EVERETT – The Everett Animal Shelter, the city’s bed-and-breakfast for homeless pets, may soon be out of breakfast. And lunch and dinner, too.
The animal shelter has only a three-week food supply remaining for the cats and dogs housed there, said city spokeswoman Kate Reardon.
Julie Busch / The Herald
The animal shelter relies on donations to provide much of the 20 pounds of cat and dog food it scoops out each day.
That’s 40 tons of meals a year, which has reduced the shelter’s kibble to bits – and bits and bits.
“Help!” said Bud Wessman, Everett’s animal control director. “This is the lowest food supply in two years. It was over two years ago that we last had to purchase food.”
The food shortage comes at a time when the shelter is not short of residents. In 2004 the shelter saw a 21 percent increase in occupancy. About 9,000 animals checked in during the year, up from 7,700 in 2003.
Wessman said donations from residents, schools, supermarkets and even local animal rescue organizations have always gotten them through in the past.
The shelter doesn’t necessarily budget for food; thanks to the generosity of the community it hasn’t had to, Wessman said.
“If we had to buy it, that just means we’d have to short something else that we’re trying to do … for the community or the animals that are here,” he said.
Any donation is welcome as long as it’s dry food, whether donors spring for a high-end fancy feast or a more economical gravy train.
In the end, all of the food donations are mixed in a large garbage can so the animal’s digestive systems aren’t jolted by switching food brands.
Humans might not find such a culinary menagerie appetizing. But at afternoon meal times, when shelter workers wheel around the 40-gallon garbage can full of food, the animals don’t seem to mind.
The animal shelter is open seven days a week.
“We really appreciate it tremendously,” Wessman said. “It’s something that we have never had to purchase in the past because of the community’s generosity. That’s exceptional.”
Reporter Jennifer Warnick: 425-339-3429 or jwarnick@heraldnet.com.
For more information
The Everett Animal Shelter is located at 2732 36th St. For more information, call 425-257-6000.
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