Joe’s back in the hospital. Lil D is safe. Here’s the update.

Remember these two? Joe and Lil D? He was the proud war veteran that suffered a heart attack a few weeks ago and ended up in Intensive Care at the Portland VA Hospital. But all he cared about was his best friend Lil D, who was left behind in his van with no one to look after her.

And that’s when the VA social worker called The Pongo Fund. She said she knew we were a pet food bank, but was there any way we could help? And of course we said yes.

Fast as could be one of our volunteers was onsite to rescue Lil D and get her to Alberta Veterinary Care for needed veterinary care provided generously without cost.

And then she was whisked to Sniff Dog Hotel​ where she lived in the lap of luxury for the next several nights. The only problem was she really missed her Dad. And he missed her too.

So Joe checked himself out of the hospital early just because he wanted to see his Lil D again. After all, it was the first time they’d ever been apart in all those years together.

Although this proud veteran was too proud to ask for help, several of you sent in special donations just for him and Lil D and I know that helps them a lot.

And here’s the next update. Today Joe is back in the hospital for some more tests. But reluctant as he was to ask for help, we were there for him once again.

And I’m happy to report that at this very moment Lil D is again enjoying the sunny view from a deluxe suite at Sniff Dog Hotel. She’s sitting on laps and getting pets and giving kisses.

And as for her bill? Once again there is no bill, thanks to the generous Sniff Dog Hotel family.That’s right. During the busy Spring Break season when every suite is booked, there is no bill! How cool is that?

Thank you to everyone who continues to ask about Lil D and Joe. And thank you to everyone that has donated to our homeless fund to help these two make it another day.

Because these two can really use your donations for some true essentials. Because sadly, this homeless team really does face some serious needs.

Being there for those that need us most. And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Love to Joe and Lil D. thepongofund.org

Paul drove 125 miles yesterday to make his first visit to The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank. Even though he didn’t need pet food. But he made that drive because his hungry neighbors do.

And that’s why Paul, our newest Kibble Courier, returned home with a full load of food now available at the Stayton Community Food Bank, serving residents of Stayton, Sublimity, Marion, West Stayton and Rural Aumsville.

Since The Pongo Fund began five years ago more than 100 different human food pantries in 28 counties have depended on us to get the pet food that their own clients desperately need.

Because hungry people have hungry pets.

Thank you for lifting the spirits of your community, Paul. We look forward to seeing you again.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Welcome Stayton Community Food Bank. thepongofund.org

This one lived. She’s a pit bull. But she’s also quite possibly the world’s happiest and sweetest friend. And she’s one of the more than 70,000 beloved family pets that The Pongo Fund has saved. Because our volunteer-driven and award winning organization was there for her, and for all of them, when they needed us most.

During the toughest of times when they were hungry. When they were at risk of being surrendered to area shelters. Because their own families were temporarily unable to keep them fed.

That was it. For lack of a bowl of kibble they were one step away from being euthanized. Not because they were unwanted or unloved. Because they were hungry.

Be they single moms, veterans, seniors, your grandmother, the hard-working but underemployed, proud grandfathers, the disabled, senior citizens, the unemployed, the neighbors next door and anyone else in honest need, we are here for them when they have nowhere else to turn.

Because hungry people have hungry pets.

During the past five years we’ve provided more than 7,000,000 nutritious and high-quality meals for more than 70,000 animals. But not just in Portland, Oregon. We’ve also met the need in dozens of other cities that received food thanks to our volunteer team of Kibble Couriers.

We do this work in a way not done anywhere else. And shelter statistics throughout our community show that what we do is working. Keeping family pets safe at home and out of the shelters.

And that’s why we’ve become a national model for new ways to help both people and their pets simultaneously. Because a shelter is still the wrong place for an animal that already has a safe and loving home.

Best Friends Animals Society, one of America’s most admired organizations, said this about The Pongo Fund: “The best way to reduce shelter populations is to keep animals out of the shelters to begin with. The Pongo Fund has developed that very program. They’re doing something innovative in Portland that’s making a huge difference.”

