Week 16 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Thanks, We All Needed That!

HAPPY HOWL-IDAYS!
Click on link.

In the past couple of days, some terrific things have happened for us … and puppies and kittens. Briton just banned all third-party sale of dogs and cats, I received a high-tech Christmas card and we collected lots for food for Pima Animal Care Center.

No pet stores or other commercial outlets in England can sell dogs or cats. Folks can only buy from rescue centers or breeders. The new law has overwhelming acceptance. Now, can the US be far behind? Soon after Briton got the Beatles we did, too. That is what overwhelming acceptance can do. (Click on link)   https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pet-stores-uk-puppy-kitten-ban_us_5c22337ee4b05c88b6fbe44c

After my neighbors, Christina and Blake gave me the Happy Howl-idays Christmas card, the air was filled with gleeful puppy sounds. Over and over again. Nineteen seconds is just not enough. Click on the link above to start smiling and chuckling again … especially at the tone-deaf puppy’s final note.

Sixteen weeks and growing

Cody only likes unwrapped food and the pile of money
is of no interest at all. So he turns to what pleases him the
most, basking in the sun.

Monday, we donated 11 lbs. of dog and cat food and … $78.80 in cash. Such generosity helps us move closer to our goal of 2 tons of pet food more quickly.

Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 15 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Okay, This One Got to Me.

My friends, Roy and Mary Sasiadek sent me a Christmas card today to wish me a happy holiday and to tell me that Snuggles, their Westie, was turning 15 in March. Snuggles is the only puppy produced by my two Westies, Adam and Molly. This most delightful card caused me to think about all of the other pleasant dog stuff that happened to me in the last few days.

On Sunday, Burl, a neighbor on Miles walked up to the truck as I was about to hop out. “See, you don’t have to get out of the truck to collect donations,” he said with a grin.

We talked for a couple of minutes and he told me about two ideas involving Rescued Critters Food Drive that are in the works. Recently, Burl mentioned the program to a few of his clients and their interest was piqued. In fact, one client gave him that 24 lb. bag of premium dog food which we donated to PACC last week. He is thinking about ways to engage more of his clients and he promised to get back to me soon.

The other news was just as exciting. Burl has friends in Sahuarita who are thinking about starting their own Rescued Critters Food Drive. I told him to let them know I will provide all the marketing materials, so they don’t have to start from scratch.

This was very exciting news and I told him I really liked how he was approaching his involvement in the program. Burl called it “organic” because he is just telling folks about what we are doing and letting the idea take hold naturally.

On my late afternoon walk today with the guys, Kym a friend and neighbor on 13^th Street, pulled up to the curb to chat. She said her client just gave her a Christmas bonus and she wanted to share some of it with PACC. It’s only Monday and I now have $10.00 to start Week 16.

Usually after the holidays I recycle the Christmas cards I receive. Not the kitty hugging Westie. Nope. That goes up on the wall to remind me to be grateful for all the small and pleasant Rescued Critters Food Drive successes we experience every week.

Togetherness, ©Sue Hall, Star Licensing. American Humane greeting cards. www.americanhumane.org

The First of Four Wraps for the Truck

The only vehicle (double entendre intended) for advertising the Rescued Critters Food Drive program is the Chevy truck. Tuesday the Cook Sign Company on Tucson Blvd. installed the tailgate wrap. To come is the hood wrap and the two side panel wraps. The total cost is approximately $1,100. Since the tailgate wrap cost $116.00 plus installation, I decided to pay for that myself. In order to complete the rest of the signage I will have to find a sponsor. In time, as the popularity of the program spreads, one may just step up to help. Meanwhile, all the folks driving behind me will have something to read while fighting the urge to pick up their smart phone.

This week, instead of concentrating on the food
she can't have, Haley decided to think about
chasing rabbits.

Lots of Christmas shopping going on this past Sunday so many folks were not home. However, we still had a pretty good collection. We donated 3.7 lbs. of cat food, 13.9 lbs. of dog food and 2 Slimcat Feeder Balls. The money amounted to $44.10.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 14 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Just Look at All That Food!

While stacking the food on the table for a photo shoot, Haley bounds up the ramp to check everything out. Each product gets at least two sniffs. Then she sits down quietly and ponders the situation. Darn, none of it is for her. Don’t worry, she gets plenty of treats after the shoot for being such an engaging actor.

