Donations to Companions Animal Center started with a trickle Thursday and Friday following a Press report that its pet food pantry was empty. 

By Saturday and into Sunday, it was a flood. 

In a matter of days, more than 30,000 pounds of dog and cat food and $20,000 in financial contributions poured in at the nonprofit shelter on Atlas Road. So many large bags of dog food, in fact, that after the pantry was filled they were piled high in storage areas.

For hours, vehicles streamed in, drivers and passengers got out, unloaded 40- to 50-pound bags of pet food, and drove away with a wave. 

“I’ve never seen anything like this before," said Vicky Nelson, CAC development director. "It's absolutely amazing how generous this community can be.” 

It continued Monday.

When Nelson went outside at work, a woman pulled up in a vehicle with several bags of dog food. She said she loved CAC and its mission.

“Ninety-five percent said they saw the article in the paper that we had run out of food, and they wanted to help,” Nelson said. 

CAC has about 50 dogs under its roof and goes through 100 pounds of food per day. It currently has 22 puppies in foster care, which are also fed with shelter food. 

The pet food pantry, available once a month to clients, has seen a 20% increase since last year in people needing assistance with feeding their pets.

The Press reported Thursday that CAC had to turn people away from its free monthly food pantry as the shelves were empty. For the first time in decades, it had to buy food to feed dogs under its roof as donations had gradually dried up.

But by Tuesday, the famine had turned into a feast.

Everyone, it seemed, wanted to pitch in.

One eatery offered free sandwiches for a donated bag of dog food. A spa offered discounts. An insurance company said it would double donations of its staff and customers to CAC. A car club vowed to bring in at least 1,000 pounds. A full-sized Federal Express truck pulled up filled with bags of pet food. 

When the North Idaho Sparklers heard about the need, word spread quickly among its members. Soon, they filled a pickup with pet food and other supplies and delivered it to CAC. 

Jeff Lynch, the group’s executive director, said as soon as members heard what was happening at CAC, they rallied to the cause.

“We keep our eye on the Companions Animal Center,” he said. “They’re doing a great thing out there.” 

For Nelson and the CAC team, it was a godsend. 

“We’re overwhelmed,” she said. “I haven't seen happier faces in a long time. Everybody is walking around with smiles.” 

Nelson said they were grateful for the response. The food donations should be sufficient to carry CAC for some time. She said monetary gifts, designated for pet food, are always welcome. 

“Hopefully, this just brings awareness to people we're still here and the animals still need to be fed and we rely on the community to help us do that," Nelson said.

    Patton sniffs out the food donations at Companions Animal Center on Tuesday