But that’s not all. We’ve also been instrumental in facilitating the Spay/Neuter for thousands of them.

Quite simply, The Pongo Fund gives a chance to animals that might not otherwise have a chance and gives hope to families that have 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
.
And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

Those eyes tell the story. It’s a broken heart. The Dad she loves is not there with her and she’s sad. Because his emergency hospital stay left her scared and alone in his van. Although scooped up into the arms of The Pongo Fund, followed by excellent vet care at Alberta Veterinary Care​ and an extended stay at Sniff Dog Hotel​, she was still alone in her heart.

Despite being surrounded by some of the biggest hearts around and getting lavished with love, sweet Lil D longs for the love that is not there. And no matter how much we tell her she is loved, what she misses is feeling that love.

The love that only her Dad can bring.

A broken heart is never the goal. Particularly on Valentine’s Day. No one really needs chocolates or flowers or fancy gifts or lavish dinners. Just being remembered with a simple call or greeting or neck scratch or belly rub is more than enough. Remember those little funny Valentine cards we gave in grade school? The cards we mocked but secretly longed to receive? Weren’t those some of the best memories?

And wouldn’t you love to find one of those in your mailbox again today? You bet I would. Even if it comes from Anonymous.

With just a simple message that says you are remembered. That you are loved. That you have a friend. So today I’m going to do two things. The first thing I’m going to do is tell each and every one of you that you are loved. And that love comes from both Scooby and me.

We love you for being the kind and caring person that you are. We do not care about your political or religious beliefs. We do not care if you made your bed this morning or have dirty dishes in the sink and dirty laundry next to the washer. We do not care if you watch 50 Shades of Grey 10 or even 20 times. We really don’t.

What we care about is that you love the animals. That you believe in your heart that they too deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion. Not just today. But every day. And we love you for that.

And if we could, we would embrace you in our arms and paws right now for one giant goofy group hug. And you bet we’d include all of the animals too.

But it gets better.

Because later today those sad eyes in the photo are going to change completely when Lil D is back in her Dad’s arms. That’s right. Today. Valentine’s Day. When the heart of hearts works overtime to sprinkle the love everywhere. And no one will feel that love more than Lil D and Joe.

Their ongoing health issues mean that neither one of them are out of the woods yet. But today none of that matters when that lonely girl with the sad eyes will receive the best Valentine ever when she again snuggles up in her Dad’s arms. And I’m pretty sure her Dad of few words will be pretty choked up too.

I’ll do my best to get a photo and share it soon. But the truth is you already know what it will look like. And you know how it will feel.

Because you are one of those people. Those people who love. A person with a heart that works. That feels both love and sorrow. Yes. You are one of those people.

And that’s why today, Valentine’s Day 2015, you will cheer this moment of love that will intentionally tangle together a broken-hearted man and his broken-hearted dog. And I hope that moment will touch each of you and bring you the same joy that I know it will bring to them.

Until one has loved an animal, part of one’s soul remains unawakened. – Anatole France

Love is in the Air for Joe and Lil D.

And this is why we Pongo.

With love from Larry and Scooby and all of us at The Pongo Fund

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Love. thepongofund.org

Can you help? The girl in the photo is nine years-old. And there she is, part of our kibble packing team. A role that she quickly mastered with the utmost of perfection. While wearing the coolest, most sparkly shoes ever.

Maylee is her name and she has a best friend named Lily. And she asked to join our kibble packing team for a school project. But she wanted to do more. So she researched our work, asked copious questions and then went even further and set up a GoFundMe page to help feed as many hungry animals as possible. Her goal? $200!

Remember, she’s nine. And this is her campaign:

“Hi. My name is Maylee. I am 9 years old and am in the third grade. I am doing a community service project for school. My goal is to raise $200 for The Pongo Fund in Portland. They are a food bank for dogs. Have you ever noticed that a lot of people who are homeless also have a dog? Well, they have to feed their dog too! A lot of times they will share their own food with their dog so it does not starve.