Nothing seemed unusual on Sunday until I reached the seventh home. Some folks were away and some had their donation on their porch. Then I saw the huge bag of Merrick dog food tagged with my name. That note told me no one was home here, either, but they were trying to make my day anyway.

The 12 cans of Instinct cat food had a story, too. The order my neighbor on 12^th street got from Chewy a few days earlier had that gift inside. She decided to regift it to PACC. Four other participants donated bags of both dog and cat food. At the end of the day there were 39 lbs. of dog food and 14 lbs. of cat food for a total of 53 lbs. That is significantly more than our average weekly donation of 15 lbs. of food. The cash donation amounted to $33.90 which is a tidy sum, also.

This may be a turning point in the donation patterns where dry food takes over for cans. After 14 straight weeks my neighbors may be thinking this is a good thing and it’s not going away. No matter the rationale, Rescued Critters Food Drive is here to stay.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 13 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

13 is Our Magic Number

It was supposed to rain and be cold Sunday. That didn’t happen. In fact, the day was partly cloudy and very pleasant.

Haley just had her surgery cone removed so she is a bit demure.

That lasted about 4 hours and then she turned back into her 

old energy-ball self.

Next, I noticed that many, many folks anticipated my arrival and had a can of pet food out on the porch or a white envelope stuck in the door. This was the first Sunday— our 13^th Sunday—where I could look down a block and pick out all our participants. Rescued Critters Food Drive has arrived. That’s good news for all of us.

We donated 13.40 lbs. of dog and cat food, in addition to a large towel and a unique cat food toy that dispenses food the longer the cat plays with it. The cash amounted to $101.15 
and $30,00 in checks for a total of $131.15. Since our weekly cash goal is $83.00, we did a real big number this past Sunday.

See you Sunday,

Peter

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Thank You.

Week 12 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

We now have an official Rescued Critters

collection route for the Miles Neighborhood.

With so many cans of Pumpkin, it must be the holiday season - Haley had her Cherry Eye fixed last Tuesday so she is still encumbered a bit by the cone. However, she did have the energy to focus on the most important item on the table. Money to feed her friends at PACC.

It took 12 weeks, but I finally got around to every street in the neighbor and the donation results this Sunday were remarkable. Something we can look forward to each Sunday from now on as we chase our goal of 2.2 tons of donated food for the Pima Animal Care Center.

We collected 14.1 lbs. of dog and cat food and $87.50 in cash this week. To achieve our goal, we have to donate an average of $83.00 per week. Of course, the two variables affecting our success are, the number of folks home on Sunday and the number who donate more than $1.00. Just a dollar makes the whole process very competitive when one adds in the donated food.

During the One Can A Week years, I used to say there were approximately 200 homes in the Miles Neighborhood. Just this week I checked out Pima Maps, and learned that there are actually 257 homes. With rentals accounting for one half of the homes, there are about 128 family-owned properties. Also, lots of those rentals are students who are so busy with their studies —coupled with a lack of community identity—they generally don’t participate in community activities.

The good news is we now have 55 participants, signing up four more this past weekend. And too, there are still a few folks to see because they haven’t been home when I showed up.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 11 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

PACC pays less for pet food and you can, too.

Took nearly 50 photos to capture this one cute shot. Most of

the time Haley and Cody were milling around in the very sturdy

Chewy box until I said, "Hey," ... very loudly.

You’ve seen the commercials. Chewy.com saves money on all kinds of pet food including Hill’s Science Diet Prescription. The other savings include time not wasted going to the pet food store. Or going to another pet food store when the product you want is sold out. There’s also gas involved and the frustration of having to hurry up because you forgot to pick up food on your last trip to the supermarket.

Last Thursday, I placed an order at 12.53 pm and was expecting delivery two days later. To my delight my order of two 16 lb. bags of cat food and one 11 lb. bag of dog food arrived on my porch at 11:15 Friday morning. Good heavens, less than 24 hours.

After a little research I learned that Chewy.com has an 800,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Goodyear, AZ, a suburb of Phoenix. (Click on the link to view an informative news video.)

