A pet food pantry recently launched by Saving Paws Animal Rescue of Kentucky (SPARKY) is helping local families care for their pets during financial hardships.
John Austin, president of SPARKY, said the idea came after the organization received repeated messages from people who were struggling to afford pet food or, in some cases, were considering surrendering their pets altogether.
“In some cases, people have even asked us to take their pets in because they couldn’t afford to keep them,” Austin said.
The pantry began distributing food in March 2025 following a grant from the Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation. SPARKY now offers free dog and cat food — and, when available, kitty litter — to residents who apply through their website at sparkyrescue.com.
“Once a month, some of our volunteers will fill absolutely as much of the demand as we possibly can,” Austin said. “So far, we’ve been fortunate. We’ve been able to fill all of the requests each time thus far, and we hope to only broaden our ability to do that.”
Austin emphasized that many of the people they assist are responsible pet owners who’ve hit a temporary setback.
“We want people to be able to keep their pets,” he said. “They’re not bad pet owners — they’re just going through a rough time.”
In its first few months, the pantry has already supported dozens of households. Austin said the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Everybody has been very appreciative,” he said. “Nobody has acted like they had some sort of entitlement to it.”
Beyond emergency relief, the pantry also plays a preventative role, helping reduce the number of pets surrendered to shelters.
“If the only issue is pet food, and we can solve that, then people get to keep their animals — and we can save shelter space for those who truly need rehoming,” Austin said.
SPARKY is asking for continued support from the community in the form of food donations, financial gifts, and volunteer help.
“There’s not an amount that’s too big or too small,” Austin said. “Don’t think, ‘Oh, what difference does one bag of food make?’ I mean, it makes all the difference.”
To donate, volunteer, or request assistance, visit sparkyrescue.com or follow SPARKY on Facebook.
