Finn’s Pet Food Pantry Aims To Increase Pet Retention One Paw At A Time

There are more than 800 pets housed at the Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department.

Capacity at the facility is supposed to be 400 animals.

Unfortunately, that is not uncommon nationwide.

There are approximately 70 million homeless cats and dogs, according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the world’s largest animal rights organization. 

Pet overpopulation and homelessness is plaguing the nation due to a lack of sterilization and irresponsible pet ownership.

“If dog is man or woman’s best friend, why isn’t man doing more to help his friend?” said Barbara St. Aubin, a part-time librarian at Miami Dade College.

A group of students at Homestead Campus are heeding St. Aubin’s call for action.

On Jan. 31, the Animal Welfare Club launched the College’s first-ever pet food pantry to help people with financial need care for their animal companions and, in turn, minimize the number of surrendered pets.

Finn’s Pet Food Pantry is a 183 sq. ft. space located in Room A115. It has non-perishable items for cats and dogs, such as dry food, wet food, freeze-dried meals and treats like biscuits, rolls and flavored chews.

They also have bowls, leashes, shedding tools, sweaters and squeaky plush toys.

So far, the pantry has served approximately 52 students, according to St. Aubin, who serves as the club’s advisor. 

“Even though [what we’re doing is] a small thing, everything is one step at a time,” said Giselle Perez,  the club’s president. 

Pawesome Project

Perez, a second-year psychology student in the Honors College, founded the AWC last year to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership.

The idea for the pantry was sparked last fall when a student asked St. Aubin, who founded This is the Dog!, an animal rescue, if she could surrender her dog to her because she didn’t have enough food to feed him. 

St. Aubin—who owns three dogs, Yellow, Falcon and Roo, an eight-year-old therapy dog who’s missing her front legs, and a resident cat, Oz—felt compelled to help.

“If the pet food pantry can provide food, then maybe the person [in need] can pay their rent and not have to worry about moving and giving up their dog because the next place they’re moving to doesn’t allow pets,” said St. Aubin, who also fosters animals on a regular basis. “We want to keep pets with their families.”

Making A Difference

Apart from managing the pantry, the club, which has approximately 30 active members, collaborates with This is the Dog! to facilitate adoptions and educate the community on animal sterilization.  

Students help complete adoption paperwork, load up vans with animals, pack goodie bags and organize donations.

Last year, the club also led a campus-wide clean-up, in which more than 2,000 pieces of trash were collected, and participated in food drives at events like Homestead Campus’ Fall Fest on Oct. 14. During the festival, they gave out approximately 100 bags of animal food in less than an hour, St. Aubin said. 

However, unlike pop-up food drives, the pantry’s fixed location and hours offer a more effective way to serve the community, says Katelyn Baiza, the clubs’ events coordinator.

“People do come; they know our hours because they come as soon as the door opens,” said the second-year pre-veterinary medicine major. “That’s how I know it’s really working.”

How It Works

To access the pantry, students must sign in providing their name, contact information and the amount of food they’re taking. People can take as much food as they need but in reasonable quantities, St. Aubin said.

Notecards are available for students who want to explain why they need the food. At the end of the month, the club will host a raffle and give away two $25 Petco gift cards.

The pantry is open on Mondays from 10:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

“Homestead Campus is a small campus; we don’t have that much stuff,” said Kevin Torres, a second-year computer engineering student who serves as the club’s vice president. “Having a food pantry for animals says a lot. It shows that we care about our students and our staff.”

For more information or to donate to the AWC, contact St. Aubin at bstaubin@thisisthedog.org. 

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