'Hungry Bowl' Benefits Homeless Pets

"In December 2008, my mother and I helped to inspire Pet Sitters International (PSI) with the creation of the fundraiser after she and I prepared and distributed pet food bowls containing human treats as Christmas gifts to veterinarians’ offices, groomers and other pet care professionals," wrote Debra Y. Milton in an email to Patch. Milton is the owner of Four Paws Pet-Sitting Service in Douglas County.

"We asked the pet care professionals, in return, to fill the empty pet food bowls with dog and cat food and donate it to their local shelter and rescue groups."    

PSI held the Hungry Bowl Pet Food Drive in 2009 and here locally, Four Paws PPS and the community donated more than 750 pounds of pet food that was distributed to local rescue groups and the .

"The event was such a success internationally (with nearly 20,000 pounds of pet food collected) that PSI decided to hold the drive annually," Milton wrote. In 2010, more than 1,000 pounds of pet food was collected and distributed locally (and more than 26,000 pounds collected internationally). 

"The official PSI time frame for the event is Dec. 1 thorugh 12, but I am extending the length of time for the fundraiser locally in order to give people more time to donate," continued Milton. "With the present economy, we need additional time to acquire pet food donations. Due to the economy, donations to pet-related charities have decreased. Budget cuts are being made to local agencies, there has been an increase in the number of animals being surrendered or abandoned due to home foreclosures and job losses and many local pet pantry shelves are bare. One hundred percent of every contribution is used for this project as Four Paws Pet-Sitting Service provides all administrative costs."

Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

-  3869 Chapel Hill Road

-  4900 Stewarts Mill Road  

Banfield, The Pet Hospital located in

Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance Agency -  2090 Fairburn Road

- (Info. Desk) - 8700 Hospital Drive

For more information, contact Debra Y. Milton, owner of Four Paws Pet-Sitting Service at www.fourpawspetsitting.com or info@fourpawspetsitting.com, or call 678-838-7297 (PAWS).