Animal Welfare Professionals

A number of years ago I found a large quantity (enough to fill several pickup trucks) of high end  moist dog food packets left over from a promotion.  It was on its way to the dump but was given to me and then to an all volunteer rescue that pulled mostly from Central Valley shelters.  Net net -- over the years I've contacted a number of Bay Area pet food distributors to establish relationships in which overstock, expired, surplus or otherwise unsalable food in large quantities would be made available for rescues and pet guardians in need.  All they needed to do was make it available, I'd do the rest.    Not one was interested.  There's so much human food wasted, estimates are 30-40% and it's certain that a lot of pet food goes to waste as well.  Am pretty sure there's a way to get donors a tax deduction too, this is good for everyone.    I'd like to take another shot at this and would be grateful for any information, leads, referrals or suggestions on how to get it done  --- large quantities only but mixed products would be fine.  Best way to get in touch is an email to Sanett@aol.com.    Thanks, Sandy
#CommunityPartnerships*

------------------------------
sandy ettinger
n.a.
------------------------------

#petfood
#pantry
#food
#dogfood
#waste
#tax
#donations
in-kind gifts

​​​​​​​​​​​

Hi @sandy ettinger

A while back I heard about a few organizations receiving pallets of damaged or excess pet food inventory from Walmart.
Check out this program:
good360.org/nonprofit/truckload/walmart
Good360's Walmart Truckload program

• Pet Care (including pet food)  is listed

Also, have you reached out to your local human food banks?  You may be able to create a partnership with them first, and then leverage their relationships with various grocers/food distributors that may carry pet food as well...

@Lianamoss _ (keeping pets with families, pet resources)
@Bobby Mann
@April Huntsman (development)
any recommendations or folks that could be tagged in to assist?

thx!!


------------------------------
Amber Freiwald
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Hi Sandy!

Is your goal to collect the food and give it other agencies or help agencies find a source of food? Where are you located? Have you spoken with the shelters in your area to see if they already have partnerships for food donations?

Thanks! ​

------------------------------
Bobby Mann
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-03-2021 01:46 PM
From: Amber Freiwald
Subject: Surplus Pet Food - How to get Pet Food Distributor Partnerships??

Hi @sandy ettinger

A while back I heard about a few organizations receiving pallets of damaged or excess pet food inventory from Walmart.
Check out this program: https://good360.org/nonprofit/truckload/walmart/​
Good360's Walmart Truckload program

• Pet Care (including pet food)  is listed

Also, have you reached out to your local human food banks?  You may be able to create a partnership with them first, and then leverage their relationships with various grocers/food distributors that may carry pet food as well...

@Lianamoss _ (keeping pets with families, pet resources)
@Bobby Mann
@April Huntsman (development)
any recommendations or folks that could be tagged in to assist?

thx!!


------------------------------
Amber Freiwald
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Thanks for this information! We just signed up for Good360. I haven't seen any food on there yet but we just ordered $400 worth of cat toys for only $39.50 that we can use to distribute to adopters.

------------------------------
Jeffrey Boegli
Secretary/Treasurer
Kitty Rescue Corp
New Port Richey, FL
https://kittyrescuecorp.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-03-2021 01:46 PM
From: Amber Freiwald
Subject: Surplus Pet Food - How to get Pet Food Distributor Partnerships?

Hi @sandy ettinger

A while back I heard about a few organizations receiving pallets of damaged or excess pet food inventory from Walmart.
Check out this program:
good360.org/nonprofit/truckload/walmart
Good360's Walmart Truckload program

• Pet Care (including pet food)  is listed

Also, have you reached out to your local human food banks?  You may be able to create a partnership with them first, and then leverage their relationships with various grocers/food distributors that may carry pet food as well...

@Lianamoss _ (keeping pets with families, pet resources)
@Bobby Mann
@April Huntsman (development)
any recommendations or folks that could be tagged in to assist?

thx!!


------------------------------
Amber Freiwald
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

I recently donated an unused bag of Royal Canin special dog food diet to a local Bay Area rescue called CalPaws K9 Rescue. There was a small tear on the side which I taped up and disclosed when I advertised it on social media. The org. was able to accept it.

I also called East Bay SPCA around that time, which said they were able to accept donated pet food, even damaged. 

Thanks for all your efforts!



------------------------------
Irene Chansawang
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

We are also looking for pet food partnerships. We are in rural North Central WA and logistics can be challenging. There is an increasing need to help families who are not able to afford dog or cat food. One of the reasons some of our community members are wanting to surrender their pets is the increasing cost of food. Please let us know if there are big box stores or manufacturers that can partner with our nonprofit. Thanks.

