That’s 20 years of pit bull there, Duke 13, and Spam, 7. The call came like so many others. Out of food, please help. But this one got a bit harder real fast, when the caller noted he had no car, not even money for bus fare. And oh yeah, they’ve been out of food for two days, his dogs had Top Ramen for breakfast. He’s had Spam for seven years; adopted senior Duke just two years ago when a friend fell on tough times and could no longer care for him. Isn’t that how it always is? Someone already struggling steps in to help someone struggling worse?

He was walking them just before he called us, someone stopped to pet them, the conversation somehow turned to food, she said call Pongo. He’d never heard of us before but he called, laid things out in the simplest terms. He was battling some significant health issues and the end of month money was gone due to unexpected expenses. He thought they’d be ok, but he was wrong. The Dad, he’s a good guy, does his best to keep things together through trying times. But sometimes, the trying times win. “I’m not a bad person, I didn’t expect to run out of food. These dogs, they are everything to me. What will I do?”

The good news. We were already on our way to pickup a special donation from Hannah and the rockstar team at Unleashed by Petco in NW Portland. They’ve always got some great food for us and this day was no different. In the most perfect timing possible, we had the food picked up and went straight to deliver lunch for Duke and Spam. They greeted us with kisses and wagging tails, happily inspecting their new bag of food.

What is it about dogs we’ve never met? Soon as we walk up, they know we’re there for good. They haven’t seen the food yet, they can’t smell it yet, but they greet us like old friends.

The best part? We got kissed by a couple of sweet old pibbles, and that’s one of the best treats ever.

Being there for the pitbull team of Duke and Spam.
And this is why we Pongo.
Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org