As part of Humane Pennsylvania’s Healthy Pets Initiative (HPI) emergency COVID-19 response, Spike’s Pet Pantry, which was originally founded as Ani-Meals in 2005, oversaw and donated more than 400,000 pounds of pet food and supplies in the past 12 months to those facing economic hardship. Despite the hurdles created by the pandemic, nearly 10,000 pets in the greater Reading area were directly served by HPI programs and services. This included mobile vaccine and microchip clinics, affordable access to spaying and neutering, community event presence, partnerships and Spike’s Pet Pantry.

“When we first created Ani-Meals in 2006, it was an innovative approach to getting pet food to those in need of human food too. It allowed people in the community to receive direct food assistance for their pets,” said Karel Minor, CEO of Humane Pennsylvania. “And now to see how far and wide this once controversial program has developed, and what we were able to accomplish in this last year alone is unheard of.”