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Groups team up to feed to pets in need

Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 3 years, 10 months AGO
| March 23, 2021 1:00 AM

PONDERAY — Better Together Animal Alliance is partnering with Chewy and the Humane Society of the United States to bring pet food to locations around the region. Powell Realty Group, an anonymous donor, and the Post Falls Police Department are supporting the effort and turning one of the food distribution sites into a free pet vaccine clinic.

Chewy, an online retailer for all things pet related and HSUS coordinated a drop of 29 pallets of pet food and other pet related items to BTAA’s animal care center last week. Food will be used for animals staying at BTAA, to top up the pet food bank, and for distribution to animal welfare organizations across North Idaho in Boundary, Bonner, and Kootenai Counties. Distribution will continue into Eastern Washington to Spokane’s shelters and rescues.

“In 2020, BTAA distributed 25 tons of free pet food to the community in Bonner County on a no-questions-asked-basis through our pet food bank,” said Mandy Evans, executive director of BTTA. “During these challenging times, some pet owners are choosing to pay for pet food over their power bills. By providing free pet food, Chewy.com and HSUS are helping to ease the burden, and make sure people can keep their pets and avoid surrendering them just because they are going through a tough time.”

BTAA’s pet food bank is just one of the organization’s many programs that support people and animals, all with the intention of keeping pets out of shelters by providing non-judgmental and friendly support, officials said in a press release. In 2019, the alliance helped over 8,400 animals — only 2,500 of which entered the shelter. In 2020, BTAA officials said even fewer animal entered the shelter as people turned to its community-based programs as well as its Home to Home program, an online pet rehoming tool just for animal shelters, founded by BTAA in 2016.

Evans said 482 pets were re-homed using Home to Home last year without ever setting a paw in the shelter. The program is now used by 60 shelters in North America, decreasing the number of animals in the facilities, which translates to fewer animals being euthanized.

“Everything we do is about keeping animals in loving homes and out of shelters. We’re always looking for ways to help,” said Evans. “Chewy and HSUS are incredible partners and their dedication to our region's companion animals is incredible. We’re thrilled to work with animal welfare organizations around our region to make sure they can get pet food to people and pets in need”.

BTAA is also hosting a community event on Friday, March 26, for the public to pick up pet food and get their pets vaccinated for free. The event will take place from 10 a.m.-noon (or until supplies run out) at Post Falls Animal Shelter, located on the campus of the Post Falls Police Department, 1717 E. Polston Ave. The event is made possible by the Post Falls Police Department and generous sponsors including Powell Realty Group and one anonymous donor who teamed up to cover the cost of vaccines.

Organizations receiving food and supplies include Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service, St. Vincent De Paul in Coeur d’Alene, Higher Ground Animal Sanctuary, North Eastern Washington Humane Society, Positive Outreach Spay and Neuter Alliance, Post Falls Animal Shelter, Clark Fork Food Bank, Bonner County Food Bank, My "Little" Animal Kingdom Rescue, Spokanimal, and River’s Wish Animal Sanctuary

Better Together Animal Alliance is an animal welfare organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of dogs, cats, and the people who love them. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Ponderay, BTAA serves Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai counties. Programs focus on supporting people and their pets to prevent unnecessary owner surrenders, sheltering lost pets, and providing a safe and enriching environment for pets to stay while they wait to find new homes.

Information: bettertogetheranimalalliance.org

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