Woman's pet project keeps Teller County animals fed

The Rev. Penny Sharkey loves to help. She helps heal bodies as a critical-care nurse for Memorial Health System. She helps soothe souls as an ordained minister who visits prisoners.

And now, she helps nourish pets.

With a hand from family and friends, Sharkey founded The Ultimate Reality Truly Loves Everyone, or T.U.R.T.L.E. Ministries, a nonprofit that provides a weekly pet food pantry for Teller County residents.

"I wanted to start an outreach ministry, but I didn't have a focus. About four months ago, I noticed people were having a hard time hanging onto their animals because of the economy. The idea is that we can help people keep their animals at home to ease the burden at the shelters," she said.

Every Wednesday morning for the past three weeks, Sharkey, her adult children and a friend, Debbie McDaniel, have given away pet food from a church parking lot in Woodland Park.

"It really fills a need - people get taken care of but pets often don't," McDaniel said. "We're getting older people on fixed incomes and people who have lost their jobs."

They've fed about 100 cats, 75 dogs and sundry goats, chickens, fish, horses and birds.

Sandy Tilen, who recently lost her job as a music teacher, said she appreciates the gesture.

"Dog food is so expensive," she said, while picking up a load Wednesday. "This helps keep our dogs safe and sound."

Sharkey said the community has donated generously to its first pet food pantry, including support from veterinarians, a feed store, social service agencies and the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter which donates excess food it gets from pet stores.

The private no-kill shelter in Divide has seen a 20 percent increase in the number of pets being surrendered, and people frequently come in to ask for free pet food, said board president Kellie Case.

"People recognize they have to feed their families first. Hopefully, the pet food pantry will help people get over the rough time," she said.

Colorado Springs has a similar nonprofit. Pikes Peak Pet Pantry started in January 2008 and has fed 4,400 pets, said president Darlene McCaslin.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Pet food pantry for Teller County, run by T.U.R.T.L.E. Ministries
WHEN: Weekly distribution: 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays
WHERE: Parking lot of Church of the Nazarene, 750 Highway 67, Woodland Park. Name, phone number and photo identification are required.