A Mother’s Day story. On Mother’s Day. But really, it’s not. It’s just a story about a Mom who loves her son. She loves him so much that putting him first means putting herself second. But she’d have it no other way.

A reminder that being a Mom is not just limited to those who have given birth. It’s about comforting and nurturing and loving and being. And so much more.

And maybe most of all, it’s about protecting.

Now take a look at the photo. That’s one of the best Mom’s I’ve ever met. Now look at that lucky dog. That lucky dog is loved. He’s smart and happy and sassy and he loves to give kisses. He loves his Mom most of all. And she loves him back even more.

I can’t help but smile just looking at these two. A Mother and her son. On Mother’s Day.

Now look again. Because something is missing. Something big. Do you see it?

Their house is missing. That’s right. When I met them, this happy and proud family was living inside their car. No heat. No bathroom. No shower. But just look at those smiles.

They don’t want you to call them homeless. They don’t want you to cry. They don’t want you to pity them. Because even though they lived in a car, they felt blessed. Because they had that car when many had less. And they had each other. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed. They truly felt blessed.

They felt blessed because they were together. And because they knew many that were not.

Mom said it would be nice to sleep in a bed and take a daily shower. To be warm without wearing three coats and blankets and as many pair of socks as she could wrap around her cold feet. To have a yard for her best friend to run around and play. Because sleeping inside a car in a parking lot does not allow that.

And it would be nice to cook a meal again. Because eating all your meals inside a car limits the options. Because a dashboard does not come with a stove or an oven or a sink.

But she said you make life what it is. And feeling blessed is what they decided to make it.

When Mom’s career job was eliminated and her housing was lost because she could no longer afford it, she did what she needed to do. She and her best friend moved their old home into their new home.

In other words, what you and I call a car, they call a home. And even though their home is made of metal and sits on four wheels, it is definitely a home filled with love. I know that. Because I was there. I saw the love. I felt the love.

I was there when they turned to The Pongo Fund for help when they had nowhere else to turn.

I wish you could have seen how lucky that dog was. He got to ride in the front seat sitting on a big pillow with food and water bowls right in front of him on the dashboard. Treats too. His own bed in back.

I wish you could have seen his box of toys and coats and blankets. I wish you could have seen the books that his Mom reads aloud to him when there was enough light to read.

There’s so much more to this story. But out of respect and privacy I will not share those details.

There’s so much more to this photo too. So many things that you cannot see. But look again. Because there is something very special that you can see. It’s right there in front of you.

You can see why they feel blessed. You can see it in their eyes.

Because the love they share is not defined by the boundaries of four walls. It’s not defined by dollars or zip codes or store bought definitions or by what other people think.

It’s defined on their terms.

A love that fills the heart and makes every moment better. A love that keeps two wonderful souls feeling blessed. Feeling blessed because they are together.

Being a Mom. It’s a tough job. And to do it well really does take more than a title. Foster. Step. Birth. Surrogate. These are all Mom’s. The list goes on. And that’s ok.

Let’s not split hairs here. In my book, if you do the work, you earn the title. No flowers or greeting cards or birth certificates are needed.

Simply being a good Mom is the most important thing.

The woman in the photo is a Mom. And she is a great Mom. And today we wish her a very Happy Mother’s Day.

And we wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to you too. To all the Moms…from all of us at The Pongo Fund.

Being there for a Mother and her son.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Please Hug your Mother.

Even if she’s not here to hug.

thepongofund.org

(My Mom passed away 19 years ago. It still seems like yesterday. I Pongo for her too)

He was a mess. Dirty clothes. Dirty hair. Desperately needed a shower. Because living outside is not easy. Especially where he was. He was also a veteran. And he deserved better. There’s no way to sugar coat it. It was not good.

It was the third time I’d seen him. Each time I spoke to him about his dog because that was the only thing that seemed to bring him joy. Anything else caused him to shout. But his dog, when I asked about her, he gently reached out his hand and scratched her neck. And she loved it.

She’s a pit bull. Big and strong. And beautiful. Thankfully she had already been spayed. And despite her imposing presence, I could tell that she so badly wanted to roll around on the ground and have me rub her belly. But she could not do that.

Because her job was to protect him. Because he was all she had.

That first visit she stood solidly between us. The second visit she did the same, but she let me get close enough to shake his hand. And this time, this time she sat down and seemed to relax for a moment.

Maybe she remembered I’m the guy that brought food and treats and other good stuff. I’d even brought some dog shampoo and big jugs of water so she could get a bath.

So here was this man fighting demons everywhere. He was dirty and hungry and in need of a lot of help. And here was his dog. She had regular food, lots of blankets to sleep on and she was happy.

