June 26th was a beautiful Portland day…one of the nicest we’ve had so far this year. It was also the day that Sellwood Dog Supply hosted their first ever Community Fair, a day filled with everything pet.

And they were kind enough to invite The Pongo Fund, Oregon’s only dedicated pet food charitable resource, to set up a booth so that more folks could learn about the life-saving work that we do. That is, protecting family pets from starving, or being abandoned or surrendered, when their families are currently unable to afford the pet food they need.

The street was closed and instead of traffic it was filled with vendors and raffles and treats for both dogs and people. And lots and lots of happy and wiggly dogs. There were big dogs and little dogs; both three-legged and four. There was even Mr. Peabody…who propels himself around just fine on two front legs with a cool cart supporting his rear legs.

So all in all it was a sunny and happy day. But the best part is that Sellwood Dog Supply, one of the greatest pet supply stores anywhere, decided to donate 10% of their entire day’s sales to The Pongo Fund. And even better, some other local vendors decided to chip in as well. Like Lili Patisserie, donating all of the money they raised from selling their super delicious homemade cookies and fresh strawberry lemonade.

Before we knew it the day was over, and we were sad to see it come to a close. There’s something about spending a sunny afternoon under the shade of nearby trees, drinking strawberry lemonade and surrounded by lots and lots of wagging tails. But it was a very good day; a great day actually and we made lots of new friends

And we all just about fell over when we learned how supportive the community had been. Along with tee shirt sales and other donations, Sellwood Dog Supply and their generous customers donated nearly $1,500 of high quality dog & cat food (most of it Canidae & Felidae, two of Pongo’s preferred brands) and cash to The Pongo Fund; helping us continue our vital work of keeping well-loved family pets from starving.

Thank you to Kathleen, Charlie, Mary, Tim, Damien, Little Bear, Eli and everyone at Sellwood Dog Supply, from all of us at The Pongo Fund. Tails wag because of you!

Larry Chusid, Director

Sellwood Dog Supply, 8334 SE 17th, Portland OR 97202 www.sellwooddogsupply.com

The Pongo Fund is generously supported by Canidae All Natural Pet Foods www.canidae.com and Dogswell Pet Food Company www.dogswell.com

The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank, an all-volunteer non-profit public charity, provides quality Canidae, Felidae and Dogswell pet food for financially struggling families unable to afford pet food. Our goal: to keep their family pets from starving.

We are conveniently open to any family in honest need twice per month, and also donate pet food to numerous family focused charitable organizations to share with their own clients throughout Oregon & SW Washington. Still, sometimes it is not enough. Such is the case when families don’t find out about us in time, and both their cupboards and wallets run bare.

That very thing happened today.

Jerry called and said he had no food for his cats. Although his voice mail message was spoken calmly, he made it clear that he was facing desperate times. He has five cats, and has also taken on the responsibility to feed three cats belonging to a neighbor that also cannot afford food. Unforeseen expenses ate up the pet food dollars he had budgeted from his limited disability check, leaving him with no food for himself or his cats. And no money to buy any.

I called him back immediately, and learned he had cat food to last only through today. He had gone to his local food pantry for human food assistance, but was distressed to find they had no cat food to provide. After all, his cats are his family.

He knew they couldn’t all survive another week sharing one meager food box. He called several groups seeking aid, but no one would help. Luckily he was referred to us. With no where else to turn, he didn’t know what to do. Fortunately The Pongo Fund knows what to do, and that’s why we provide some 50,000 meals per month helping to keep family pets alive when no one else will.

Jerry is disabled and has difficulty going too far from home. So I made an emergency plea to Julie at Green Dog Pet Supply in Portland, asking for assistance. They’re a top notch pet supply store close to where Jerry lives and, if Jerry could get to them, would they help? Without a moment of hesitation, Julie said absolutely. While we were on the phone she immediately organized enough high quality cat food to get Jerry’s cat family through this crisis, and told me to call him back and invite him on over.

I made that second call to Jerry just a few minutes after my initial call to him. When I told him the good news he could hardly believe it and didn’t know what to say. He said he was embarrassed, and didn’t know how to thank me. I told him the fact that he called was thanks enough, but the real thanks should go to Green Dog Pet Supply. Because today is the day that Green Dog Pet Supply saved Jerry’s family from starving.

Thank you Green Dog Pet Supply!

Larry Chusid, Director, The Pongo Fund

(Green Dog Pet Supply www.greendogpetsupply.com )

 

The Pongo Fund is a small but mighty non-profit organization with a mission to keep family pets from starving when their families cannot afford pet food. Every month we provide some 50,000 quality meals for hungry dogs and cats throughout Oregon & SW Washington.

We’ve got a nice group of friends. We’ve got 1000’s of canine and feline friends, friends that are alive today because we keep them fed with quality foods from Canidae, Felidae & Dogswell. And we count as friends many special people and businesses that support our mission of providing quality dog and cat food for the family pets of anyone in honest need. And during these tough times, a lot of people are in honest need.

But on Saturday, June 26th from 11-4, one of our friends is doing something extra special for us. That’s the day that our wonderful friends at Sellwood Dog Supply will host their Community Fair, a day for everything pet. An event so big that they’re closing the street and filling it with vendors and raffles and samples and all sorts of fun.  Even better, they will offer a 15% discount off any products of any vendor present that day (excluding food).

But the best part…they’re donating 10% of their entire day’s sales to The Pongo Fund. And even better, one of our other friends has offered to match that amount, meaning that every dollar donated to us by Sellwood Dog Supply will be doubled. So let’s just say we’re doubly excited.

If you’re running low on pet food or are in need of anything dog or cat, please head on over to Sellwood Dog Supply on June 26th between 11-4. We promise you’ll find everything that you’re looking for, even things you didn’t know you were looking for. And for goodness sake bring your pets and let them pick out their favorite treats.

Your purchase on June 26th will not only bring joy to your own Ginger or Pickle or Callie or Duke or Paddy or Simon or Felix or Tavish, but it will also save the lives of 1000’s of pets that have no food for their dinner.

As Albert Pine said: “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Seize your chance for Immortality!

Sellwood Dog Supply; 8334 SE 17th Ave. Portland, OR 97202. 503-239-1517