The Pongo Fund hands out free dog food to homeless people, or people who can’t afford to buy dog food every week. Then the people can eat their own food and their dogs have healthy food to eat!

Can you imagine being homeless and having to give your dog away? Dogs are great companions and they help people not be lonely. It’s very hard to have to give one away.

My dog, Lily, is my best friend!

Thank you for helping me help dogs,

Maylee”

I sure hope that we have some Facebook friends that would like to do a double good deed? To both help The Pongo Fund and bolster the joy of a young girl by donating to Maylee’s campaign.

Can you help? Because what a great gift you’ll give by helping the hungry animals, while also spiriting on Maylee’s GoFundMe at the same time.

And yes, I donated too.

This is the link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/kt27bk

Helping others both two legged and four. Even when they’re working to help us too.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Go Maylee! thepongofund.org

Happy Beautiful Morning from Lil D. Looking out the window of her city view suite at Sniff Dog Hotel​. She enjoyed another comfy night with lots and lots of extra love from the Sniff Team. But look at those lonely eyes; you know she misses her Dad.

We spoke with him yesterday. His health is not good and he’s fighting hard. As this homeless senior citizen Army Veteran said, he’s hooked up to more machines and monitors than he can count. Just finding a way to answer the phone was a challenge for him. But he is so deeply grateful that Lil D is safe. That’s what he cares about most. And he thanked everyone for their good wishes for both of them.

But he misses her. As she does him.

Being there for Joe and Lil D.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

This is Lil D, the sweet little girl whose life changed yesterday. Rescued from the back of a van that she lived in with her Dad, a homeless Army veteran. And when he ended up in Intensive Care at the Portland VA Hospital, she was left behind. But not forgotten by any means.

Because she was pretty much the only thing that Joe talked about. And even in his weakened condition he insisted on returning to his van to check on her. But as the hours moved on, he knew he needed help. And that’s when Miranda, his Medical Social Worker, called The Pongo Fund.

She knew this is not the work we typically do. But she knew that if there was any way we could help, we would help. And we did.

From Joe’s truck Lil D went straight to Dr. Justin Cates and his team at Alberta Veterinary Care​ for a full exam and vaccinations. From there she went to Sniff Dog Hotel​ where they had a city view suite waiting for her with fresh and comfy bedding.

And all night long they checked on her to make sure she was extra comfortable. And today she is safe and happy and resting well. As is her Dad too.

Thank you to everyone that has donated to help Lil D and Joe.
Because they need a lot of help. Living in a van is not an easy life, particularly for a senior citizen. And with his own health compromised, that makes it even tougher for both of them.

We will keep you updated on how they both are doing. And how you can help.

Being there when we’re needed to be there.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

It’s happened again at The Pongo Fund. Because when a United States Army Veteran ended up in Intensive Care at the Portland VA Hospital with his sweet little Chihuahua named Lil D left behind in his truck, the VA Intake Social Worker knew just what to do. She called Pongo!

Because she remembered we were there for Dutch just a few months ago when his truck driver Dad ended up in intensive care and Dutch was left behind in a locked truck. And she said that she was hopeful we could help again now like we did then. Because she had nowhere else to turn.

And once again we jumped right in, ready to help this Vietnam era Army Veteran just like so many Veterans have helped us millions of times before. Because in order for him to get better he needed to know that his dog was safe.

Our military heroes are so accustomed to putting others ahead of themselves. That means at times like this, when an Army Veteran named Joe is in Intensive Care fighting to get well, he’s more worried about his dog than himself.  Of course he is.

Even worse, this proud senior citizen Army Veteran is homeless. Despite that, with his meager funds, Joe has offered to pay all he can toward the bill.

NO WAY JOE!

NOT TODAY!

Because today it’s our turn to help you.

The Pongo Fund is a small but mighty group. But we have fantastic friends. So once again we turned to our great friends at Sniff Dog Hotel and they already have a suite waiting for Lil D.  Maybe it’s the same suite that Dutch stayed in?