He took care of her better than he took care of himself. And while I was happy to see her looking good, it broke my heart to see him. Because I wanted to help him too. But I could not find a way inside.

I wanted to reach him, to connect with him in some manner so I could also connect him with some services that could bring him at least a few moments of comfort. Even though he said he already knew all of the services that could help.

He had, in so many ways, simply walked away. He was breaking.

I once shared my disappointment with a social worker, saying how futile it felt when I could not help. And the social worker told me that social workers often feel that same way. Because even with all of their schooling and training, sometimes it just doesn’t go the way they hope it would.

But I had to find a way to make it better. Because without him, she was going to become another pit bull shuffled from street person to street person. Or worse. And I did not want that to happen.

The life he was leading and the place he was living just haunted me. But how could I reach him. And did he even want me to try?

I cried after I saw them on my fourth visit. It was a shock. He still needed some fresh clothes and a shower and even though I could help him with that, he refused those overtures.

But he did thank me for the toothbrush and toothpaste and deodorant I’d brought. That was something. Right?

But those tears I shed? They were tears of joy. Because this time he greeted me with a wave and a smile. And her? His big and beautiful pibble friend?

She came romping over with a little soft and fluffy terrycloth teddy bear in her mouth. She carried it ever so gently and dropped it at my feet. And when she bowed her head down, nosing me to throw it, I could see that she was also wearing the pretty collar I’d brought for her the last time.

To the donor that sent the beautiful handwritten note with a ten-dollar bill inside. You said that you are homeless and you told me how much your dog loved little soft toys. You asked me to use your $10 for something special. That teddy bear? That’s what your $10 was used for. A beautiful soft and fluffy teddy bear.

A teddy bear that may very well turn out to be the bridge that saves two-lives. Both two-legged and four.

It all starts with a bowl of food. But where it goes after that is anyone’s guess.

This time we made progress. One step, one wave, one smile and one soft and fluffy teddy bear at a time.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

(Due to respect and privacy, the dog in the photo is not the dog in the story)

A little girl was fighting cancer. But she had Angels, both two-legged and four. But sometimes even Angels need a little help.

The words came all at once; fast. In a direct yet tired voice the woman said two sentences. “You probably can’t help them. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

Someone likely so exhausted that she was stopping even before she started. But why? And who was “them?”

She worked in pediatric oncology. And she’d just finished another long shift. Thus the tired voice. Because just say the words “pediatric oncology” and you know it brings shivers of fear.

But it also brings goosebumps of hope.

A place where some of the bravest and strongest kids fight the toughest fights. Battling hand in hand with their medical care team. Their Angels. And that’s what this woman was. She was one of those Angels.

A Mother with a young daughter. They had it all. Including cancer. And now this young girl was going home. Home to the dog that she loved.

But the Mom had shared some problems that ran deeper than just cancer. Problems that were taking a toll both emotionally and financially. To fight back she was cutting the budget everywhere she could. Dog food was an added strain.

And that’s what brought this pediatric oncology Angel to us. To ask for the help that was needed by someone far too proud to ask for it herself. But even though there was a hungry dog she did not ask us for dog food. That was the most powerful thing.

She asked if we could help keep this family together.

The food was delivered by someone going above and beyond. By the nurse who cared. On her own time. Because does being a nurse ever end? My Mom was a nurse and I know the answer.

But that wasn’t all. Because The Pongo Fund had just received a contribution from a kind-hearted person asking us to use it for something different. Part for the animals and part for the people.

This seemed like the right time.

So along with the dog food and treats and a cushy new dog bed came an assortment of goofy gifts for a little girl. Things glittery and sparkly and shiny and that smelled good. Both inexpensive yet priceless.

Some things that made no sense. Nothing that would last long. That was the point. Laughter and smiles was the goal. Just some fun little things to bring smiles now. In this moment.

Because sometimes this moment is all we have.

And yes, there were some special things for Mom too. Because she was also in the fight of her life.

The Pongo Fund will continue helping them. We’ll do what we can when we can. For as long as we can.

But as you read this, I ask you to please remember that it is The Pongo Fund that helped. Not just me. Because The Pongo Fund is not just one person.

We’re a team of good people and I’m just one part of that team. And sometimes our team hurts too. One of our Pongo Team just had a stroke. Another had surgery. Another lost a job. We hurt right along with those we help. There’s no way around that.

Because when you care, you care. And we care.

And that’s why each one of us that Pongos understands that sometimes Pongoing means going further than just a bowl of kibble. And that’s one of the best parts of Pongoing.

We are a Pet Food Bank. But sometimes that means glittery and sparkly and shiny and funny things too. Because sometimes laughter is the best medicine.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Hate Cancer. thepongofund.org

#petfoodbank #Pongo #helping

Two years ago today this sweet little girl found her forever home. You may remember her. She was the dog living inside a box inside a shopping cart on a bridge onramp. And with her inside that box were her four six-week old pups.

