Feeding Fido

KAPAA — No pet should go hungry.

That’s why the Kauai Humane Society and a host of volunteers distributed free dog food Wednesday at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa.

“It’s great that the Kauai Humane Society is working with people to allow them to keep our pets even if we’re not doing well financially,” said Gery Petrella, who picked up a couple bags of dog food while her dog waited in the back of her pickup truck.

The KHS program started in May is called the Gomez’ Gallery. It allows registered families facing financial shortfalls to pick up pet food once a month at St. Catherine’s or at the humane society. It also distributes pet food starting at 7:45 a.m. every fourth Friday at St. Williams pantry in Hanalei.

“This is all through anonymous donations,” said Julie Werner of KHS.

From May through July, between the two pantries, Gomez’ Galley has distributed four pounds of bird feed, five pounds of guinea pig feed, 35 pounds of rabbit food, 635 pounds of cat food, and 3,776 pounds of dog food, Werner said. More went out through the KHS business office.

The St. Catherine’s Gomez’ Galley distribution is from 3 to 4 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month with 105 families with 250 pets registered. The St. Williams Church in Hanalei has 41 registered families and more than 105 pets.

Werner said people interested in this pet food bank service can register through the KHS.

“Basically, the pet needs to be spayed or neutered,” Werner said. “And they are asked not to add any more pets to their household once registered. Food will be provided only for the pets listed at the time of registration.”

An additional guideline is to list household members authorized to pick up food.

“I’m picking up for myself and a disabled neighbor,” said Gary Chmielewski. “I really appreciate this courtesy from the Kauai Humane Society.”

Donations of cash or pet food are welcome at the office and at www.kauaihumane.org.