------------------------------
M K Bdeir
Matchmaker
Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
Tonasket WA
------------------------------

We have been able to partner with our local food bank, and with a shelter in our state -  We have also considered standing at the door at Walmart and asking for donations. 

------------------------------
Connie Ash
Director
Mended Paws Sanctuary
AR
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2024 08:22 AM
From: M K Bdeir
Subject: Surplus Pet Food - How to get Pet Food Distributor Partnerships?

We are also looking for pet food partnerships. We are in rural North Central WA and logistics can be challenging. There is an increasing need to help families who are not able to afford dog or cat food. One of the reasons some of our community members are wanting to surrender their pets is the increasing cost of food. Please let us know if there are big box stores or manufacturers that can partner with our nonprofit. Thanks.

------------------------------
M K Bdeir
Matchmaker
Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
Tonasket WA
------------------------------

We are in a small shelter in a rural community. We are fortunate to have a Walmart in town. They, and two of the local grocery stores give us their short dated/ damaged pet goods.We also have pet food manufacturer in our area. We have a longstanding arrangement with them. They drop 10-15 1000# pallets of short dated inventory, production change, etc food. We have 12 agencies we distribute the manufacturers too. This includes 3 tribal nations in our area. Our food bank does not want to have pet food due to limited space. We have a program were as people in  pinch can come and get a free bag of food. There are agencies out there that do this both national and local. perhaps a google search and networking with one of them for the how-to would help. Thanks for making the effort.

------------------------------
Rochelle Hamp
Executive Director
Headwaters Animal Shelter
MN
------------------------------

Hi Connie,

All pet stores throw out pet food that is returned, slightly damaged, bag ripped etc.  I have asked our local pet store to please put it all in a bin and our non-profit picks it up every couple weeks.  You cant believe how much food is thrown away

------------------------------
Melissa Klaskin
psychologist
Reducing Animal Stress
CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-26-2024 07:33 AM
From: Rochelle Hamp
Subject: Surplus Pet Food - How to get Pet Food Distributor Partnerships?

We are in a small shelter in a rural community. We are fortunate to have a Walmart in town. They, and two of the local grocery stores give us their short dated/ damaged pet goods.We also have pet food manufacturer in our area. We have a longstanding arrangement with them. They drop 10-15 1000# pallets of short dated inventory, production change, etc food. We have 12 agencies we distribute the manufacturers too. This includes 3 tribal nations in our area. Our food bank does not want to have pet food due to limited space. We have a program were as people in  pinch can come and get a free bag of food. There are agencies out there that do this both national and local. perhaps a google search and networking with one of them for the how-to would help. Thanks for making the effort.

------------------------------
Rochelle Hamp
Executive Director
Headwaters Animal Shelter
MN
------------------------------

Hi all, 

I want to make several points.

How many of you have regional pet store chains ?  Those are the best places to ask returned items ( not just food but leashes, toys, open boxes) Also those regional chains are more willing  to sponsor a food drive.

How many of you have fb/instagram/x page for the shelter?  You can put out a plea for food. You can also  link it to Amazon's wishlist. That way if you're small/rural. People from out of area can donate.

Also on your social media page ask for gift cards. That way the low income/homeless/seniors can go get bedding, leases, jackets, bowls. I saw one person use a measuring cup as a water bowl. He didn't have the money to go buy a regular bowl. Again you can partner with regional store where anyone mentions your group gets xx% off. 

Last but not least, how many know teens that have to do a community service project? Eagle Scouts? Having them organize a community food drive. 

------------------------------
Janice Wheeler
Foster
TSGSR
CA
------------------------------

I see that this discussion was originally posted in 2021 but I think it is still pertinent today (maybe more so with the price of everything going up).  We started a free pet food pantry in January 2024 and have been successful getting food in these ways:

1. Community Donation Drive.  Drop food off at local businesses.
2. Retail Stores.  Talk to the manager about taking any food that has packaging damage so they don't have to throw it out. (Important - When they call, you need to pick up that same day to ensure they continue to give to you.)
3. General Community Donations via online wishlists.

------------------------------
Karen Kirsch
Founder
Spayed and Aid
KY
------------------------------

We are definitely interested in this as well. We tried to start a partnership with Hill's Food, Shelter & Love® Program but we were turned down because we are too small. We are a smaller cat rescue shelter/adoption service but we have 43 cats in our care and it is getting difficult paying the regular prices for the good food. We tried to switch everyone to Purina earlier this year to save money but it didn't end well, our cats started throwing up undigested food and then even blood. We had to switch everyone back to Hill's Science Diet but it is really expensive. We are going to start talking to our local pet supply stores as recommended in the responses.

