"She told me she sometimes fed her cat before herself, " Mr. Okon said in a telephone interview.

WSJ: Pets on Food Stamps

In February, as headlines raged about a strengthening economy, Mr. Okon started a privately funded nonprofit called Pet Food Stamps.

WSJ: Pets on Food Stamps

Marc Okon, who has worked as a stockbroker, entrepreneur and business consultant, has a friend from his old neighborhood in Bayside, Queens, N.

WSJ: Pets on Food Stamps

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October, two Nigerian runners - Osayomi Oludamola and Samuel Okon - also tested positive for the stimulant.

BBC: South Africa pair Ralepelle and Basson fail drug tests

Osayemi Oludamola was stripped of her 100m gold medal, Sade Abugan lost two silver medals and Samuel Okon, who was sixth in the men's 110m hurdles, also tested positive.

BBC: Welsh boxer McGoldrick may earn late Commonwealth gold

Mr. Okon, 36 years old, said he spent his 20s chasing money, first as a stockbroker, then as the founder of a company that sold pay phones as cellphones displaced them.

WSJ: Pets on Food Stamps