April 30, 2020—Valley Humane Society is seeking pet food donations to supply its AniMeals pet food pantry. Normally supplied by drop-off donations, the shelves of the AniMeals pet food pantry are at an all-time low just when the need is greatest. Donations have been down since shelter-in-place began, with the organization’s Nevada Street adoption center closed to the public. Both dog and cat food are needed, in wet or dry form in any brand. The organization is asking for contributions from those who are able, to help meet the need.
With many people out of work and struggling to cover expenses, AniMeals provides relief in the form of dog and cat food. The program annually supplies more than 120,000 pet meals to low-income community members in partnership with local food distribution centers, preventing pet surrender to shelters, by assisting guardians in caring for their animals.
Monetary donations are preferred, as the organization can maximize the value of each donation by purchasing items at wholesale. Contributions specific to the AniMeals program are being collected online at valleyhumane.org and can also be sent through the Venmo payment app to @valleyhumane-society. Items can be ordered online and sent directly to Valley Humane Society at 3670 Nevada Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566. Both methods follow shelter-in-place and safe distancing protocols and will ensure local store shelves aren’t emptied to fill the pantry. As a last option, people can leave food donations at the building’s rear entrance, provided it’s not raining.
Deemed an essential business by the state, Valley Humane Society converted to virtual operations in mid-March and has continued to rescue and adopt animals and seek ways to provide all services to the community. The AniMeals program has been hardest hit, as retail pet supply outlets, who normally donate large amounts of returned or outgoing products have been affected in their own right by the logistics of shelter-in-place.