Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011 • Animal rescue group launches pet food bank

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Nov. 29. 2011 edition of the Lassen County Times.

As a way to help pet owners keep their furry friends, a local animal rescue has started a pet food bank.

Lassen Animal Rescue, of Westwood, is accepting cat and dog food donations and people who need help feeding their pets can start signing up for the program.

Food drives are being held at local banks with the next one scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at Plumas Bank in Susanville located at 3000 Riverside Drive.

Four food drives have already been held, and Eileen Spencer, president and founder of LAR, said more than 1,000 pounds of food have been donated.

Spencer said, “Overall it’s a 100 percent success. It’s really been nice. The community’s really stepped up and helped.”

LAR is in need of food for kittens, puppies and small dogs weighing under 10 and five pounds. All donated food must be unopened, Spencer said.

The rescue group is a registered, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation. All donations are tax deductive and you can ask for a receipt at the time of donation.

The food bank officially opened Nov. 21. When people sign up to receive food through the program, Spencer said they are allowed to register up to three dogs and three cats. They are then given a punch card, which provides them with one monthly allotment of free food for each animal they register.

The idea for the food bank came about because Spencer said people were surrendering their pets to LAR and animal shelters because they couldn’t afford to feed them anymore.

“It’s a terrible cycle we have to stop. If it’s just because of food, we can help them now,” Spencer said.

Another reason the food bank became an organized program is because Spencer said LAR ran out of pet food in September, but no animals went without.

Spencer said LAR was giving out 500 to 600 pounds of food each year since its inception in 2006, but when it ran out of food, that’s when she started thinking about what else could be done.

“I woke up one morning and thought, ‘Why can’t we have a pet food bank?’” Spencer said. “We just don’t want them being surrendered anymore because they can’t feed them,” Spencer said.

At this point, LAR is only accepting cat and dog food, but Spencer said the plan is to expand the program to accept food for rabbits, birds and horses.

The food bank will also continue to assist community groups as LAR has assisted Crossroads Ministries by providing people with food for their pets. Spencer said brochures about the food bank have been distributed to that organization, as well as some in Plumas County.

Monetary donations will also be accepted. John Spencer, Eileen’s husband and LAR assistant said money will be used to purchase food.

About LAR
LAR started in September 2006 and volunteers have helped find homes for more than 1,300 dogs. Last year, Spencer said LAR tripled its adoption rate.

Spencer said animal shelters send LAR a list of dogs that are going to be euthanized and volunteers set out to find homes for them. Volunteers will then pick up the animal and connect them with their adopted families.

According to Spencer, volunteers have traveled to Red Bluff, Redding, Medford, Orgon and Fresno to pick up animals.

“No matter where they are, we go get them,” she said.

LAR also places dogs through networking and Spencer said it helped place two dogs from Nicaragua after receiving an email from a large rescue group that contacted agencies all over the United States asking for help.

Spencer said LAR will help any dog. There are no limits.

Volunteers will foster dogs and keep them for the night if needed. The shelter also has indoor and outdoor kennels for the animals.  In addition to finding homes, Spencer estimated the rescue group offers at least 50 services for pets and their owners. She said volunteers help the elderly by taking their pets to the vet and bringing them back.

According to Spencer, LAR will be the lead agency in the area in case of evacuations and was the lead agency during the Moonlight Fire that burned in Plumas County in 2007. During that incident, Spencer said LAR also worked as a liaison in helping people reconnect with their pets.

LAR also started the Blue Dog Award where if someone adopts a dog on the euthanasia list at a shelter, LAR will pay for the spay/neuter and a rabies vaccine.

John Spencer emphasized LAR is a rescue and does not have the authority to respond to dog bites or reports of loose animals.