Pittsburgh pet pantry expresses frustration after multiple items stolen

Pittsburgh pet pantry expresses frustration after multiple items stolen

PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR AT FOUR STARTS NOW. I WANT TO GET RIGHT TO IT. A CLEAR SIGN OF HOW COLD IT IS OUT THERE. WE CAN SEE THE ICE BUILDING UP ON THE ALLEGHENY RIVER. WE ARE CERTAINLY FEELING THE COLDEST AIR OF THE WINTER SO FAR, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WEEKEND MAY ACTUALLY TOP WHAT WE’RE FEELING RIGHT NOW. THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON THE SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAY. I’M KELLY SASSO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I’M ANDREW STOCKEY. THE WEATHER TOPPING YOUR TOP FOUR STORIES AT 4:00. YEAH. THAT ICE BUILDING UP ALONG THE ALLEGHENY RIVER IMPACTING OPERATIONS AT THE PITTSBURGH WATER TREATMENT PLANT. THE ICE WAS BLOCKING THE INTAKE AT THE LINCOLN LOVINGTON BELMAR FACILITY. WITH THAT, CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE SOME LOW WATER PRESSURE. CREWS ARE ALSO BRINGING IN A BARGE AND A TUGBOAT TO HELP CLEAR THAT AREA. THIS COLD WEATHER IS FORCING A LOT OF SCHOOLS TO DELAY OR SWITCH TO REMOTE LEARNING. MANY OF THEM WORKING TODAY AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD, OF COURSE. NOW WE’RE BRINGING YOU LIVE TEAM COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON. REPORTER YASMIN RODRIGUEZ IS TRACKING THE PROGRESS AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM IS TRACKING HOW WORKERS ARE COPING WITH THE BITTER COLD CONDITIONS. AND WESTMORELAND BUREAU REPORTER DIORIO IS WITH CREWS IN GREENSBURG WITH HOW THEY’RE TREATING ICY CONDITIONS. FIREFIGHTERS IN BUTLER COUNTY HAD TO BATTLE FIRE AND ICE. THIS IS A LOOK AT MARS EVANS CITY ROAD IN ADAMS TOWNSHIP. THAT FIRE WAS REPORTED AT ABOUT 4:00 THIS MORNING. 911 DISPATCHERS TELL US THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FROM THIS FIRE. A STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS CALLING ON COUNTY LEADERS TO INVESTIGATE THE WOODLAND HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. ABIGAIL SALISBURY SAYS NEIGHBORS IN THE DISTRICT ARE REACHING OUT TO HER, CONCERNED OVER THE DISTRICT’S FINANCES AND THE STATUS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHO WAS RECENTLY PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. THOSE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES AT 4:00. NOW TIME FOR MORE OF PITTSBURGH’S ACTION WEATHER. YEAH, WE WANT TO GET RIGHT TO IT. METEOROLOGIST BRIAN HUNT JUNIOR IS HERE. NOW, BRIAN, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO THIS BECAUSE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER BLAST OF COLD AIR COMING THIS WEEKEND. YEAH. THAT’S RIGHT. AND IN FACT, THE AIR THIS WEEKEND, AS YOU MENTIONED, COULD BE COLDER THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ALREADY TODAY. AND TODAY IS EASILY THE COLDEST DAY WE’VE HAD SO FAR. WE’RE ALSO WATCHING FOR SNOW SHOWER CHANCE IN BETWEEN THAT GETS HERE LATE TOMORROW. THAT PROMPTS AN IMPACT DAY AS WE’RE WATCHING FOR SNOW SQUALLS THAT COULD DEVELOP, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. BECAUSE OF THAT, A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY GOES INTO EFFECT AT 10:00 TOMORROW. LAST UNTIL THURSDAY AT 10:00 FOR VENANGO FOREST, CLARION, AND INDIANA COUNTIES. THESE ARE THE PLACES MOST LIKELY TO SEE APPRECIABLE ACCUMULATION. MOST OF US WILL SEE AN INCH OF SNOW OR LESS AS WE HEAD THROUGH TOMORROW AND INTO THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES, THOUGH, ARE NOW ALL IN THE TEENS OR EVEN A COUPLE 20S ON THE BOARD. UNIONTOWN’S AT 22, MORGANTOWN AT 20, BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT’S STILL ONE BELOW IN THE CITY AS WELL AS IN MONROEVILLE. FEELS LIKE IT’S THREE RIGHT NOW IN GREENSBURG. WILL CLIMB TO 36 TOMORROW WATCHING SNOW SHOWERS AGAIN, AN IMPACT DAY. THEN THIS WEEKEND IS COLD. SATURDAY