We have given out over 400,000 pounds of pet food since July 2008.

Since July 2008, Save Our Pets Food Bank has helped over 700 families, 200 pet rescue organizations and shelters as well as over 1,000 pets with much needed food and supplies through generous donations from supporters, pet food manufacturers and retail stores.

Ann King, Executive Director, Cindy Poortinga Vice President and a small group of dedicated volunteers started SOPFB in July 2008. King had just read of ranchers in Oregon abandoning their horses due to the inability to financially care for them. Then her neighbor who had been foreclosed on moved out and left her son's kitten inside with no food or water. The kitten was rescued after three weeks of being abandoned in the house and is now in a warm loving home. But more stories of dogs and other pets being left in a fenced in back yard or an abandoned home continued to grow. Thus, SOPFB opened it's doors and hearts to help.

Animal shelters are full, foreclosures are rising and pet parents are having to make tough, heart-breaking decisions they never thought they would have to make. "We know of some of our clients that lost their home and rather than give up their pets to animal control, have slept with them in their cars until they could find a solution." says King. Local shelters and animal control report a 35% increase in owner surrenders over last year. Worse...if the shelters are full and cannot take in the pets the pets are many times just dropped off or left in the parking lot to fend for themselves.

"One of the most heart rendering stories, and their are many...", says King, "...is a story I read of a pet parent who had been unemployed for almost two years, finally lost his home and with no where to turn had to surrender his nine year old pet to the local Humane Society. After saying a long good-bye to her at the intake desk and with tears in his eyes, he turned around and walked out the door then dropped to his knees and cried uncontrollably."

"We are doing all we can to help in situations such as this.", says King. "We want to make sure pets and their families are able to stay together." For some reason, regular food banks do not provide pet food to their clients. It should also be noted, food stamps cannot be used to purchase pet food. "We have already helped over one thousand pet families stay together. Unfortunately, we do not foresee the situation subsiding anytime soon.", says Poortinga.

If you would like to organize a pet food drive in your school, neighborhood, church or business, please e-mail Ann King at bloomeyceo@aol.com.

Dry and wet dog and cat food as well as other pet supplies like kitty litter, leashes etc. can be dropped off by appointment at the pet food bank located at 150 Ottley Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30324. You may also e-mail bloomeyceo@aol.com to have a volunteer pick up the items.

These donations are made to Save Our Pets Food Bank.org from the Muggins' Miracles Project. The residents of Garden Hills generously gave of their time and money to provide for animals in need.

Muggins' Miracles is named after Muggins, our little black pug who passed away in April '09 at the age of 18. She was a sweet, loving little dog who spent the last three years of her life in a doggie wheelchair, bravely surviving several strokes and partial paralysis. She was and always will be our precious angel and we are so proud to honor her through the Muggins' Miracles Project.

We would like to make our donations in loving memory of Muggins and our beloved Mr. Jiggs.

Erin and Nick Guthrie

Muggins' Miracles list of donations includes the following:

• Approx 175 lbs. of pet food
• Approx 35 lbs. of dog treats
• Approx 45 stuffed squeaky toys for dogs/puppies
• Approx 22 cat play toys and catnip
• Two new dog beds
• One dog cushion

See more photos...

The Shaws, who are also residents of Garden Hills, made their donation in loving memory of Zucchini, Happy and Julius.