Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) Is Celebrating National Feed A Pet Rescue Week, July 23-29. An annual event now in its seventh year, the week is held to raise money to feed rescue animals. It was created to provide food to rescues and shelters so they can allocate funds for other necessities to keep the animals in their care safe, healthy and comfortable. With the intention of feeding rescue pets in need, it’s become a symbol of hope for rescues and animal shelters and is a worldwide movement to bring hope to four-legged friends everywhere.
Feeding the dogs at ODHS is one of the biggest expenses of the nonprofit organization. There are 120 rescue dogs cared for at ODHS on average per month. The cost of food for each dog is approximately $1,642 a year. (That number rises when rescues have food allergies and can only eat certain foods.) The cost of feeding that many dogs per year is nearly $200,000 total.
“Old Dominion Humane Society is a no-kill, nonprofit rescue run entirely by volunteers,” said Chrissy Blake, ODHS founder. “Feeding the dogs is only one of the many expenses needed to maintain the dogs’ care. Every food or monetary donation is appreciated and helps to take care of the rescues until they’re matched with their forever families. Food donations are a huge help and enable us to focus on the many other needs of the rescue dogs, including veterinary care, vaccines, microchipping, the cost of housing them in a safe, comfortable facility and so much more.”
The idea for National Feed a Pet Rescue Week began in 2017 when a pup named Pluto was left on the doorstep of a Florida shelter. Even sadder, Pluto couldn’t use his hind legs--he was paralyzed. However, being left at the shelter was a savior for this dog in distress. Volunteers and medical professionals worked with him through rehabilitation programs until he recovered. Fast forward and plenty of hard work on Pluto’s and the volunteers’ parts, the pup is now able to walk unassisted without external devices.
Helping rescue dogs, including those with disabilities, is costly. National Feed a Pet Rescue Week was created for the community and local businesses to help assist these four-legged friends in the way of monetary or food donations that greatly help to support and care for unfortunate pets in need. This assistance allows rescues to focus on other aspects of care, such as assisting animals in recovery and adoption. The support allows the rescues to provide the dogs with everything they need to flourish.
Consider donating items that greatly help in ODHS’s mission of providing well-matched, permanent homes for animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation and education. Food items needed include dog food, chicken broth, bones and canned pumpkin. A full list is on the ODHS website. The items can be shipped or dropped off at 3602 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, Va., 22408 during adoption hours.