IS THE SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAY WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 12. WE’LL START NEAR ZERO. WINDCHILLS COULD BE COLDER THAN WHAT WE SAW THIS MORNING. I’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT FUTURECAST FOR YOU. THAT’S AHEAD IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRIAN. LET’S GO BACK TO TODAY THOUGH. AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FIVE WARMING CENTERS OPEN IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH UNTIL SEVEN THIS EVENING. YOU CAN SEE THOSE LOCATIONS RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREEN. THOSE CENTERS OPEN ANYTIME. THE HIGH IS FORECAST TO BE 20 DEGREES OR LOWER. AND ALSO YOU DON’T WANT TO FORGET ABOUT LIBRA’S LAW HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA. THAT LAW STATES WHENEVER IT IS LOWER THAN 32 DEGREES, DOGS CAN ONLY BE TIED OUTSIDE FOR LESS THAN 30 MINUTES. VIOLATORS WILL BE FINED AND COULD EVEN FACE JAIL TIME. NOW OUR COLD WEATHER COVERAGE CONTINUES. NOW THE ICE ON THE RIVER CAUSING SOME ISSUES AT THE PITTSBURGH WATER TREATMENT PLANT. SKY 4, PITTSBURGH’S ONLY NEWS CHOPPER, FLEW OVER THAT FACILITY TODAY AND FOUND THE ICE BUILDUP BLOCKING ONE OF THE INTAKES. AND OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THIS IS HAVING AN EFFECT ON PEOPLE’S SERVICE. NOW, THE CITY HAS BEEN GIVING CONSTANT UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE DAY. TODAY, OF COURSE, WE’VE BEEN MONITORING WITH SKY 4 AND WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND FROM HERE IN OUR SATELLITE CENTER, OF COURSE, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER YASMIN RODRIGUEZ JOINS US NOW AT THE PLANT WITH WHERE THINGS STAND. THAT ICE IS STILL VERY THICK ON THE RIVER BEHIND ME. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE LATEST UPDATE FROM PITTSBURGH WATER. BUT AT LAST CHECK THEY TELL US CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING ALL MORNING TO CLEAR THE ICE. IT WAS AROUND 11 THIS MORNING WHEN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH ANNOUNCED ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT ICE AND THE ALLEGHENY RIVER WAS BLOCKING PITTSBURGH WATER’S INTAKE TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. THE BLOCKAGE WAS RESTRICTED CAPACITY AND PREVENTED NORMAL PUMPING OPERATIONS WITHIN PITTSBURGH WATER’S SERVICE AREA. THOSE IN THE SERVICE AREA WERE ADVISED THAT PRESSURE AND WATER SERVICE COULD HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE HIGHER ELEVATION NEIGHBORHOODS. THE WATER COMPANY WORKED TO CLEAR THOSE ICE FORMATIONS BY UTILIZING A BARGE AND TUGBOAT TO MITIGATE THE ICE BLOCKAGE. MAYOR COREY O’CONNOR, COMING DOWN TO THE TREATMENT PLANT, WORKING WITH THE STAFF, AND MONITORED THAT ONGOING SITUATION. THIS AFTERNOON. PITTSBURGH WATER DOES SAY THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE ORDEAL, SERVICE DID REMAIN UNINTERRUPTED, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY. IN O’HARA TOWNSHIP, YASMIN RODRIGUEZ, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR NOW WHILE MANY PEOPLE HAD THE LUXURY OF WORKING FROM HOME OR HAVING THE DAY OFF TODAY, MANY OTHERS ARE STILL OUT THERE DOING THEIR JOBS DESPITE THESE FRIGID TEMPERATURES. CERTAINLY, THEY ARE BUNDLED UP, THOUGH, TAKING OTHER PRECAUTIONS AS WELL. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM CONTINUES OUR LIVE TEAM COVERAGE FROM FOREST HILLS. SHELDON, YOU ARE ONE OF THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WORKING IN THE COLD TODAY. HOW ARE YOU AND OTHERS FINDING WAYS TO COPE WITH THIS? I THINK THE COMMON THEME FOR EVERYONE HAS TO BE OUTSIDE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IS JUST TO SIMPLY LAYER UP. NOW THE PEOPLE WE CAUGHT UP TODAY, THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO WORK IN THESE FRIGID TEMPERATURES BECAUSE THEIR LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON IT. AND