My name is Larry Chusid. I am the founder and executive director of The Pongo Fund, Oregon’s Pet Food Bank. Pongo was my dog. I work for the day when no dog or cat goes hungry because their families cannot afford to keep them fed. Thereby preventing the hunger, suffering, abandonment, surrender and loss of the animals they love.

We have donated more than nine million meals throughout Oregon, Washington and beyond, helping more than 90,000 beloved animals stay safe at home with their families and out of the shelters. Emergency veterinary care and spay-neuter too. 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 again for animals that are not treated with compassion and respect. For those who do not know kind words and gentle hands. For those who are abused, who suffer, who live in fear. For those who recoil at the hand reaching out to pet them for fear it will hurt them.

At my core I believe that every animal deserves good food, clean water, proper shelter, 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, 2017. A New Day in a New Year. 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 invite you to please join me in doing these things.

For all of the animals everywhere, may each one enjoy an abundance of life. To live safely and well. Without fear. Without harm. Without suffering. I wish for them to know the same love and respect from us that we know from them. And every wish that I wish for the animals, I wish for you too.

On an even more personal note, I am so deeply grateful to you, and I thank you, for the love you surrounded me with this past Valentine’s Day, when my 150 year-old Scooby crossed The Rainbow Bridge. Friends with Buddha, Gandhi and the Dalai Lama, Scooby lived outside, sleeping on concrete in the doorway of a building on a busy street. Sick, in tremendous pain, covered in tumors, infected ears swollen shut and more, he still climbed into my lap to lick my face when we met. Even with all the pain, this 17-year-old gentleman still wanted to properly say hello. The two of us became one. And we stayed one for almost five more years.

On that Valentine’s Day thousands of your messages came in, I read each one. I wish I could have replied to all, the hurt was too much. It still is. You shared words with me, poems and prayers, blessings and paintings and Buddha statues and so much more; all of it treasured as priceless. You told me you understood. And for a dog you never met in person, you were broken-hearted with me. Because you lost him too. There was comfort in not being alone. But I miss him. Oh how I miss him.

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

Happy New Year from all of us at The Pongo Fund. We would be honored if you please share this post so that others may also learn of our good work.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Always For The Animals. thepongofund.org
(Photo Credit: Pauline Zonneveld, Pauline Photography)