Team Okanogan secures pet food donation for county dogs and cats

OMAK - On Sunday, Jan.15, Team Okanogan Animal Welfare (TOAW) group worked with Greater Good Charities in Seattle to coordinate and distribute a 10,000-pound donation of dog and cat food to local animal rescues and foster homes serving Okanogan County.

“With the help of gracious volunteer drivers, the pet food was transported to Omak where it was offloaded with the assistance of Home Depot equipment and employees,” a TOAW media release said. “Animal rescue workers and volunteers helped unload, sort, stack, and distribute food into vehicles where it could be sent on its way to feed the mouths of hundreds of hungry dogs and cats.”

Caso’s Country Foods chipped in with hot coffee and treats to keep the volunteers fueled up and warm during the labor-intensive food distribution.

“A pet food donation of this size has never before been delivered to Okanogan County animal rescue groups,” said TOAW. “The food will go a long way in feeding the excessive number of animals currently in the care of rescue workers and foster families.”

Last December Team Okanogan brought together nearly three dozen animal welfare groups to discuss the problem of excess dogs and cats in the county and potential solutions to address the surplus. At that meeting some facts were shared relative to the current crisis:

• Animal Foster Care Cat Shelter (AFC) took in 1,300 cats and kittens in 2021.

       • That same year AFC took 1,200 dogs and puppies were taken to rescues.

       • Many of these animals required advanced medical care and costly operations.

       • Adoption fees do not begin to cover the substantial per-animal care costs.

       • Over-capacity shelters and rescues are turning animals away; most have a waiting list that will take months - if not years - to clear.

Local rescues are in desperate need of more foster homes, more adopters, and more financial assistance to purchase supplies for the large number of animals currently in shelters. To receive updates from Team Okanogan Animal Welfare, please sign up through their email address: teamokanogan@gmail.com.