HERE’S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE TODAY. FOR SOME OF THOSE FOLKS, THIS IS A U.S. POSTAL CARRIER DELIVERING MAIL IN MOUNT LEBANON. NOW THEY HAVE TO GET THE MAIL OUT REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. NO MERCY FOR A JOB LIKE THIS. AND YOU’LL HEAR FROM THIS WOMAN IN THE NEXT HOUR DELIVERING MAIL FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CARSON STREET, WE HAVE WORK CREWS THERE CLEARING THE WAY TO LAY FIBER OPTIC LINES, AND THEY STARTED AROUND 7:00 THIS MORNING AND WILL BE OUTSIDE FOR UP TO TEN HOURS. HERE’S HOW THESE GUYS LAYER UP. I GOT UNDER ARMOR ON. I GOT TWO HOODIES ON. I GOT ABOUT MAYBE FOUR SHIRTS. I’M NOT GOING TO LIE. I GOT SEVERAL PAIRS OF PANTS ON RIGHT NOW, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA STAY WARM. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. SO WE SPENT THE DAY OUT IN THE STREETS WITH THESE FOLKS WHILE THEY’RE WORKING OUTSIDE. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE MORE ON THIS STORY AT FIVE AND SIX FOR NOW, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN FOREST HILLS, SHELDON INGRAM PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. SHELDON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, THIS AFTERNOON, WE’RE HEARING FROM A WOMAN TARGETED BY VANDALISM ON PITTSBURGH’S NORTH SIDE. HER SECURITY CAMERAS CAPTURED A MAN SLASHING HER ISRAELI FLAG OUTSIDE HER FRONT DOOR ON SATURDAY NIGHT. AND NOW POLICE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP TO IDENTIFY THAT PERSON. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER KALEA GUNDERSON IS ON THE NORTH SIDE NOW WITH THE LATEST ON THIS INVESTIGATION. PITTSBURGH POLICE SAY THE SUSPECT PULLED UP OUTSIDE THE WOMAN’S HOME AND MOMENTS LATER TOOK A KNIFE AND SLASHED AN ISRAELI FLAG THAT SHE HAD OUTSIDE OF HER HOME AND THEN GOT BACK IN HIS TRUCK AND TOOK OFF. THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE SUSPECT IN ACTION. WE BLURRED HIS FACE SINCE HE HAS NOT YET CHARGED WITH A CRIME, BUT POLICE ARE HOPING THE PUBLIC CAN HELP IDENTIFY HIM. THE VIDEO SHOWS HIM SLASHED THE FLAG, THEN WALK BACK TO HIS WHITE 1980S TOYOTA TRUCK AND DRIVE OFF. POLICE TELL ME THE LICENSE PLATE WAS COVERED WITH BLUE TAPE. DINA BLUMENFELD TELLS ME HER HOME HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF ANTI-SEMITISM 19 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. IT IS SCARY, BUT I’M MORE ANGRY THAN ANYTHING ELSE, AND IT’S IMPORTANT THAT I SPEAK OUT IN PART, IN PART SO THAT WE CATCH THIS PERSON RIGHT? IN THE HOPES THAT SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN IDENTIFY HIM, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THESE CRIMES SHOULDN’T HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FREE SPEECH IN THIS COUNTRY. EVERYONE’S ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINIONS AND WE’RE ALL ENTITLED TO DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER. YOU JUST CAN’T COME INTO SOMEBODY ELSE’S PROPERTY AND CAUSE HARM. BLUMENFELD HAS SINCE REPLACED THAT SLASHED FLAG WITH A NEW ONE, AND PITTSBURGH POLICE ASK THAT. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, SUSPECT THAT YOU GIVE THEM A CALL COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY TONIGHT ON PITTSBURGH’S NORTH SIDE. KALEA GUNDERSON PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR, NOW COVERING BUTLER COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON, STATE POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A MAN WHO THEY SAY FLED A TRAFFIC STOP IN TO SEE A BUTLER YESTERDAY. THAT DRIVER SPED OFF IN A WHITE HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH AN OHIO LICENSE PLATE. POLICE SAY THE SUSPECT WAS LAST SEEN IN OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF DAVIS AND EAST BUTLER ROADS. THEY SAY HE APPROACHED A HOUSE IN THE AREA, CLAIMING HE WAS OUT OF GAS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT STATE POLICE. NEW THIS AFTERNOON, A STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE WOODLAND HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. REPRESENTATIVE ABIGAIL SALISBURY SAYS PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO HER OFFICE CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND ALSO THE SUPERINTENDENT BEING PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. SHE’S NOW CALLING ON COUNTY OFFICIALS TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. IN A STATEMENT, REPRESENTATIVE SALISBURY SAID IN PART, QUOTE, ANYTHING THAT TAKES RESOURCES FROM OUR KIDS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MY CONSTITUENTS DESERVE TO KNOW WHETHER THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE BEING MISUSED. NOW, THE DISTRICT DID RESPOND WITH A STATEMENT READING IN PART, QUOTE, THE DISTRICT HAS NO INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE MISAPPROPRIATION OF ANY PUBLIC MONEY. IT WENT ON TO SAY, ADDITIONALLY, REGARDING THE SUPERINTENDENTS ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, THE BOARD IS LEGALLY PROHIBITED FROM COMMENTING ON THE DETAILS SURROUNDING PERSONNEL MATTERS. PRESIDENT TRUMP, SPEAKING AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON AT THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING AS HE MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE HIS SECOND INAUGURATION. THE PRESIDENT TOLD HIS ACTIONS REGARDING THE ECONOMY AND CURBING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. HE’S ALSO DEFENDING THE ICE OPERATIONS UNFOLDING RIGHT NOW IN MINNEAPOLIS, SAYING FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE GETTING ILLEGAL CRIMINALS OFF THE STREETS. RIGHT. BUT MANY IN THAT COMMUNITY, OF COURSE, DON’T AGREE WITH THAT. AND THEY’RE CALLING FOR AN ALL OUT STRIKE THIS FRIDAY. ABC’S ASHTON SINGH WITH THE SUBPOENAS THAT WERE JUST HANDED DOWN. A CHORUS OF MINNESOTANS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ICE ACTIVITY TODAY FROM RELIGIOUS LEADERS. IT IS LONG PAST DUE FOR ICE TO CEASE DESIST AND LEAVE MINNESOTA TO DOCTORS, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND HOSPITAL FACILITIES MUST REMAIN SAFE. SPACES TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. NOTING THE DISCREPANCIES THEY SAY ARE PLAYING OUT WITH THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS. WE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING ENDLESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. CLERGY MEMBERS JOINING STUDENTS AND PARENTS CALLING FOR A STRIKE ON FRIDAY. NO WORK, NO SCHOOL, NO SHOPPING. WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY SPEAKING AGAINST THE PROTESTS, SAYING ICE IS REMOVING VIOLENT CRIMINALS, BUT MISTAKES ARE MADE, APPARENTLY POINTING TO THE SHOOTING OF. RENEE. GOOD. ICE IS GOING TO BE TOO ROUGH WITH SOMEBODY OR YOU KNOW, THEY’RE DEALING WITH ROUGH PEOPLE. THEY’RE GOING TO MAKE A MISTAKE. SOMETIMES IT CAN HAPPEN. WE FEEL TERRIBLY. I FELT HORRIBLY WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS HAD THE TRAGEDY, IT’S A TRAGEDY. IT’S A HORRIBLE THING. EVERYBODY WOULD SAY ICE WOULD SAY THE SAME THING. THE DHS SAYS THE RECENT OPERATION IN MINNEAPOLIS HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN MORE THAN 3000 ARRESTS. THE FAMILY OF THIS MAN, 56 YEAR OLD CHONG LEE SCOTT THAO, FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE ACLU AFTER HIS ARREST THIS WEEKEND. THAO SAYS ICE AGENTS PULLED HIM FROM HIS HOME AT GUNPOINT, WEARING ONLY HIS UNDERWEAR. I GOT SOME WASHING AFTER THEY TOOK ME. HE WAS CRYING, LOOKING FOR ME. HE WAS RELEASED AN HOUR LATER WITHOUT BEING CHARGED. DHS SAYS TAO IS A US CITIZEN WHO LIVED WITH TWO SUSPECTED SEX OFFENDERS. THE FAMILY DISPUTES THAT CLAIM, AND TODAY, OFFICIALS SAY GRAND JURY SUBPOENAS HAVE BEEN SERVED TO SEVERAL LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AND THE MAYOR OF MINNEAPOLIS OFFICIALS, SAYING THE INVESTIGATION CENTERS AROUND WHETHER THEY OBSTRUCTED FEDERAL LA

