Please share the information below with any rescue groups or municipal shelters that could qualify to participate:

The LA/SPCA has partnered with the nonprofit pet food distribution group Rescue Bank to provide high quality dog and cat food to nonprofit and municipal animal shelters and rescue groups throughout Southeast Louisiana.  This is a great opportunity to lower your group’s operating costs without compromising the quality of food or health of the animals in your care.  We hope you will consider joining this effort and find it frees up resources for your group to redirect to other needs benefiting the animals in our communities. 

What kind of food will be distributed?

Rescue Banks works directly with pet food manufacturers (for example: Mars Pet Food Company) that have surplus dog and cat food that cannot be sold through retailers.  Some reasons the food cannot be sold are errors or design changes in labeling, discontinued product lines, and excess production of a food line that is not selling or near “Best By” date.

How  does it works?

The manufacturer contacts Rescue Bank when surplus food is available.  The LA/SPCA is alerted of what food product is available and is given the option of receiving one or more 18 wheeler truckload(s) of that food product to distribute to registered/approved groups.  Qualified groups have the option of accepting or declining the donated food product.  The amount of food distributed to each group is predetermined by a formula that the Rescue Bank has created based on the number of animals in its care (in the facility or fosters), the amount of food in the shipment (equitable distribution formula) and the number of adoptions done each year (making space for incoming animals).

Can a group decline food if it is not needed or wanted?

Yes.  Once the LA/SPCA is notified of a food donation, qualified groups have the option of receiving or declining a distribution based on their needs.  If a group declines donated food, they are still qualified for future distributions as food becomes available. 

What are the requirements for shelters and rescue groups to participate?

Shelters (nonprofit and municipal) and rescue groups MUST complete an online application.  The Rescue Bank requires that participating groups spay/neuter all cats and dogs prior to adoption and have an active adoption program.  Animals can be housed in a traditional physical shelter or in foster homes or a combination of both.

NOTE: Nonprofit Feral Cat TNR groups that strictly provide TNR services can also qualify by demonstrating the volume of animals they actively TNR.  These numbers must be verified by the Rescue Bank in order to be approved to participate.  There is a separate application for TNR groups.

Are there any fees?

Yes.  The LA/SPCA pays the entire freight fee to Rescue Bank.  The participating groups agree to reimburse the LA/SPCA for their portion of the freight/shipping cost.  Each group will know in advance what the fees will be.  Typically, each pallet of food (approximately 900-100 pounds of food) costs $60 in freight fees.  This equals about .06 per pound of food.  Each group is only responsible for the portion of the freight fees relating to their distribution.  If a group receives half a pallet of food, the freight fee is calculated for that amount not the total amount of the pallet.  The Rescue Bank encourages groups to use their fundraising tools to allow local donors to underwrite the cost of freight.

NOTE:  There are no fees to apply to participate in the program even if the group declines food distribution.

Are there restrictions on the use of the food?

Yes.  The food must be used for the animals in the group’s care.  This can be in the physical shelter or in foster homes.  Food through this program CANNOT be sold, given away for donations or distributed for any financial compensation.  If groups are found to be selling/giving food away for donations or financial compensation or using it for animals not in their direct care, they will be disqualified from ALL future food distributions. 

NOTE:  If the qualifying group operates a food bank for owned animals (to support animals that are owned by people who are struggling to keep their pets) no more than 10% of that group’s food distribution can be used for the food bank.  For example if the group received 100 bags of food, no more than 10 can be used for the food bank. 

How does the food get distributed?

The LA/SPCA will receive the food shipment in its warehouse and inventory the food.  All groups will be alerted in advance of the anticipated food distribution day.  Each group will be required to send at least 2 people (physically able to lift and load food bags) and vehicles able to transport the food back to the group’s facility or foster homes. 

In order to make the distribution efficient, every group will be responsible for being at the distribution site for the entire distribution time and help all other groups load their food.  Working together will ensure all of the food is quickly and accurately loaded for each group regardless of the group size and distribution amount.  Groups are expected to work collaboratively in this process.  Groups unable to collaborate in this effort will not be invited for future food distributions.

Each group will be required to sign a verification form for the amount of food received.  This documentation must be submitted by the LA/SPCA to the Rescue Bank in order to confirm that the food was properly distributed and submit documentation to comply with FDA reporting requirements.

Next Steps:

1. Complete the online application at http://www.rescuebank.org/.  You will need to upload your 501c3 IRS determination letter, and provide data from your group’s activities in 2013 (how many animals you took in, how many were adopted, what is your total holding capacity), and provide references (veterinarian/rescue groups).   
2.  Share this information with any rescue groups or shelters that you work with that might be interested.  We need 15-20 groups registered and approved in order to begin receiving food donations.  We are happy to assist groups with completing the application if needed. 

If you have questions or need additional information, do not hesitate to contact

the LA/SPCA:

Ana Zorrilla, CEO              

ana@la-spca.org

504-368-5191 ex 202

Jordan Buccola, Operations Assistant     

Jordan@la-spca.org

504-368-5191 ex 133

or the Rescue Bank:

Sue Vilsack

sue@rescuebank.org

281-358-4657

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KITTIES!

Regarding the new announcement on the ‘Lil’ Bub Fund’: http://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/lil-bub-holds-press-conference-aspca-headquarters-announce-lil-bubs-big-fund 

 All funds collected will be distributed as grants to organizations to support cats that need special care or extra help getting adopted due to conditions such as:

• physical deformity
• birth defects
• developmental disability (i.e. cerebral hypoplasia)
• mobility impairment
• blindness
• deafness
• wounds suffered from a disaster, accident, or abuse (i.e. burns due to a fire, broken bones due to car accident or physical abuse, etc.)
• any permanent diseases/illness (FIV, Leukemia, diabetes, etc)
• old age

Eligible grant recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following projects that support cats: emergency and ongoing veterinary or medical care, physical and behavioral rehabilitation, hospice and sanctuary care, shelter enrichment, foster programs, adoption events and adoption make-ready costs, relocation programs to improve adoptability, safety net programs for owned cats to reduce pet relinquishment and to keep families together, and costs associated with emergencies, disasters, or cruelty responses.