PAWS/LA is thrilled to be a beneficiary of PetCo Foundation’s Pet Food Bank Collection Program that launched in PetCo stores nationwide late May 2010.  Pet food collected at designated Los Angeles area stores will be donated to PAWS/LA in support of our Pet Food Bank for the companion animals of low-income senior and disabled animal guardians. PAWS/LA’s pet food bank distributes free pet food to more than 400 clients and their companion animals every month. Currently, we are in particular need of canned dog and cat food.

According to PetCo, the goal of this program is to help prevent pet abandonment by supporting pet parents in economic stress through collecting pet food and supplies for local pet food banks.

“Today, more than ever, pets are part of the family; and we don’t believe anyone should have to go through the pain of giving them up because of financial distress,” said Paul Jolly, the PETCO Foundation’s Executive Director. “With PETCO stores across the country visited every day by people who love and care for pets, we saw a huge opportunity to help prevent people from having to make such a heart-wrenching choice.”

Paul Jolly’s sentiment echo’s PAWS/LA’s mission to preserve the loving bond between people and their companion animals.

The pet food bank bins are clearly marked and designated for pet food donations/supplies and serve as a collection point for customers to drop off food or cat litter donations brought from home or purchased during their shopping trip.

Pet Food Collection bins at the following Pet Co. locations are designated specifically for PAWS/LA:

12800 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604-2367
818-506-6416

5347 S. Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230
310-390-7255

200 S. La Brea Ave Ste C
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-934-8444

1475 S. Robertson Blvd.
LA, CA 90035
310-282-8166

508 N. Doheny Dr.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
310-275-6012

(If you would like to contribute to the Pet Food Bank and these stores are not conveniently located for you, your cash donation for the purchase of food is greatly appreciated. Click here to donate.)

The program is an extension of the Pet Co. Foundation’s existing “We Are Family, Too” fund, which already provides seed funding for animal welfare programs to help pet parents who are in financial crisis, including food banks, product donations, referral lists of pet friendly housing, short term foster care and veterinarian services. While the Foundation also has programs in place to help feed pets in shelters, this program is specifically designed to support local food banks and families in financial crisis.

For more information about donating to the PAWS/LA Pet Food Bank, please contact Steve Wayland at 213.741.1950 x 114 or swayland@pawsla.org.

With the generous support and donations of Pet Co customers, PAWS/LA can continue fill its food bank with much needed food and supplies for its clients and the animals they love.

On Sunday, March 20, 2010 PAWS/LA participated as a destination along the fourth annual Los Angeles Great Urban Race course.

The event called for the nearly 700 racers to navigate the streets of downtown Los Angeles and West Hollywood as quickly as possible using only public transportation. Split into teams of two, the pairs solved clues and completed twelve challenges before they crossed the finish line. One of the clues led participants to the PAWS/LA Food Bank.

It read: “PAWS LA is dedicated to preserving the loving bond between people and their companion animals.  Make your way to the parking lot behind PAWS on W. 12th St. between S. Grand Ave. and S. Hope St. and get ready to lend a helping hand!  Each teammate must fill one five-pound bag of either dog food OR kitty litter using the materials provided.  Once full, seal the bags and place them on the rolling cart.”

For five hours, teams stopped by the food bank to scoop pet supplies. PAWS/LA volunteers directed racers to one of ten stations that were pre-setup with the packaging materials. Alan Campbell was the PAWS/LA lead volunteer. A slew of volunteers from Kohl’s, a major GUR sponsor, also showed up. By the end of the day, at least 200 bags of litter and 300 bags of food were filled.

“This is an event we want to do again. We got a lot done and had fun at the same time,” Scott Dunlevie, the PAWS/LA Client Services Coordinator said. “We really enjoyed participating.

While at the PAWS/LA Food Bank, many racers also checked off another task on their list. One of the other clues was to “take a picture of six people total making a 3-2-1 human pyramid” using only teammates and strangers. Dunlevie explained that the PAWS volunteers went above and beyond, and were willing to build the stunt with teams. A piece of cardboard was put on the concrete because volunteers got down on their hands and knees so many times during the day for the challenge.

Some of the clues were obviously straightforward, but others were more of a puzzle. Examples included: “My birth month’s flower is the violet. My birth date is the smallest composite number. My birth year is the same year the movie “American Graffiti” was released. Take a picture of all teammates in front of my statue in Los Angeles.” Another read: “Make your way to the photography shop in West Hollywood that boasts the slogan ‘It’s where the pros go’ and prepare for your GUR mugshot!”

After completing all 12 clues, team “Now You Know” was declared the winner of the race for finishing in a mere two hours and eight minutes. To keep things fun, there was also a costume contest. Team “Happy Birthday Felicia” won dressed as a birthday cake and a piñata.

The Great Urban Race is held in major cities across the country to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other local charities. The top 25 teams from each city qualify to compete in the National Championship in Las Vegas later this year.

In October 2009, PAWS/LA moved their former Hollywood offices and food bank to a new, larger facility in downtown Los Angeles.

Located in the growing South Park area of downtown, near the Staples Center, the move allows easier access for the clients of PAWS/LA who use public transportation or major freeway systems.

The move to downtown will grant the agency several opportunities for growth helping to further the mission of creating solutions for disenfranchised animal guardians throughout Los Angeles County who are facing the physical and financial challenges of caring for their companion animals.