Pittsburgh pet pantry expresses frustration after multiple items stolen

Updated: 4:37 PM EST Jan 20, 2026

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A local Pittsburgh charity is grappling with the theft of pet food and supplies meant for families in need, leaving its bins empty and the 100 families it supports without essential resources.VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4: Jan. 20, 2026 “It’s really disappointing,” said Sue Kerr, president of Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities. The stolen items, which included heated food bowls, were donated to help those struggling to feed their pets.”It was shocking to me that somebody would disrupt our little, you know, kind of grassroots, community-level project,” Kerr continues.Kerr helps run Pittsburgh’s Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry, a volunteer-operated charity that relies on donations. The organization not only provides food but also runs workshops to teach pet owners how to make shelters and offers heated ones along with heated bowls.”A lot of folks really rely on this to get through the month, and it makes a big difference,” Kerr said.Kerr expressed frustration over the theft, saying, “For whoever took it, I hope that the animals that you spread it to needed it. And it’s unfortunate that you didn’t just ask us. We would have gladly given you food. Not all of the food, but, you know, whatever you would need.”Here are some ways to donate to the Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry:GoFundMe: bit.ly/GivePghCatFolx Venmo: @PittsburghLGBTQ Paypal.me/PittsburghLGBTQ CashApp: $PittsburghLGBTQ Zelle: folx@pghlgbtq.orgWishlistsChewy: bit.ly/TheChewyListAmazon: bit.ly/TheRuffListGently used items are also welcome. Other needs include donation drop-off spots, volunteer drivers, and trail cameras. Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

PITTSBURGH —

A local Pittsburgh charity is grappling with the theft of pet food and supplies meant for families in need, leaving its bins empty and the 100 families it supports without essential resources.

VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4: Jan. 20, 2026

“It’s really disappointing,” said Sue Kerr, president of Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities. The stolen items, which included heated food bowls, were donated to help those struggling to feed their pets.

“It was shocking to me that somebody would disrupt our little, you know, kind of grassroots, community-level project,” Kerr continues.

Kerr helps run Pittsburgh’s Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry, a volunteer-operated charity that relies on donations. The organization not only provides food but also runs workshops to teach pet owners how to make shelters and offers heated ones along with heated bowls.

“A lot of folks really rely on this to get through the month, and it makes a big difference,” Kerr said.

Kerr expressed frustration over the theft, saying, “For whoever took it, I hope that the animals that you spread it to needed it. And it’s unfortunate that you didn’t just ask us. We would have gladly given you food. Not all of the food, but, you know, whatever you would need.”

Here are some ways to donate to the Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry:

Wishlists

Gently used items are also welcome.

Other needs include donation drop-off spots, volunteer drivers, and trail cameras.

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel