KATHLEEN LITTLE

Bobbi Brien is on a mission, several, in fact. A woman with Native blood from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, she spent her youth in rural Alaska before pursuing her education. She took on the role of a career woman after earning her BA in technical writing and communications and an MBA in business. Her next move was to “follow her heart” into a life of helping those in need. This calling led her into the world of social work and of serving individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and mental illness. 

Brien relocated to Concho, Arizona in 2016 and began to notice the need for low-income pet owners and their beloved furry companions to receive nutritional support. The sad reality is that if a financially disenfranchised individual or family can no longer support their pets, those animals may be improperly re-homed, loaded into a crowded shelter, abandoned, or euthanized. Many times these pets are strays that have “taken up” with humans who have done all they can to help them in spite of their meager circumstances. Considering that most people with disabilities are considered “low-income,” Brien had a unique view of the horror that occurs for both the pets and the people involved. 

Sadly, Apache County has a need that is not unique to our region. A google search of “pet food pantries” in any state or city will give you results of programs and facilities, some in more places than others. Even colleges and senior centers are starting to offer relief to students and retirees. Pet food donation programs are on the rise everywhere, and it is no coincidence that many of them were established during the pandemic. Even three years after the initial shutdowns, some pet pantries are worried about how the end of COVID relief will affect their needs and resources. The natural chain of events is that once a household becomes nutritionally jeopardized, so do its pets. It’s a problem that Brien sees every day.

“So, I woke up one day and decided to start a non-profit,” she laughed, recalling the origin of White Mountain Pets Food Pantry (WMPFP). This was during the height of COVID-19 when the balance of resources and needs was at its most unsettled in economically unstable Apache County. 

        She proceeded to enlist the help of her best friend and co-founder, Diane Peterson, who now serves as her Board Treasurer and main source of moral support. After receiving monetary donations, they quickly realized that the best way to get the most bark for their buck would be to purchase large amounts of pet food from a wholesaler in Tucson. Logistically, that has been quite the endeavor, considering that the 500-mile round-trip journey with 6000 pounds of food requires intricate navigation to physically return, due to road conditions and elevation. The trip is completely worth it because even though small private donations are priceless and helpful, wholesaler stability really drives the mission, helping as many as possible.

The benefits to the animals are obvious. A clean, loving home with food and potable water is much better than some of their previous living conditions. There is also a far darker reality for these pets that WMPFP is desperately trying to avoid. As stated on their website, “Our goal is to aid those in need of pet food to ensure pets do not have to be given up and ending unnecessary euthanasia.” This tragic outcome is made all the more senseless when considering the countless people whose lives are made complete because of their pets. 

“To some people with disabilities, their pets are their best friends. They’re all they really have,” Brien lamented. Countless studies detail the positive connections between neurodivergent individuals and animal companionship. Pet ownership provides not only the obvious social and emotional benefits, but also runs the entire gamut of other skills that need development like organization, responsibility, hygiene habits, and so much more. Even to those who are not neurodivergent, a pet might be a reason to get out of bed during a trying time, a support for stress, or the only one waiting when they get home. 

Unfortunately, the outcry for help receiving donations has been far greater than the donations received. With a downtrodden voice, Brien admitted, “people are calling me for help and I have nothing to give them. It breaks my heart.” Many of her efforts have been out-of-pocket, even taking loans to help the mission stay afloat. 

She described a map of causes and effects that are head-spinning and costly. The bureaucratic red-tape tight-rope walk that new foundations and non-profits with limited start-up capital are forced to perform is an arduous one. Taxes must be professionally and precisely completed before grants can be written. Grants need to be written and awarded in order to obtain stable finances for operation. Stable operations must be proven over a certain amount of time in order for the pantry to receive large donations from pet food suppliers, and this would solve most of the problems. Brien’s primary operations goal, aside from keeping going, is to be able to solidify a relationship with an affiliate that is willing to donate extra large shipments of pet food and supplies, as well as hay and grain, which she has not yet offered but is in great demand in the region as well. This partnership can only be solidified by having a small warehouse and forklift. This would allow her to process a very large shipment, meet the needs of her current relief receivers, and in turn donate what is left to other animal-centric non-profits, rescues, and shelters. 

 So, you’re wondering how you can help. Per their website, donations of canned and/or dry dog, puppy, cat, and kitten pet food​, collars of all sizes, leashes (non-retractable), and cat litter can be delivered to their facility. Cash donations can be made through their main page www.wmpetsfoodpantry.org. An e-commerce store has also been established with donated items that you can purchase in order to help with funding. With such a great need, every little bit counts toward the project. Please help if you can.