Pet food in short supply at some animal shelters

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Story Published: Apr 8, 2007 at 11:58 AM PDT

Story Updated: Oct 11, 2007 at 8:34 PM PDT

By Thanh Tan and KATU Web Staff

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TROUTDALE, Ore. - Pet owners are on edge about the ever-expanding list of recalled foods, but what about those cats and dogs living in animal shelters?

Multnomah County Animal Services Director Mike Oswald says there are hundreds of cats and dogs in their care at any given time.

"People forget about them. They're concerned about their pets," Oswald said, adding they are checking labels to make sure the pet food they receive through donations are not on the recall list.

Like so many pet owners out there, he says they have had to toss out quite a few. Ten days ago, Oswald says they got lucky.

"We received an 8,000-pound donation of (Newman's Own Organic pet food)," he told KATU News.

Not every shelter is so lucky.

The Bonnie Hays Small Animal Shelter in Washington County reports food donations are lower than normal, and they are at risk of running out of food within weeks. The shelter does not have a separate budget for food, and relies on private donors to help them.

Both agencies say they take donations year-round, but they ask that people avoid giving them any recalled food.

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