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While on one of her routes, Meals on Wheels volunteer Jackie Cherry said a client casually mentioned she was sharing her dinners with her dog. 

“It was a break your heart situation,” Cherry said. 

Also, Cherry, a Suffolk Humane Society board member, thought both organizations could work together to address this new-found need in the community.

“We just agreed that that can’t be, not in our community,” said Humane Society President Donna Maria Colby. “We have to do something.”

Working together, Meals on Wheels and the Humane Society created 12 pet bags to give to Meals on Wheels clients on Friday, March 14.

Jennifer Homan, Meals on Wheels executive director, said gathering clients’ pet information is not something they usually do, so she asked volunteers to take note of anyone who had an animal. Those clients were then contacted directly to get more information about their pet to ensure their pet bag could be as personalized as possible.

Moving forward, Homan said they will ask new clients about any pets they may have and their needs.

The bags include food, toys, cat litter, dog leashes, and a handmade kennel quilt. This month, a parakeet bag was also included that had parakeet food, newspaper, and bird toys. 

“So far, you know, everyone we’ve talked to is just really excited,” Homan said. “And sometimes it’s out of a need, and sometimes it’s just, it’s out of being thought about, that their companion that they care so much for was also thought of in this process.”

Colby and Homan hope that these pet bags will become a permanent monthly addition to Meals on Wheels’ services. 

In addition to donations from local businesses such as Pet Supplies Plus and PetSmart, Colby said the Humane Society accepts any kind of pet supplies donations and people can specify if they want their donation to go toward the Meals on Wheels pet bags.

The Humane Society also has a pet food pantry that they’ve been able to pull from, which has proven to be helpful when satisfying a pet’s specific diet.

“Sometimes we get specific foods that we think, ‘What are we going to do with this?,’ Colby said. “So it works out great.”

Colby said they also receive many “pocket pet” food donations, so she’s excited to be able to serve small rodent pets as well.

“Between [the Humane Society] working that out, and us figuring out some logistics for us and how to make that happen, it really is just a perfect illustration of what we want to do as a community,” Homan said.