The Best Friends 2009 summer pet food drive continues to gather steam, as volunteers gather in several Washington cities, plotting their strategies. First Home Forever Home focuses on families and the effect the tough economic times is having our family pets. The Four Legged Food Drive will stock local food distribution centers, so that families receiving an emergency supply of human food will also receive food for their pet. Social workers believe many people in need, especially the elderly, are going without food themselves, in order to share their limited groceries with their beloved pet.

Shelters and rescue groups are seeing more family pets being relinquished because of financial reasons.

One volunteer group in Southwest Washington, headed by Best Friends Ambassador Cathie Myers, has enlisted the assistance of a local animal adoption group Rescued Paws. Collection bins will be placed in various locales in the Longview/Kelso area for donations of bags and cans of pet food. These donations must be unopened and be have an unexpired pull date.

The goal for the Longview/Kelso drive is 2,000 pounds of food. The pet food will be taken to the Lower Columbia CAP, a community action organization established 45 years ago. CAP maintains food banks for several Southwest Washington cities, and will distribute to their families in need.

How you can help;

1. Volunteer to transport bins, or pick up food; email cathie@bestfriends.org

2. Put up a poster at your local grocery store, farm store, pet store, grooming parlor or dog boarding facility. Ask if they would like to have a collection bin in their facility.

3. Donate a bag of pet food. For a list of donation sites in Southwest Washington, click here/ This list will be updated frequently, so please check back.

Story by:
Georgia Butterfield
Best Friends Network Volunteer
Headline photo by Molly Wald, Best Friends Photographer
Photos of Lira (the cat) and Rico (the dog) by Georgia Butterfield and are available for adoption at http://www.rpaws.petfinder.org