A new nonprofit is launching in San Antonio that aims to aid dog rescue organizations and shelters that are feeling the pressure of pandemic dogs and cats that are now being surrendered. Puppy Food Bank, which is officially launching its website in January, is a food bank that will help shelters and organizations feed their pets until they find a home.
The organization held a press conference at the Puppy Food Bank Headquarters at 7550 W I-10 where they showed off pups in need and introduced the nonprofits spokesperson John O’Hurley. He is an actor and comedian that is the current host of the National Dog Show. O’Hurley says that Puppy Food Bank is identifying a very specific need from the shelters that no one saw coming.
“It stresses their budget in ways that they’ve never been done before. In some cases the shelters are dealing with twice as many dogs as they have ever had,” O’Hurley says.
John O’Hurley, host of the National Dog Show, is the face of the Puppy Food Bank.
Steven Santana | MySA
He says that all the nonprofit is asking for is $11 a month per person to provide food and supplies to pet organizations.
Danielle Gunter, Puppy Food Bank executive director, says the nonprofit started in October but it will officially launch with its website in January with animal shelters in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Corpus Christi. Donations can also be made through the website when it launches.
“It’s definitely been something that weighed heavy on our hearts and being that our founders and our board members and myself are all dog lovers, it’s just one small step that we can take to help solve the problem,” Gunter says.
The first delivery of food and supplies will be made in spring and God’s Dogs Rescue will be one of the first recipients. God’s Dogs found Juli Marchbanks was at the press conference carrying one of the puppies the organization rescued, 4-month-old Hope.
Many pups were in attendance of the launch of Puppy Food Bank.
Steven Santana | MySAHope was found under a semi-truck by the driver at a gas station who brought her to God’s Dogs Rescue because Hope had a severe infection in her right eye. Hope lost that right eye, but Marchbanks says she is the sweetest dog. God’s Dogs has already spent $500 on Hope’s surgeries, which has led to a $250 adoption fee to help cover the costs of Hope’s other needs like food.
“[Puppy Food Bank] helps us fill that gap so we can still save the sick dogs and the injured dogs that need more than we can get as far as an adoption fee,” Marchbanks says.
Those interested in adopting Hope can visit the God’s Dogs Rescue website.