This means we Arizonians can be pet food forgetful and still expect one day delivery because Chewy is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week operation.

Of course, I had to change my thinking when I switched to Chewy.com. I have small dogs so I bought small 4 lb. bags. When I saw that everyone who tries Chewy.com gets a 15% discount on the first order, I gave it a shot.

I saved nearly $15,00 and was quite happy. My next order I saved not-so-much, but I was getting into the great feeling of not having to lug that 16 lb. bag of cat food around the supermarket every other week.

Now my strategy is to forget about the small bags and buy larger quantities that last longer. When I cross the $50 mark, the shipping is free so I save again. And when my order is delivered the next day, I start thinking about what else I can buy because getting it so fast is such a consumer high.

Chewy.com has great prices but be sure to check the unit cost. Sometimes the really big bags are not the best buy.

So, place an order with Chewy.com and then the next day, go sit on your porch and wait for UPS. That is just so cool!

So Many Ways to Help PACC and All the Rescued Critters Here in Tucson

Over the past 11 weeks, we have donated money, blankets, a dog pen, industrial Swiper pads, food bowls, leashes and pet food, of course, to PACC. When one of my clients gave me a nearly-new HP 8610 4-in-1 Laser Ink Jet printer to dispose of, I thought about approaching my neighbors, Christina and Blake. They recently bought a printer so I had to think of someone else. Then PACC popped into my brain.

Bennett, my contact at PACC said he would have to check with the Office Administrator because they are a state organization, not a 501.3c. They have different regulations to follow.

Within a day, Bennett got back to me and said they would be delighted to accept the printer. Around 3 pm I delivered the printer and the staff was all smiles.

Two days later Bennett got back to me and said in an email, “I’m glad the staff was so friendly when you came. Thanks again for the printer; it’s going to be incredibly helpful.”

This is a lesson for all of us. If we run across nearly-new office equipment we plan to give away, think of PACC first. Just tell me what you have to offer and I’ll contact Bennett for you.

Best Week Ever for Pet Food

This week’s donation amounted to 22.39 lbs. of dog and cat food. The cash totaled $34.65.

In addition, we signed up four more participants which means 51 Miles neighbors are now helping feed lots of Rescued Critters.

See you Sunday,

Peter  

Week 10 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

How a small can of cat food on a truck seat got to the

 Pima Animal Care Center.

Every can and every penny donated on Sunday to
Rescued Critters Food Drive is delivered to the
Pima Animal Care Center on Monday.

Neighbors now and again leave cans or bags of food on or in my pickup truck when I am not around. They did it a lot during our One Can A Week days. Late last week, I found a 3 ounce can of cat food on my bench seat. I like such surprises because it means folks trust that even the smallest donation will end up in a bowl at Pima Animal Care Center. And they are right.

That little can gave me the idea for this week’s blog post. Everybody who donates to Rescued Critters Food Drive should know the whole process of donating food, supplies and money to PACC.

When I finish my Sunday rounds, I gather all the donations on my large work bench on my porch. Then I count and enter all the cash and checks on the Inventory Sheet. Next I group the canned dog and cat food. This makes it easy to note the number of cans with the same weight. (See Inventory Sheet below.)

Generally, folks making donations fill out the PACC In-Kind Donation Form at PACC.I fill out the form at home to expedite the process. I can tell the staff likes this efficiency,

The money is tallied separately using a PACC Computer Receipt. I never tell the staff member the total until he or she is about to issue the receipt. Them I’m told the amount about to be entered. To date, the totals we donated matched exactly. At this point, we both say, “Yes!”

Besides explaining the process, I would like to invite all my neighbors to ride along with me on Sunday to see how the collection is done. (Of course, not all at once … my truck is a bit small.) And too, you can also come with me to PACC on Monday to deliver the donation. This is our community service project and I would like everyone to feel totally involved. 

First, the food is taken to the back.

Next, the money and checks are counted.

Donation Inventory Sheet

In-Kind Donation Form

PACC Cash Receipt 

The small can of cat food is to the right of the two small

stacked cat food cans just behind the money.

Even Cody was taken with Haley's Yoda Impression

This week's donation amounted to 16.1 lbs. of dog and cat food. The cash totaled $43.80. 

See you Sunday,

Peter