Puppies far too young to be away from their Momma. But those puppies were for sale, right there, in that box.

And to top it off this doting Momma was still just a puppy herself, barely 14 months old.

The story before the story was not pretty. She was family to a young street couple. Two more reminders of the harsh life that awaits far too many of our young kids. But we got lucky.

Because those two doted on this girl, making sure that she had a clean coat and blankets and food. Even when they did not have that themselves.

But before I continue please understand something. This posting is not about the homeless or about the frustration that you might have for a young couple living on the street that is simply trying to survive while they also fight for the survival of their puppies. This is not a time to judge or share politics or rhetoric or criticisms.

It’s a time to be thankful. And to celebrate.

Because despite it all this little doggie knew love. Love from the young couple. And love from me the moment we met.

I returned to visit several times those next few days. Respectfully asking them each time to consider letting me please take that box of dogs to ensure they could find a life beyond the box.

And finally they agreed.

Thanks to great help from some other groups, this little family of five stayed together long enough to finish nursing. Then all were spayed and vaccinated and each one of those puppies found a new home.

But what about Mom?

There was just something about her from the moment we met. I fell in love with her. And I knew the perfect home was with a friend of mine. We still visit often.

The Pongo Fund is a pet food bank. We help keep hungry dogs and cats from ending up in shelters when their own families cannot afford to keep them fed.

And as of this day we’ve provided more than 8,000,000 nutritious meals for more than 80,000 beloved family pets.

But sometimes even 8,000,000 meals are not enough. Because when there’s five dogs living inside a box in a shopping cart on a bridge onramp, it is more than a bowl of kibble that is needed.

And maybe that’s why we were there. Because we brought the kibble. And we also brought the hope.

To everyone who has fostered or rescued or climbed over a fence to save the life of an innocent animal that had no hope except for you, I thank you. I thank you for being bold and brave and going above and beyond because it was the right thing to do.

Because you knew you would not sleep another moment unless you helped. So you did.

And that’s why my friends who rescue are among the people that I admire the most.

This one was saved. Her puppies too. But there are millions more waiting. So won’t you please join all of us at The Pongo Fund in not turning away when the need is clear?

It doesn’t mean there’s always an easy solution. But it means at least taking a moment to try. To try and save a life that deserves to be saved. To try and bring hope.

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” ― Rumi

We did it for Scooby. And we did it for this girl too. And we did it for Bill and Max and Camelia and Thumper and Kenny and Basil and CoCo and Lady and Sarge.

About 100 rescues and adoptions since we began. All happy and well today because we were there for them when they needed us most.

To our beloved Pongo donors, please know that your donations are not used for our small rescue efforts. Because we are not that kind of rescue group.

But we are a group that cares.

And thankfully some of our donors earmark their generous gifts to use beyond the kibble to help in those moments when additional help is needed.

To each of you that loves the animals, I thank you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I thank you on behalf of each and every one of them that made it another day. Because you made it possible. Because you were their lifeboat.

Being there for the dogs inside the box. Then and now.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. You Make It Possible. thepongofund.org

If you would like to help, please donate here: https://www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page/

Five years, five months and 17 days ago. That’s when The Pongo Fund opened our doors for the first time. A woman named Pam was the first guest to receive food that day. And today we’ll be there doing it again. But something else will happen too.

Something special.

But back to that first day. Pam and her husband had lost good paying jobs and were facing foreclosure. They’d already given up so much. But giving up their pets Fuzzy the dog and Spaghetti the cat, pets they had adopted years earlier from a local shelter, was even more frightening.

And that’s what brought them to our door. To stand in line for free pet food. High-quality pet food. No corn. No soy. No wheat.

A few minutes later while loading large bags of dog and cat food into the trunk of her car, Pam cried tears of happiness. Then she cried some more when she learned she could come back as often as needed.

“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” – Mother Teresa

But today it will be a little bit different. We’ll mark a small milestone. There will be no party. No balloons or confetti.

Just a moment of quiet reflection that we are doing something good. Something that you and me and each and every one of us that has come together to keep The Pongo Fund moving forward deserves to be proud of.

Today we will provide our 8,000,000th meal.

Yes. 8,000,000!

That’s 8,000,000 high-quality meals for hungry family pets. Pets that got to stay in their homes and not face danger in crowded shelters.

Hungry pets that belong to hungry people. People that often are too proud to ask for help themselves. But they will do anything they can for their pets.

Because those animals might be the only friend they have left.

