Pet food given out once a month to qualified recipients

APA makes appointments for people to pick up food from the pet food bank.  We moved to a storage unit provided at a discounted rent by Leasing Services, Inc., so we can no longer have only one large distribution per month.  Instead, we distribute food a few times a month in the storage unit's parking lot until we find a permanent location.  To schedule an appointment, call 575-644-0505.

To date, we have distributed more than 76,000 pounds of food and pet supplies--such as collars, leashes, and brushes/combs--to more than 450 needy families.  The average pounds per month we distribute is more than 5,000.

Little Gray, a 3-month old pit bull, came to the food bank to look for some Puppy Chow

APA also delivers food to other agencies that serve no- to low-income populations, such as The Community of Hope and the Casa de Peregrinos emergency food bank.  We are seeking similar partnerships with other organizations as well.

We strongly encourage responsible pet guardianship

APA actively promotes responsible pet guardianship to all of its program recipients.  By receiving food from us in their of econimic need, people agree to meet their pets’ basic physical and social needs (fresh food and water daily, adequate shelter, and companionship/attention).  We also counsel people on keeping their vaccinations up-to-date and to spay and neuter all their pets.

We ask that people contact us about their pet care issues or questions.  We have information about programs, services, pet behavior and training, and other non-profit groups.  At our tabling and distribution events, we also offer information on getting dogs off chains and into the family and homes.

Food recipient Tom Bailey with his dog, Baby

We need your support 

Though we sometimes get very generous donations from the PETCO Foundation and others, it is a constant struggle keeping up with the demand for the pet food bank's services.  We need your suppport; any donation you make will help.  You can donate online via PayPal at the following link, or visit our Donate/Volunteer page for more donation options.

 How recipients qualify 

Recipients are asked to fill out a detailed application the first time they receive our services.  They are asked to bring proof of their residency in our county by showing an ID or utility bill in their name that verifies the address on their application.  They are also asked to bring documentation and/or proof of need, which can be in the form of a pay stub showing income or proof of their receiving other assistance. 

Each applicant is given the opportunity to explain and prove their circumstances.  The food bank is intended to help during times of economic distress as opposed to long-term. 

Paying it forward

For able-minded and bodied recipients needing our help for more than six months in a row, they will be asked to donate their time or talents to APA's food bank and future programs.  Other long-term recipients may be asked to become more responsible guardians to continue receiving our services, such as improving pet living conditions, spaying/neutering, vaccinating, etc.  We will review each applicant's status every six months to keep the information current and to be sure we are helping those that need the assistance the most.  We work closely with SNAP on spay/neuter, and we are grateful to SNAP for assisting food bank clients with multiple pets so they can fix them all at one time.