Paws N Claws is excited to announce the Pet Food Pantry has been purchased and is coming soon to the community. Even more great news, the Rubbermaid cabinet has been 100 percent sponsored by some outstanding citizens and several others have already started dropping off pet food at the Eufaula Indian Journal to fill the cabinet as soon as it arrives.
By the first week of August volunteers are hoping to have the pantry set up at the Eufaula Fire Department and filled with small bags of dog and cat food for those in the county who are struggling to feed their animals or rescues. However, the small rescue group knows it will take the whole community to keep it up and running with donations.
After Paws N Claws had their first pet food giveaway in April, they saw the need to have more resources in the county.
“The need is so great in our area, but Lori and I have been so blessed with the response of concerned citizens reaching out to us,” La-Donna Rhodes said. “Many people are desperately trying to make ends meet each week, not to mention the month. With the cost of living getting higher and higher, there just isn’t enough money at the end of the paycheck. Families are struggling. Businesses are struggling. Shelters are struggling. That’s why we wanted to help start this community project to help ease the burden so many less fortunate are dealing with on a daily basis.”
A recent survey from American Pet Products National Pet Owner stated 70 percent of households in the U.S. own a pet. There’s an estimated 86.9 million pets in the U.S. and there’s an overpopulation of unwanted animals that is growing daily.
According to The Humane Society, approximately 6.3 million animals enter U.S. animal shelters every year and about 920,000 are euthanized. However, approximately 4.1 million are adopted each year.
“My Paws N Claws partner, Lori Powell-Fells, saw that there was a need to help our local pound to find homes for the pups they picked up. Because it’s a pound instead of a shelter, dogs are only given 10 days before they are euthanized. But since taking on this task in January, no animals from the pound have been put down and we hope to keep it that way. However, it’s a full-time commitment and we both have full-time jobs. Nevertheless, we are pushing forward with all that we’ve got. Sadly we get calls, texts, or messages every day from people needing help with food or with finding an abandoned stray a new home. This is on top of the pups we save at the pound. So we are in desperate need of volunteers to join our rescue and more citizens to help support our cause.
“People would be shocked at the number of animals abandoned, abused and neglected in our county. It’s sickening. But we are trying to bring awareness and make a difference where we live. It’s an uphill climb with no animal control in our county but we won’t stop helping and being the voice for these poor animals that deserve a better life. We hope this pet food pantry will just be the start of many more things to come.”
Anyone interested in volunteering, donating or sponsoring a pound pup can call LaDonna Rhodes at 479-422-4210 or Lori Powell-Fells at 918-6183810.