What began in the back of a Chevy Trailblazer a few years ago has blossomed into Oregon’s only full time charity fighting animal hunger. We are a vital part of the fight against hunger. Just ask any of the tens of thousands of people and pets that we’ve helped.

People that love their pets just like you do. People that might even be your friends. Your neighbor. Your grandmother. Proud people. People struggling to keep both themselves and their animals fed.

Maybe even you.

So sometime today you will feel a little tingle. That will be 8,000,000. We won’t announce it. But you’ll know when it happens. Because you’re that kind of person.

“In every community, there is work to be done. In every heart, there is the power to do it.”—Marianne Williamson

Giving a chance to animals that might not otherwise have a chance and giving hope to families with little else to be hopeful for. Because sometimes a simple bowl of kibble is the force that both keeps a family together and saves the lives of the animals they love.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Dr. Seuss

The Pongo Fund. And you. Caring a whole awful lot.

8,000,000 times and counting.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Always With Gratitude. thepongofund.org

“100 years from now, it will not matter the sort of house I lived in,

what my bank account was, or the car I drove…

but the world may be different because I was important

in the life of the animals and the creatures on this earth.” — Unknown

To all of you…thank you for being part of this dream too 🙂

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

Welcome, Woof and Purrs to everyone that has joined Team Pongo these past few weeks. We are truly honored to have you here with us. Because we’re all in this together.

For those of you that have not met Scooby, he’s my almost 21-year-old beagle/basset mix. Also known as a bagle. We met almost four years ago.

Scooby lived many of his first 17 years on the streets, most recently inside a commercial building doorway in SE Portland. That’s where he slept. And that’s where we met.

He is my Gandhi. My Dalai Lama. My Moral Compass. And I hope he is that for you too. Because he really is that special.

Friday’s are Scooby’s hydrotherapy and swimming days. He’s been enjoying these sessions for about two years now. And I know that’s one of the reasons he still runs with wild abandon along the beach and forest trails.

To be clear, he does not run like an Olympic marathoner. Instead he runs to his own music. To watch him is like listening to a symphony. A rare and special symphony.

And it is a thing of beauty to watch.

But the best part of Fridays are that they are also French Fry Fridays. The days that Scooby enjoys his own side of fries. Not too many, mind you, just a few.

In the photos below you will see Scooby’s French Fry Friday from earlier today. Sometimes he sings for his fries, as you’ll see in the third photo.

And you’ll also see Pierre, the assistant manager of the hydrotherapy clinic where Scooby trains. He’s the Poodle King.

Pierre is about a million years old. They say he’s blind and deaf. But we don’t care. He greets us with squeals of joy, knowing that treats, neck scratchies and French Fries will follow.

Because blind and deaf or not, Pierre still knows when it’s French Fry Friday. And he’s always got the ketchup ready.

Scooby, Pierre and I have the best conversations. Sometimes in French. Sometimes in English. And sometimes in Woof. We talk about many things, including cheese, wine, bourbon and belly rubs. And we always talk about helping the less fortunate dogs and cats too.

Pierre and Scooby. And French Fries. Three things that give me the best Fridays anyone could ever have. Thank you for letting me share them with you too.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. French Fry Friday. thepongofund.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A look back at our fight to save The Howard 22. The herd of 22 starving horses that faced death. A summer drought and harsh winter left frozen ground empty of nourishment. And these Central Oregon horses were literally starving to death one day at a time.

All were covered in ticks. They battled worms. They were suffering. Several of them were pregnant mares. Yet against all odds they fought to survive.

And that’s when The Pongo Fund teamed up with animal lover extraordinaire Erin Bergstrom, the legendary Howard Hedinger, and all the great folks at both Sound Equine Options​ and Mustangs to the Rescue​

Joining together to save the lives of these majestic creatures.

Because if not us, then who?

As time went on there were celebrations of joy. And as is often the case, there were also tears of loss. But life changed for the better for these horses. Because they were loved. They were fed. They received urgently needed medical care. And many of them found their forever homes.

But one of the most memorable moments came when a little filly was born on Sunday, April 14. Just one day before the horror and tragedy at the Boston Marathon.

In celebration of this strong girl and in tribute to Boston, we named her Heart of Boston. Like the City of Boston, this Heart of Boston has both survived and thrived.

And she just celebrated her second birthday, standing a glorious 15.1 hands tall.

Look at the two photos. What a difference! And you helped make it possible.

Thank you to everyone for loving her. May her heart always be one of the many hearts that will help heal the world and make it a kinder, more gentle place.

“You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Peace. Love. Heart of Boston. thepongofund.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From mountains to oceans and all around.
Because Every Day is Earth Day.
The beauty confirmed by Scooby,
the almost 21-year-old Beagle sage 🙂

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Love Your Planet.

thepongofund.org