The Wellness Center for Pets & Their People, Inc.

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Our Story

The Wellness Center for Pets & Their People, Inc. services Berks County and Southern Schuylkill County. Neighbors helping Neighbors, we provide a mobile pet food pantry for low income, fixed income, no income households. We service veterans, elderly, those experiencing life’s challenges, ie.; those who have lost a job, been injured on the job, had a medical crisis, lost a spouse. The reality is it could be you, it could be me finding ourselves in these unforeseen circumstances. We also provide toiletries, necessities and clothing to those in need. We are currently servicing more than 500 households a month, approximately 2,200 pets monthly. All of this with less than 10 volunteers. We are 100% volunteer run and operated. Other community projects include TNR for these same people, transitional boarding so a pet need not be surrendered to a kill shelter, veterinary care cost assistance, other assistance to keep pets & their people together, and fundraising for our Neighbors in Need.

Our mission is based on kindness, compassion. It is the act of kindness more so than the $5 of pet food, the bar of soap, the shirt given. It’s about letting another struggling human being know that they matter, that someone cares. It’s about listening to their stories, about caring and empathizing, relating to someone who could very well be you. Our outreach is a success because of our supporters. You are the ones creating change and making a difference in our community.

Laurie A. Rhodes is the facilitator of this community. A lifelong passion for animals has spanned more than five decades. At the age of 30 an ethical decision was made to become vegetarian. Up to this point an armchair animal activist always with companion animals, focus began to change. At 35 the nagging to do something more and make a difference, led to the adoption of Berry, an ex-racing greyhound through NGAP in Philadelphia. Berry made her mark on the Berks County area by being one of the few greyhounds to live there. She became very active in organizing meet and greets to educate the public on the plight of the greyhound. On a quest for healthy alternatives for her, The "Berry" Best Natural Pet Bakery, dedicated to the rescue of the greyhound, tm, was created. The purpose of the business to support non profits. A retail space in Ephrata, selling online, vending many events, all was put on hold in 2005 to focus on healing work. All 50 original recipes remain in Laurie's head and at some point will be utilized in some fashion. While the bakery was in Ephrata, Laurie met Kate Mikusko who was creating healing jewelry. Kate, who had been doing healing work for many years, passed along the Reiki attunements, to Laurie in 1998. Several physical moves, hosting many classes and seminars, working with non profits, and Wellness Centers, have now found Laurie back in Berks County for the past 11 years, and now to the opening of this facility, October 20, 2013. Laurie has more than 20 years experience in pet sitting, working and managing boarding facilities and pet spas. She feels blessed to have someone who shares her passion for animals with whom to share her life. Their small farm is full of rescues, currently two ex-racing greyhound, (a passion for more than 20 years) 4 other senior dogs each with a story, one a puppy mill survivor with no eyes, mini donkeys, horses, and more than 20 felines. With neighboring farms using cats as mousers many find their way to their farm where they trap, neuter, release and address any health issues. Dozens have been vetted and rehabilitated. Some stay, some slip through the shadows, some move on. Their home is also used for fostering, in particular the special needs and ones labelled unadoptable. Laurie believes animals come to guide, to aid us through this physical plane. All life is connected and our health and that of our pets is interdependent. Her mission is to make a difference in the lives of pets & their people.