Paws-itive effort: Stella's Snack Shack, a little free pantry in Shaler, helps pet owners in need

There wouldn’t be any need to find new homes for pets if they could be kept in the ones they already have.

That’s part of why Emily Marie Boehler has put up a little free pet pantry near her home in Shaler, so people in need can feed their dogs and cats instead of giving them up.

“Rather than taking in dogs and rehoming them, how can we support the family they’re already with so they can keep the dog? It’s better for the dog. It doesn’t uproot their life,” she said. “I like the idea of keeping pets in the home that they’re in instead of rehoming them. Shelters are so full, they aren’t even taking dogs.”

Boehler placed her “take what you need, leave what you can” pantry at Mt. Ivy Lane and Hahn Road near her home. She named it Stella’s Snack Shack in honor and memory of her dog, Stella, a Chinese crested she adopted in 2013 from a foster home in Ohio. Stella died in October 2023.

From what Boehler knows of Stella’s background, she and a sibling were abandoned after growing out of their “cute puppy stage” and their owner didn’t want them anymore. Stella was in four rescue homes within a year.

“Food was her favorite thing. You could get her to do anything for food,” Boehler said. “I think she was underweight when she was rescued and that had something to do with it.”

Since being laid off from her job during the pandemic, Boehler’s dog-walking side gig has become her full-time job. She still has her own dog, Geno, a poodle going on 14.

“I had seen another person in Shaler started a free pantry for humans. I thought that was a nice idea. I didn’t know that food insecurity was an issue around here. I didn’t realize people in my own neighborhood were going to get food out of a box in somebody’s driveway because they needed it,” she said.

Boehler modeled Stella’s Snack Shack on that.

“I got the idea for a pet food pantry when I saw the human food pantry was getting wiped out,” she said. “People will go hungry before not feeding their pets. Pets are like family. There’s probably a need for this, too, so let’s do it.”

Cesar Perea, associate vice president of rescue with the American Humane Society, cited a pet debt report by Lending Tree that, among its findings, found that 12% of Americans have surrendered a pet because they could no longer afford to care for it, and 37% have gone into debt for their pet.

“The rising cost of pet food and inflation adds financial challenges for pet owners,” he said. “Pet parents are expected to be spending 7% to 10% more on these supplies. Being able to fill that need for people who are stretched thin and trying to keep their pets in their home is very beneficial.”

Animal Friends in Ohio Township started a pet food bank in 2007.

“We see people reaching out all the time in need,” said Cecilia Oliveros, community resource coordinator for Animal Friends. “Dog and cat food and litter are the items that people are looking for to be able to maintain taking care of their dog or cat.”

People who say they are surrendering a pet because of a lack of resources are connected with the pantry, she said. A low-cost veterinary clinic also is available.

“We try to work with people as much as possible so they can keep their animal in their home,” Oliveros said.

Oliveros applauded Boehler for establishing Stella’s Snack Shack.

“We need as many pet food pantries as we can have in the area,” she said. “Anyone working to help keep pets at home with their families, we can’t be more supportive of that.”

To create her pantry, Boehler bought a vintage kitchen cabinet from Construction Junction. Her father, Gary Boehler, put a roof on it and mounted it in the ground near her mailbox.

Most of its contents recently were donations from Boehler’s dog-walking clients, obtained through her connections from previously working in the pet store industry and supplies she found and bought on sale.

In addition to food and snacks for dogs and cats, its contents includes bowls, toys and harnesses, leashes and collars. Items too big for the pantry — such as larger bags of food, beds, crate pads and play pens — can be obtained by texting a number provided at the pantry.

Boehler created an Amazon wish list for people interesting in contributing without coming to the pantry. Unexpected boxes quickly started showing up on her porch.

“I feel good about what’s been taken and my ability to replace it quickly,” she said.

In addition to helping those in need, Boehler said the pantry also could help reduce waste — people can donate things their dog or cat has outgrown or didn’t like for someone else to use.

“It’s neighbors helping neighbors,” she said.

While some might question other people’s decisions and how they end up in need, Boehler said she is not that kind of person.

“People find themselves in situations beyond their control. For pets, it’s always beyond their control,” she said. “Pets don’t have a say in any of this. They can’t help who adopts them and how much money they have. It doesn’t affect the amount of love they give us. They don’t have a say in any of it. They are completely dependent on us to provide for them.”