The Cedar Bend Humane Society is desperate for food donations

But the closet was almost empty.

For the past six months, the shelter has struggled to feed the more than 300 animals in its care. Now the situation is getting desperate. For the first time in five years, Cedar Bend is sponsoring the Spring into Action Pet Food Drive, now through April 5.

“We’ve seen a decline in the last 1 ½ years of regular food donations, and it’s gotten worse in recent months,” said Kristy Gardner, CBHS executive director.

“As a nonprofit organization, we are donation based. The shelter runs on donations we receive and community support. I don’t know if it’s the economy that’s having an effect, but we’re not getting the food donations that we normally get.”

Over the years, the shelter has had generous donations of food, enough to provide food to shelters in nearby communities. CBHS also operates the Paws Pantry, which distributes pet food through the Northeast Iowa Food Bank for low-income pet owners.

Today the Paws Pantry is closed until at least May 1st.

“That’s sad for me because there’s a great need in our community,” Gardner said. “If we can help people by providing food to feed their pet, it may help prevent some animals from going to the shelter.”

The shelter has been bursting at the seams with stray, surrendered, abandoned and injured pets in recent months. Last year, 3,566 animals were brought to the shelter. In addition, there are puppies and kittens that must be fed as well as animals that are held for court cases and some animals that require special diets.

Housed in three buildings, homeless pets are fed twice daily, in the morning and evening. “We feed about 50 pounds of dog food and 50 pounds of cat food a day in each of the three buildings, so 150 pounds a day for dogs and cats is typical,” he explained.

Although CBHS has been forced to purchase food to help fill the bellies of their furry residents, “that takes away funds from other areas such as medical, spays and neuters and other needs. We need especially cat food.”

The public is asked to donate new, unopened bags of dry pet food for dogs and cats. Dry food without coloring is preferred and donors are asked to check expiration dates.

“We prefer unopened bags, but if someone has an open bag of food that their pet doesn’t like, we’ll take it,” Gardner said.

Drop-off locations are available at the CBHS Adoption Center from noon to 6 pm at 1166 W. Airline Highway, Waterloo; Pet Supplies Plus, 713 Brandilynn Blvd., Cedar Falls; and Hy-Vee Food Store, 1311 Fourth St. SW, Waverly. Online donations can be ordered through Amazon and Cedar Bend’s Chewy Wishlist.

The shelter also works with local retailers, grocery stores, pet stores and big box stores to find ways to provide food for the animals.

“We’re pushing now, but we’ll be accepting donations past April 5. If someone doesn’t want to go out and buy dry food to drop off, they can send Cedar Bend a donation that’s meant for food,” Gardner added.

For more information on Cedar Bend, adoptable pets and services, visit www.cedarbendhumane.org.