Arlo’s Pantry is a free service for those who need assistance feeding their pets 

By Kris Goracke

Reporter

The idea of a pet food pantry had been on Zoë Johnson’s mind for some time. As the Director of Operations for the Pope County Humane Society (PCHS), she had noticed an increasing number of families surrendering their pets due to rising care costs. Then came Arlo.

Arlo was a special dog who captured the community’s hearts last November. In mid-November, PCHS received a call about a stray later named Arlo, who had been spotted roaming a lakeside neighborhood with a chain around his neck. “He was only spotted from afar at first, but even from a distance, people could tell that he probably hadn’t had a meal in a while,” recalled Johnson.

Arlo was finally rescued and taken into a warm, loving home. Unfortunately, his condition worsened overnight, and a concerned community member contacted PCHS for help. Johnson and Meghan Bird, a lead kennel attendant, went to pick him up. Before they even returned to the shelter, it was clear that Arlo needed emergency medical care.

Johnson rushed Arlo to Blue Pearl in an emergency veterinary clinic in St. Cloud. After several tests, the veterinarian determined that he needed to be transferred to a larger animal hospital to assess his neurological condition. “Throughout this journey, the community was given updates on Arlo through social media. The generosity and support were overwhelming. In a short period, $5,000 was raised to help with his medical costs. That’s when I knew it was time to open a pet pantry. I knew with the support of our community, this project could be sustained,” said Johnson, Arlo was the final push we needed to commit to fully committing to the vision of our food pantry.”

Sadly, despite the best efforts of his caregivers, Arlo passed away due to the severity of his condition. However, his legacy lives on through Arlo’s Pantry, which will help provide food for needy pets.

This initiative is crucial, as studies found on the webpage, The Shared Experiences of Pet Food Insecurity, have shown that pet food pantries can save pet owners between $40 to $100 a month on average. This is especially timely, as pet food costs have increased by 15.2% in recent years.

Arlo’s Pantry is free to those who need assistance feeding their pets. No pre-registration is required, but visitors must complete a basic information form on their first visit for record-keeping purposes. Arlo’s Pantry officially opens on Thursday, March 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will continue to be open every Thursday and Friday during the same hours. It is in the new shelter addition at 17584 195th Avenue, Glenwood.

Initially, Arlo’s Pantry will provide cat and dog food. Still, PCHS will track community needs and expand to other pet food as necessary. To support this cause, PCHS welcomes both monetary and food donations. So far, $1,000 has been raised for Arlo’s Pantry.

This sentiment echoes the findings of recent studies, which show that 55% of pet owners say pet food pantry services have prevented them from surrendering their pets. Additionally, 68% of pet owners in financial distress admit to feeding their pets less or instituting “skip days” to stretch food supplies.

“We believe in keeping families together. PCHS wants to support those facing tough decisions, like rehoming a pet due to financial hardship. We hope Arlo’s Pantry can help keep families together and pets fed,” said Johnson.