Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Things are dire with the Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry. I’m out of ideas. We can’t get the shed up.

To get started, here’s a sweet video clip of two bonded cats born outside separately in 2019. They’ve lived here ever since. Spencer Cassadine is on the left, Kinzua on the right.

The Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry is facing a second crisis this summer with a dwindling inventory and increased registration. 

Based on the Northside, the pantry is part of the Manchester Community Cat Garden. It was officially launched  in October 2024. We focus on the Northside and nearby communities, but try to serve everyone. 

Problems

The pantry has enough food for 20 households/caretakers, but needs to deliver to 24 by the end of August. There is no inventory for September forcing volunteer organizers to consider a temporary closure. 

We have over 70 registered households and caretakers. That requires 1,120 pounds of dry food and 1400 cans of wet food. 

More pet owners are registering as the economy tightens. 

People need supplies and we need to install our donated shed to store them. That has to take a backseat to the immediate need. Almost everyone who volunteered to help backed out or shifted the project to someone else. We have the shed at the location, but we need someone to manage installation.

Solutions

 We have gained 19 volunteers so we can deliver food to housebound households and pick up donations.

We have  two pet food drives tentatively scheduled for September. 

How you can help   

• Donate for the immediate need
  • GoFundMe bit.ly/GivePghCatFolx
  • Venmo @ PittsburghLGBTQ
  • Paypal.me/PittsburghLGBTQ
  • Wishlist Amazon – bit.ly/TheRuffList
  • Wishlist Chewy – bit.ly/TheChewyList
  • Drop off donation at 1440 Faulsey Way 15233
  • (look for yellow yard signs) 
• Organize a pet food drive, big or small
• Organize a fundraiser
• Invite us to table at an event or activity
• Connect us with retail pet food outlets
• Help us get the shed up
• Collect supplies
• Volunteer

Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet  Food Pantry * Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities * www.pghcatfolx.org 

To register for the pantry, go to bit.ly/PetFolxPetFoodPantry