Correspondent photo / Bill Koch Laura Zavadil of Boardman, a graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, is a registered veterinary technician. After her 16-year-old rescue cat, Lila, (in photo) died, she started The Little Black Cat Collective in December 2021. It is a food pantry for animals.

AUSTINTOWN — Boardman resident Laura M. Zavadil has always loved animals.

After graduating from Austintown Fitch High School, she attended Cuyahoga Community College and became a registered veterinary technician. But when her 16-year old rescue cat Lila died, Zavadil wanted to do something in her memory.

So in December 2021, she started The Little Black Cat Collective, a pantry that provides pet food for 30 to 40 families and more than 200 animals each month.

“I wanted to do my part to help the community through struggles,” Zavadil said. “The pantry’s main goal is to get the needs of these animals met and help the people, but also — considering the limited amount of shelter space in the area — if it means the animals can stay in the home, that’s just icing on the cake.”

Zavodil described the program as supplemental.

“We’re going to give them as much food as we’re able, but they’re expected to provide the difference,” she said.

Individuals typically receive assistance for three to six months.

“They have to apply, but I don’t ask them a ton of personal questions. If you say you need help, you need help,” Zavadil said.

In addition, as a vet tech, “I try to educate on the importance of health care for their animals, so we always ask if they need a veterinarian and we try to recommend low-cost spay and neuter programs.”

Despite its name, The Little Black Cat Collective serves not only cats, but also dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets.Its motto is, “No one goes hungry on our watch.”

When Zavadil started the charity, she needed somewhere to house it. She asked her father, Ben Mischey of Big Ben’s Clock Shop, 3841 Mahoning Ave. in Austintown, if they could use his garage “for a month or two until we find a place to go,” and almost three years later, they haven’t left.

“Everybody wants an arm and a leg for property,” Mischey said.

He is so impressed by how well Zavadil maintains the garage and how much good she does that he likes sharing the space, adding, “I show my customers what’s going on in there.”

Zavadil said her father is a big supporter.

“He’s always in attendance on pantry days. He’s here to answer the door when people pick up food. He comes to the fundraisers, sells tickets and he has donated Kit-Cat Klocks for raffles.”

Vice president of the collective board is Aaron Zavadil, her husband of 18 years. They met when she ran the adoption center at PetSmart and he came in to adopt a cat. She said he doesn’t mind all the rescues they have in their home, stating, “They are our children.”

Her close friend, Annette Ketchum, the secretary, died last year of cancer. Zavadil said this was devastating to her and the rest of the group, “but also a huge loss for all the effort she gave to this cause.”

Ketchum’s husband Terry is an active board member and Zavadil said he is “like a brother to me.”

Besides the dedication of the board, Zavadil said she has “great volunteers, my fundraising coordinator and everyone who helps with the events. I want to give them a shoutout for how much I appreciate everything they do.”

The Little Black Cat Collective is funded entirely through donations and fundraisers.

“We’re happy to get food, but money or gift cards help me buy whatever we’re lacking,” Zavadil said.

She mostly purchases Purina products. Donations to the 501(c)(3) are tax-deductible and can be dropped off at Big Ben’s during business hours.

“It’s a little stressful going month to month, but I’ve never turned anyone away,” she said.

Zavadil said the next fundraiser is a Battle of the Bands 4:30 to 10 p.m. July 27 at Penguin City Brewing in downtown Youngstown. There will be food trucks and other vendors, Little Black Cat merchandise and a basket raffle. Admission is $10 and all the proceeds will be split between The Little Black Cat Collective and Every Dog Matters Rescue Group.

Zavadil said running the chairty has been a rewarding experience.

“Everyone we have helped has been very nice and appreciative of the service we provide,” she said.

She noted that some recipients have become volunteers and donors as their circumstances improved.

Speaking of her own rescues as well as the animals they help, Zavadil said, “They’re so grateful for that second chance. They bring so much joy and love. I can’t compare that to anything else.”

For more information, visit www.thelittleblackcatcollective.org.

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