Donations sought for Wichita pet food pantry

A local animal welfare group is teaming up with a Wichita church to gather donations for a pantry to help low-income people feed their pets.

The nonprofit Retain Foundation, known for the dog washes it holds every summer to raise money for spay and neuter surgeries for pets, and First Metropolitan Community Church will hand out a week’s worth of pet food the third Friday of every month at the church, 156 S. Kansas, to pet owners whose funds for the month may have run out.

Dry and canned dog and cat food and treats are most needed, but food for other kinds of pets – birds, fish, rabbits, hamsters and other small animals – is appreciated. For the safety of all pets, the food needs to be in unopened packages with intact labels.

Besides food, the pantry is collecting supplies such as cat litter, dog leashes and collars, pet beds and toys, as well as Dawn dish detergent, white vinegar and reusable shopping bags.

Donations may be delivered to the church on Mondays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. or Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Donations may also be taken to 414 S. Roosevelt, 957 S. Dodge or 502 W. Kinkaid in Wichita, or to Prairie Song Designs, 106 N. Ash, and Paw Prints Pet Supplies, 108 N. Ash, in Valley Center.

For more information, call 316-682-2249.

Diane McCartney

This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Donations sought for Wichita pet food pantry."