GreaterGood.org, Rescue Bank merge

GreaterGood.org is bringing Rescue Bank into its family, a merger that will deepen the organization's positive impact on the lives of shelter pets, says GreaterGood.

"We've worked closely with GreaterGood.org since our national expansion almost four years ago," says Elizabeth Asher, who continues to serve as executive director of Rescue Bank. "We are excited about the impact our combined programs will have on improving nutrition for rescued pets and making veterinary care and adoption program support more accessible. GreaterGood shares our commitment to improving the standards of care throughout the rescue and shelter community."
GreaterGood says they are thrilled to be more closely integrated with Rescue Bank. "They are a tremendously impactful organization whose dedication to serving rescue groups and the animal welfare community as a whole is as inventive as it is compassionate," says Executive Director Liz Baker. "This merger allows us to expand our role in the animal welfare community and deepens our commitment to caring for shelter pets across the country."

Blue Dog Bakery launches second year of Pet Treat Pantry

Blue Dog Bakery launched its second year of Pet Treat Pantry, a partnership between the Seattle, Washington, USA-based natural dog treat company and select food banks in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, North Carolina and New Jersey. The partnership provides healthy treats to the dogs of food bank clients.  
Pet Treat Pantry invites consumers to purchase a specially marked box of Blue Dog Bakery dog treats and register their donation online using the code found on the box to select one of the participating food banks to direct their donation. For each code registered, Blue Dog Bakery will send a box of treats to the selected foodbank.
"Developing and launching Pet Treat Pantry in 2012 was hugely rewarding for Blue Dog Bakery," said Kyle Polanski, CEO of Blue Dog Bakery. "With the help of consumers, we were able to donate over 2.5 tons of healthy dog treats to our food bank partners. We are excited to continue the program, and are hoping we can top last year's donation total!"
To kick off the 2013 Pet Treat Pantry, Blue Dog Bakery has already donated 3,768 pounds of Blue Dog Bakery treats to five participating food banks across the country. Over the next four months, shoppers can help donate 20,000 more boxes to five organizations. Participating USA food banks include: 
•    Rainier Valley Food Bank - Seattle, Washington
•    The Pongo Fund - Portland, Oregon
•    Empty Bowl Pet Food Pantry - Phoenix, Arizona
•    Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina - Charlotte, North Carolina
•    The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties - Neptune, New Jersey
"Since Hurricane Sandy, our distribution has increased by 20 percent," said Linda Keenan, director of development for the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in Neptune. "We recognize that a family includes pets and many of these families struggle every day to provide for just their children. We want to make sure when we are assisting these families we are including their pets, and the partnership with Blue Dog Bakery and the Pet Treat Pantry program allows us to do just that - and make a difference."

Petfood bank need grows as economy gets worse

The economic situation has worsened for many Americans, contributing to a growing need for more pet food banks in order to keep up with demands for pet food from struggling pet owners, says an article from USA Today. 

The number of animals at shelters and rescues has escalated along with euthanasia rates, while rescue groups struggle to take in and feed the many animals being relinquished. As a result, more pet pantries are emerging and shelters are working to temporarily provide free food to pet owners in financial need who would otherwise be forced to give up their pet. The need for pet food is so great that even some human food pantries are stocking pet food.
Petfood pantry owners, like Ann King of Save Our Pets Food Bank, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, are working more to get petfood donations and distribute those to pet owners who need it most.
"Many people out there imagine the pet crisis has passed," King says. "It most certainly has not. It was dire before, and it has gotten worse."  
King is also part of an alliance, Rescue Bank, that was formed to give other pet food bank owners a chance to come together and strategize ways to get more food, primarily from petfood manufacturers who regularly throw out soon-to-expire or rebranded food. Rescue Bank has already set up 25 distribution partners in several states to allow the group to get the pet food to more places, more frequently, and the group is working toward a goal of 100 partners in the next two years.
In five months, more than 500 non-profit animal welfare and social service agencies have received petfood, and King predicts as many as 750 will receive food and supplies by the end of the year.

Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation to provide petfood to those in need

The Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation is expanding its services to pet owners in need by making petfood available to those who are struggling to provide for their animals.
The Federation's petfood program will begin on January 1; pet owners will be able to acquire petfood through the distribution channels already in place for the organization's other services. "The organization is working to develop an additional network throughout the city and suburbs to provide petfood to those in need," said Executive Director Dan Gibbons. The hope is that such assistance will reduce the number of pets being given up due to their owners' situations in the current economic climate.

Pongo Fund petfood bank celebrates one year, 1M meals

Because sometimes, a simple bowl of kibble is the force that keeps a family together and saves the lives of the animals they love.

