) and cheesecake bites (Betty White reference.)
The good news outcome – we collectively made 42 shelters, 32 large and 10 small. Our goal was 37 shelters. We can give large shelters to 32 and two small shelters to five. That’s 37.
We could have made more but we ran out of coolers. We also ran out of duct tape, so I sent a FB call for help to the local neighborhood group and several kind folks dropped off partial rolls within 20 minutes. Someone even brought literal white duct tape.
Our workshop leader, Tabby, came prepared with stencils, printed instructions, and years as a Girl Scout troop leader. She prepared the supplies and got everyone paired up with a partner so the conversations began flowing as did the laughter (and coffee.) It was such a warm, comfortable environment as everyone tackled the task of helping neighbors and critters alike. Bits of Styrofoam were flying everywhere as the utility knives created openings for cats and community. Straw wafted to the ground so much that we looked like the setting for an urban square dance.
People stopped by throughout the four hour event, some with donations and others with questions. They had heard or read about the Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry being robbed a few days prior and wanted to help. So they brought cat and dog food, toys, litter, bowls, collars, and more.
One family had taken their daughter to pick out their donation, mom and dad lugging bags of food into Gertie while she carefully handed me the dog toys. Another man came with his granddaughter, he quietly slipped me a $100 bill and she had some pet items. I invited them to make a shelter which she clearly wanted to do – so they joined the group.
Admittedly, I was pretty tired from dealing with the theft, even doing an interview with WPXI at 9:30 PM Friday night outside. Balancing the thievery implications with the needs of the workshop created a strange brew in my head space. So I sat in the corner sipping coffee, snapping photos, and waiting for someone – anyone – to say my name when I was needed.
I didn’t even get to make a shelter.
But I did eat some cheesecake, met many great folx, and allowed myself to take a deep sigh and relax into the comfort of the space, the people, the ease of knowing the shelters will be out before the temps hit 10 degrees on Monday.
It does feel a bit uncomfortable to focus on animals when atrocities against our human neighbors are inflicted by our government every single day. In fact, on Thursday night when we realized the extent of the pet pantry thefts, I was taking an online training by Casa San Jose to be part of their Rapid Response Volunteer Team. Thankfully, I had the MH tools to compartmentalize and prioritize.
As a social worker, I know that strengthening our community interactions prepares us to do good and to resist oppression. A concrete need was identified by our neighbors (and nature) so the time we came together reminded those neighbors that they are not alone, that their work tending to homeless animals is important, and that their emotional bonds with the animals in their care is valuable. They are valuable.
It is also good to come together and meet face to face with a shared purpose. To invest our time and energy into that space. Each shelter was sanctified by the hands that transformed the basic components into a resource that will protect and save lives. These shelters strengthen the health and safety of every neighborhood where they land.
Because, IMHO, there is no doubt ICE will be ramping up activities in Pittsburgh those closer we get to the 2026 mid-term elections. And we will need to come together again to protect even more neighbors. I suspect it is people who care for animals in need, those who open their own hearts to bond with their pets – those are people who I have no doubt will turn out, show up, whatever that means.
One of our volunteers is delivering about 25 shelters today. Others are being picked up directly by caretakers. We may have a few extras as some folx found other sources. We asked attendee to make another shelter on their own, but it was a request not a requirement. We’ll keep our eyes open for other coolers and you can reach out if you need a shelter.
But we can’t accept drop-offs of donated supplies right now because someone stole our stuff last week – heated items in particular – heated water dishes, beds, shelters, chemical hand warmers, reusable heated discs, and food. A lot of it dog food, but just grabbed all the distributions or most of them and took it.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette covered that theft. WPXI also covered it.
You have been very kid helping us recover from this. We had to immediately run the workshop and deliver the shelters before the bitterest cold, pivot to distributing food for the duration of January, and brainstorm how we can buy ourselves some time to solve the bigger problems. All cloaked in the larger realities of our authoriatarian government – health insurance subsidies gone, SNAP recipients forced to reapply, job losses, work requirements for safety net programs, the fear for our BIPOC and immigrant neighbors, the impact of their fear, and so forth.
You can help us continue to recover from our unplanned losses and prepare for the coming months. We do not currently have a secure drop-off location so please use our wishhlists that are secure or contact the pantry directly to arrange a drop-off to a live person.
To donate to the Dr. John P Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry, please use these tools
- GoFundMe bit.ly/GivePghCatFolx
- Venmo @PittsburghLGBTQ
- Paypal.me/PittsburghLGBTQ
- CashApp $PittsburghLGBTQ
- Zelle folx@pghlgbtq.org
Wishlists are
- Chewy bit.ly/TheChewyList
- Amazon bit.ly/TheRuffList
Gently used items are welcome. Please contact the pantry to schedule a time to drop off.
Other needs include donation drop-off spots,volunteer drivers, and trail cameras.
Volunteer: bit.ly/PLCVolunteer
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