My name is Larry Chusid. I am the founder and executive director of The Pongo Fund, Oregon’s Pet Food Bank. And Pongo was my dog. I work for the day when no dog or cat goes hungry because their families are temporarily unable to keep them fed. Thereby preventing the hunger, suffering, abandonment, surrender and loss of the animals they love. We have donated more than five million meals to date throughout Oregon & SW Washington, helping more than 50,000 animals stay at home with their families and out of the shelters. I am honored to do this work.

But in order to love me as a friend or even like me as a person you must understand that animals are the best part of my life. And that my heart is broken time and time and time again for those animals that are not treated with compassion and respect. For those that do not know kind words and gentle hands. For those that are abused. For those that suffer. For those that live in fear. For those that recoil at the sight of a hand reaching out to pet them for fear it will hurt them.

At my core I believe that every animal is deserving of good food, clean water, sincere affection, humane care and a safe and stable environment. Not just occasionally, but always. And I believe that Gandhi was right when he said “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Today is January 1st, 2014. The first day of a New Year. A new beginning. A new chapter filled with all of the things that we can do, that we should do, that we must do, to make life better for the animals. And I make a wish that this year will bring each and every one of you a safe, healthy and happy year to come.

And I make that same wish for all of the animals too. Whatever they are, wherever they are. I wish them an abundance of life. I wish for them to be safe and well. I wish for them to know the same love and respect from us that we know from them.

My name is Larry Chusid and I am proud that the animals are my friends. They make my life better. And I wish them always Peace, Love and Kibble.

Happy New Year from all of us at The Pongo Fund. thepongofund.org