And just like Dutch a few months ago, she will settle in for some of the best days of her life. And you bet she’ll receive the full spa treatment while she’s there.

But her vaccinations were not current so we first needed to address that issue for the safety of all dogs at Sniff. And that’s when we turned to our friends at Alberta Veterinary Care. They are awaiting Lil D’s arrival right now, prepared to provide a full examination and current vaccinations.

From this moment forward Lil D is a Pongo dog. And her Dad Joe is now part of our Pongo Army.

Thank you to all the donors that keep our Emergency Vet Care Fund ready for emergencies like this. Because it is you that makes this possible. And we couldn’t do it without you.

If you’d like to help, the donation link is here. Please write Lil D in the comments section: https://www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page/ .

We hope this story reminds you of what happens when a group of people band together to make a difference. That includes each one of you that cares about the animals. You help us do what we do.

And today we are banded together to help a homeless Army Veteran named Joe and his dog.

Because they need us.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

As you settle in for Super Bowl Sunday please remember that for many people life is not always super. Yet for those that struggle the great struggle and fight the great fight they still find a way to make sure their pets receive plenty of love. And no matter which team you cheer, this is the ultimate victory.

So please, amidst all the Game Day celebrations, the beer and the nachos and the multi-million dollar commercials, won’t you please take a moment and say a silent prayer for those that need it most?

For those that will spend their Sunday cold and hungry and mostly forgotten? These are the true underdogs. The folks that give their all every day but do it with far less than the basics. Yet despite it all they still have love in their hearts to share.

Just like the group of people and pets that we surprised with breakfast as the sun was coming up this morning. Although they talked about the game in general terms, for them the real victory was simply making it through another day.

Because while these people do not play for any football team, they are still part of the Human Team. It’s just that for them, “WIN THE DAY” has a different meaning. But all of us at The Pongo Fund think they deserve to be cheered on too.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Cheers for the Underdog. thepongofund.org

When Scooby met Mogwai. That’s them in the photo on the left. But there were three dogs there. Do you see the third? Look to the left. See the rock? Now look up. Keep going. Up. Up. Up. Tilt your head back. There you go. Now you see him. That’s Cardinal Biggles. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge a little while ago but I know he was there hanging out with Scooby and Mogwai when they met today.

You already know 20 year-old Scooby. He’s The Beagle King. And he met Mogwai today after delivering a Pongo tshirt and hoodie to Mogwai’s family. If only everyone could meet Mogwai. Because this little 10 pound tater tot has only been in Portland a short while. And before Portland, before his new family, he’d been in Los Angeles where things took a turn for the worse.

He was one of those dogs. The kind of great and awesome older dogs far too often left behind at the shelter. Just because. I don’t know why and it doesn’t matter. Because this remarkable little dude that has every reason to never trust again pretty much propped open the front door and invited us inside. He’s the ultimate host.

To look in his eyes is looking into the eyes of a special soul. Which made it even better when he met the Scoobs. Two old souls saying hello. And seeing him and Mogwai together was like watching senior citizen royalty. And you just know they were cracking some pretty funny jokes back and forth.

But back to Cardinal Biggles. Because this was his turf. He was the King of the House before he tragically passed away recently. That’s him in the other photo. Ready to go for a bike ride.

But after many months of mourning his parents knew they needed to bring Mogwai home to live life in the Biggles fashion. With joy. With love. With style.

When Cardinal Biggles left this world for the next one, his Mom shared her sorrow with The Pongo Fund. We cried together even though we’d never met. She wrote a beautiful eulogy for him. And she bought an entire pallet of food in his memory so others less fortunate would never go hungry.

So today in their own way Scooby met Mogwai met Cardinal Biggles. It was a sniff fest and tails were wagging like spinning tops. And there for it all was Biggles. Floating above his rock watching over his front yard. And clearly pleased knowing that an awesome guy like Mogwai will carry on his legacy.

Welcome home Mogwai. And always remembering Cardinal Biggles.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org