We also want to start a pet food pantry but we aren't yet in a position to do that on our own. So we are going to try to partner with some local food banks to see if they can expand to also provide pet food to those in need. Hopefully they can use their already existing relationships to help us accomplish this.

Thanks for the ideas and look forward to hearing any more.

------------------------------
Jeffrey Boegli
Secretary/Treasurer
Kitty Rescue Corp
New Port Richey, FL
https://kittyrescuecorp.org
------------------------------

Over the last couple of years, I've learned that some organizations act as a hub to receive large pallets of food from Greater Good Charities. If there are other animal organizations near you that may have this capacity to receive large quantities of food, you may want to work with them and Greater Good Charities on an arrangement.  Maybe a memorandum of understanding between parties would be helpful, too. 

------------------------------
Irene Chansawang
Senior Grants Specialist
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2024 07:38 AM
From: Jeffrey Boegli
Subject: Surplus Pet Food - How to get Pet Food Distributor Partnerships?

We are definitely interested in this as well. We tried to start a partnership with Hill's Food, Shelter & Love® Program but we were turned down because we are too small. We are a smaller cat rescue shelter/adoption service but we have 43 cats in our care and it is getting difficult paying the regular prices for the good food. We tried to switch everyone to Purina earlier this year to save money but it didn't end well, our cats started throwing up undigested food and then even blood. We had to switch everyone back to Hill's Science Diet but it is really expensive. We are going to start talking to our local pet supply stores as recommended in the responses.

We also want to start a pet food pantry but we aren't yet in a position to do that on our own. So we are going to try to partner with some local food banks to see if they can expand to also provide pet food to those in need. Hopefully they can use their already existing relationships to help us accomplish this.

Thanks for the ideas and look forward to hearing any more.

------------------------------
Jeffrey Boegli
Secretary/Treasurer
Kitty Rescue Corp
New Port Richey, FL
https://kittyrescuecorp.org
------------------------------

Additionally, consider exploring partnerships with PetsSurprise, a pet supply store located in Australia. While specific details about their distribution partnerships aren't publicly available, reaching out to local pet supply stores like PetsSurprise could open doors to collaborative opportunities for surplus pet food distribution.

------------------------------
Pets Surprise
Pet Store
Pets Surprise
SA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2024 08:40 AM
From: Irene Chansawang
Subject: Surplus Pet Food - How to get Pet Food Distributor Partnerships?

Over the last couple of years, I've learned that some organizations act as a hub to receive large pallets of food from Greater Good Charities. If there are other animal organizations near you that may have this capacity to receive large quantities of food, you may want to work with them and Greater Good Charities on an arrangement.  Maybe a memorandum of understanding between parties would be helpful, too. 

------------------------------
Irene Chansawang
Senior Grants Specialist
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2024 07:38 AM
From: Jeffrey Boegli
Subject: Surplus Pet Food - How to get Pet Food Distributor Partnerships?

We are definitely interested in this as well. We tried to start a partnership with Hill's Food, Shelter & Love® Program but we were turned down because we are too small. We are a smaller cat rescue shelter/adoption service but we have 43 cats in our care and it is getting difficult paying the regular prices for the good food. We tried to switch everyone to Purina earlier this year to save money but it didn't end well, our cats started throwing up undigested food and then even blood. We had to switch everyone back to Hill's Science Diet but it is really expensive. We are going to start talking to our local pet supply stores as recommended in the responses.

We also want to start a pet food pantry but we aren't yet in a position to do that on our own. So we are going to try to partner with some local food banks to see if they can expand to also provide pet food to those in need. Hopefully they can use their already existing relationships to help us accomplish this.

Thanks for the ideas and look forward to hearing any more.

------------------------------
Jeffrey Boegli
Secretary/Treasurer
Kitty Rescue Corp
New Port Richey, FL
https://kittyrescuecorp.org

I work with the Mississippi Coalition of Animal Protection. We are a 501 c3 foster based program and I was wondering if I was going to be able to set something like that up in my local area. Our foster families pay for a majority of the food that is given to the animals. It would be amazing if the stores were able to donate the food and write it off in taxes at the end of the year. I agree that there is so much waste and the food isn't bad just because the bags are damaged or the cans are dented,

------------------------------
Christine Scheuermann
Mental Health Technician
Mississippi Coalition of Animal Protection
MS
------------------------------