On November 14, the Pongo Fund petfood bank celebrated its one-year anniversary and distribute its 1 millionth meal.
The fund's volunteers distribute petfood directly to families with hungry pets throughout Oregon, USA, and southwest Washington, USA.
“The simple reality is that we make a real difference for very little money in the community,” said founder Larry Chusid. “It reportedly costs around US$750 per month to care for an animal that has been left at a shelter. Yet The Pongo Fund can feed and satisfy that same animal for as little as US$10 per month and the pet is able to remain with its family. It’s a win-win-woof for everyone."

Canidae continues to donate to The Pongo Fund

Canidae Pet Foods Inc. expanded its partnership with the Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank in Portland, Oregon, USA, to distribute superpremium petfood to those in need.
The petfood bank began operations last year with a donation from Canidae of US$125,000 worth of petfood. The petfood manufacturer continues its support of the Pongo Fund with ongoing premium petfood donations, including a recent shipment of US$20,000 worth of its Snap-Biscuit treats for dogs.

Cargill uses YouTube video to promote petfood donation

After teaming with The Pet Project to donate a truckload of petfood to an area food bank in January, Cargill Animal Nutrition is raising awareness for needy pets with a video campaign.
The company has posted a short video on YouTube of the January donation that delivered 38,000 pounds of petfood to Second Harvest Heartland. Cargill’s goal is to get 10,000 views before April 30 and celebrate by donating another load of petfood to help pet owners during tough times.

Pedigree gives free petfood to dog adopters

Pedigree is offering customers the incentive to adopt dogs with a free month's supply of its dog food.
“It's our way of saying ‘thank you’ for helping us help dogs,” the company’s Web site said.

Canidae helps launch petfood bank

Canidae Pet Foods has donated USD$125,000 worth of petfood to the Pongo Fund, allowing the fund to open what it says is the nation's largest petfood bank on November 8.
The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank, located in Portland, Oregon, USA, provides a two-week supply of free petfood to those in need, along with nutritional information and tips for safely transitioning their dogs to an all-natural, premium diet.
"Our first day was exceptional, a perfectly joyful opportunity to help the community," said Larry Chusid, founder of the Pongo Fund. "Our goal is to be able to provide 8 tons of free premium petfood every month."

Kibble Korner offers new pet food pantry

Kibble Korner Pet Food Pantry in Rockford, Illinois, USA, is helping struggling families get food for their pets during these hard economic times, according to a news report. The families can visit the pantry once a month.
Statistics released by Winnebago County, Illinois, show the number of cats and dogs given up through July this year are up 13% and 14% respectively, compared with a year ago.
The pantry has two locations and is accepting donations at both.

Petfood donations becoming critical during downturn

K9Cuisine.com and the WellPet Foundation are each donating 5,000 pounds of dog food to the Pooch Pantry in Mundelein, Illinois, USA, according to an article from www.dogchannel.com.
The pantry helps financially strapped families feed their pets, according to the article.
The goal is to feed as many dogs as possible by keeping the petfood bank stocked for months, said Anthony Holloway, K9Cuisine.com owner.
Also, Pedigree donated 500 pound of petfood after Friday Night Live, a Corning, California, USA, teen group that helps out local seniors, discovered they were sharing part of their Meals on Wheels food with their pets because they could not afford to buy petfood, according to Corning Observer.
The group asked petfood manufacturers to help, and Pedigree responded with a donation of gift certificates for 500 pounds of dog food, said FNL leader Tina Zastrow.

US petfood pantries on the rise

Given the current economic climate, an increased number of petfood pantries are opening across the US, according to a story from zootoo.
Among those locations is the Buffalo Companion Animal Network petfood pantry in Buffalo, N.Y., which also has a special food donation program for seniors.
The story also notes some general food pantries are stocking more petfood, and the Humane Society of the United States now is compiling a database of petfood pantries.

PetSmart sends relief to flood victims

In response to the flooding in Fargo, North Dakota, PetSmart Charities is sending an Emergency Relief Waggin' trailer stocked with at least 16 tons of much-needed petfood and supplies, as well as a back-up trailer loaded with essential care items.
"Initial reports are that at least 1,000 pets could be affected by this disaster, so we have doubled the amount of supplies we typically send,” said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities.
Both the Emergency Relief Waggin' trailer and back-up trailer departed from the PetSmart Distribution Center in Ottawa, Ill., March 27 and are scheduled to arrive April 4 in Bismarck, North Dakota.

AniMeals helps feed pets

AniMeals, in partnership with Meals on Wheels in Oregon City, Oregon, is helping out struggling pet owners by providing free petfood, according to a video on www.CNN.com.
The petfood bank, whose donations come from area businesses and residents, supplies a month of food no matter what the size of the animal. Linda Cloud, coordinator of AniMeals, said the program helps needy owners feed their pets because petfood is not covered under food stamps.