Colleen, Parker & Sapphire
“When I’m upset, they’re my sunshine, and when I’m angry, they are my silent voice of reasoning.” That’s how Colleen, a Colorado Pet Pantry client from Penrose describes her pets—her kids, her family. “My pets mean everything to me. They calm me, they keep my stress down, and without them, I don’t believe I’d be here.”
Science backs her up. “Pet owners are less likely to die,” said Harvard Medical School clinical assistant professor Beth Frates, citing the American Heart Association’s finding that owning a furry companion reduces a person’s mortality rate by 24 percent.
But like many Coloradans, she has been hit hard by the rising cost of living. Feeding her pets sometimes felt impossible, forcing her to consider selling cherished belongings or, unthinkably, rehoming her animals. Giving them up wasn’t just a financial choice—it would have been an emotional breaking point.
That changed earlier this year when a friend told her about our Colorado Pet Pantry distribution at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Cañon City. “Your services have helped in a very crucial time for my family,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the pantry, I don’t know what I would do. They’re not just pets—they’re family. Without this help, I wouldn’t be able to keep them.”
Now, Colleen leaves our pantry with enough food to breathe a little easier, knowing her pets will stay where they belong—home. And with that comes something money can’t buy: peace of mind, emotional stability, and the joy that only a beloved animal can give.
Now, Colleen leaves our pantry with enough food to breathe a little easier, knowing her pets will stay where they belong—home. And with that comes something money can’t buy: peace of mind, emotional stability, and the joy that only a beloved animal can give.
In the past year alone, our Cañon City location served nearly 900 families. That’s 900 households who kept their pets—many long-time companions, rescues, or emotional support animals—because of one simple but life-changing resource: pet food. Without Colorado Pet Pantry, people may face impossible choices: surrendering pets to already overcrowded shelters, skipping their own meals, or coping with hardship in isolation.
At Colorado Pet Pantry, we believe no one should have to choose between feeding themselves or their pets. Every bag of food is a lifeline. Every distribution is an act of hope. And every family we help stays whole—because pets aren’t just pets. They’re therapy. They’re stability. They’re family. Consider supporting the healing power of our furry loved ones with a monthly donation. Your impact would help us nourish not only physically, but mentally the people and pets in our community.
