Helping Hastings’Pets in Need
STEVEN SHORT
Pet Pantry wants to help pet owners struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and needs your donations.
You may have heard that there are currently more food banks in the UK than branches of McDonald’s. But where do people turn when it’s not their kids or partners they are struggling to feed – but the four-legged member of the family? Kayleigh Wilks set up Pet Pantry to answer this very need, taking donations of all things pet related “Not just cats and dogs, but rabbits, guinea pigs, even turtles!” and distributing them to owners in need.
“I’ve been rescuing for about 15 years, taking on LOTS of cats, sometimes up to 22 at a time,” says Kayleigh, who, before establishing Pet Pantry, founded Hastings Cat Lovers, which is now a registered charity.“I also rescued dogs, doing basic training and rehoming them. Probably about 30 over the years, mostly out of my own pocket, but sometimes I’d ask for help from Facebook friends and family, or I’d hold auctions for donated money to raise funds for vets bills etc.”
Becoming pregnant seven years ago and bringing up a son with autism meant that Kayleigh had to step away from the day-to-day business of rescuing pets in need, but the idea for Pet Pantry had been sown. “Looking after animals was becoming more expensive, with more animals in need than ever and no room at rescue centres and hardly any help with pet food parcels: this sparked a lightbulb moment,” so Kayleigh set about creating a service that helped pet owners in need by forming “a community of like-minded people who could help.”
Pet Pantry now welcomes donations of all types of cat, dog, rabbit and guinea pig food as well as cat baskets, hay and straw, blankets and towels, toys, harnesses, leads and collars which it distributes to those in need. Kayleigh explains: “Our mission is to keep pets happy, healthy and at home.”
In her first month of operation, she and her team supplied 72 food parcels as well as hundreds of worming and flea treatments. They have also handed out care packages to homeless dog owners. “We still have a huge list of people needing help, and its sad to have to say no,” says Kayleigh, who is also full-time carer to her disabled son.
Pet Pantry has drop-off points in Hollington, Ore, West Hill, Malvern Way, Eastbourne and Bexhill and would love donations of any kind. You can find them on Facebook (where they also share information about other pet-friendly initiatives), on email at [email protected] or on 07562246748. To donate funds directly, they also have a Paypal account: [email protected] facebook.com/groups/966992897711588
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