For Immediate Release

FEBRUARY 26, 2010. The folks behind the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry – Recycled Doggies and the Pet Alliance – and the amazing volunteers that have come together to support the Cincinnati area’s first pet food pantry have been busy this February collecting donated food and raising funds to stock the shelves of the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry in anticipation of the first pet food distribution day. At last count, over 3,800 pounds of pet food and cat litter has been collected for distribution through the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry, with more donations expected before the doors open to the public. After months of planning, organizing, and soliciting donations, the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry will hold its first pet food distribution day on Saturday March 6, 2010 at the Queen City Self-Storage facility, located at 4775 Red Bank Expressway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227 (located behind the Red Bank Emergency Vet Clinic just off I-71 at the Red Bank exit). Distribution will take place from 10 am to 12 noon. Pantry staff and volunteers will be on hand to greet Pantry clients, register clients to learn about their pets’ needs, and provide clients with pet food. The Pantry will also be accepting food and financial donations from the public during the 10 am to 12 noon timeframe on March 6th. Pets are welcome to come but must stay in their Guardian’s vehicle at all times.

There is no income limit for Pet Guardians seeking pet food assistance from the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry. The Pantry will provide temporary food assistance to all Pet Guardians who come to the Pantry and state in writing that they are currently unable to afford food for their pet(s) and that they need assistance from the Pantry in order to keep their pet(s).

In addition, Pet Guardians requesting pet food assistance from the Pantry must:
1. Be 18 years of age and older.
2. Present a valid picture ID.
3. List the names of all household members 18 years and older.
4. Agree to fill out a new application if the number of pets changes or the Pet Guardian moves.
5. Understand that the food provided is donated and that it may not be their current brand, therefore their pet(s) could get an upset stomach due to the introduction of a new food to their diet.
6. Agree to release the Pantry, its staff, and volunteers from all legal actions and claims related to the Pantry’s activities.
7. Agree not to breed any of their pets or animals for profit or sport.
8. Understand that the Pantry has the right to deny any application.
9. Agree, by receiving food from the Pantry, to give a food or monetary donation back to the Pantry at distribution or when they are able to do so.
10. Agree that if their pet(s) is/are not already spayed/neutered, that they will work with the Pantry and its partner, the Pet Alliance, to get their pet(s) spayed/neutered. Patrons of the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry will receive access to low-cost spay/neuter services through the Pet Alliance program Spay Ohio and affordable microchipping to return lost pets to their owners from MicroChip USA.

Recycled Doggies is sending information about the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry’s temporary pet food assistance program to local social service agencies, animal shelters, and other organizations serving Greater Cincinnati area pet owners who may struggle to feed their pets in order to reach out to Pet Guardians in need and share information about the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry and how to seek assistance from the Pantry.

Pet Guardians interested in obtaining an application and a copy of the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry eligibility guidelines can contact the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry at cincinnatipetfoodpantry@gmail.com or by calling 513-275-5842. In addition, the eligibility guidelines are available on the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry’s website, www.cincinnatipetfoodpantry.org. Applications will be available at the Pantry on distribution days as well.

Because the need is so great, the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry expects that the current stockpile of pet food and cat litter will go quickly. The Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry is seeking individuals and businesses to donate pet food and/or money each month to ensure the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry can continue to fill the need of Pet Guardians who need assistance beyond this initial distribution date. One bag to hundreds of pounds are each appreciated and needed. Each bag MAKES A DIFFERENCE to someone who is struggling to keep their pets. The Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry is also asking local businesses to consider placing a donation bin in their place of business to collect donated food for the Pantry. The next distribution date has not yet been announced, as it will depend on how much pet food is distributed on March 6th as well as the amount of pet food donations received by the Pantry in the coming weeks. The Pantry’s goal is to be able to provide two weeks worth of pet food to Pet Guardians during each distribution event.

Individuals interested in volunteering at the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry on distribution days should email cincinnatipetfoodpantry@gmail.com. In addition, Recycled Doggies is participating in the Hands on Network Disney “Give a Day, Get a Day” volunteer program. For more information, go to www.DisneyParks.com and click on the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” graphic. Recycled Doggies will be posting the need for volunteers for the Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry (search zip code 45212) as each distribution date is announced. ##