Ann King, an Atlanta businesswoman and longtime animal rescuer, announces the launch of Help Save Our Pets Food Bank. The goal of the grassroots effort is to help pet owners who are struggling financially and to address a rising trend of pet abandonment.

Alarmed by a local news report about owners who were deserting their pets because they could no longer afford the cost of food, King, who owns Blooming Cookies and Paws Fifth Avenue Pet Gifts, immediately began to organize a pet food relief network. The purpose is to lend a helping hand to owners in need as well as to support shelters and foster families, who are taking in a record number of dogs, cats and even horses. By rallying Atlanta’s pet community, animal shelters, rescue groups, and pet businesses, King and her team have already established over 20 pet food donation sites in Fulton County.

“Individuals, businesses and organizations have generously come aboard,” says King. “Our desire is to prevent animal neglect and to spare loving pet owners the devastation of having to give up a best friend.” The high rate of home mortgage foreclosures is also causing a burden on shelters and on people who foster pets. “Many families are being forced to move to apartments that don’t allow animals,” King explains. “If a loving owner has no other alternative but to give up his pet, we can lessen the heartbreak by ensuring the animal will be well-fed until he is adopted.”

Donation Details
To help, individuals and businesses can donate food directly or write a check payable to Save Our Pets Food Bank. For pet owners in DeKalb county contact PAWS Atlanta at www.pawsatlanta.org. Other designated pet food and donation collection points include City Dog Market in Brookhaven, Highland Pet Supply in Virginia Highlands, Piedmont Bark, Inman Park Pet Works and The Atlanta Dog Spa. Each location will have pet food collection bins featuring a happy dog’s face, as shown in the attached photo, to encourage donations of pet food or treats.

Pet Food Pickup/Delivery Details
Free pet food will be distributed from the P.A.L.S. location at 2115 Liddell Drive NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30324. Information about the Fulton Animal Services SNAP Program which provides free spay/neuter at Lifeline Animal Project (www.atlantapets.org) will also be available. Food will be made available for pickup on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on the first of each month. Those with special needs can arrange to have food delivered by volunteers the second Saturday of every month. Food will also be available for free for pets with special diets.

For more information or to volunteer please, contact Ann King of Blooming Cookies at 404-876-2200 ext. 314 or Kevin Bryant of P.A.L.S. at 404-536-8472.

Information will also be available at www.bloomingcookies.com or www.palsatlanta.org.