Pet Food Bank In Jeopardy Of Closing Its Doors After 2 Decades
HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA.com) — For two decades, Renee Carleton has dedicated her life to rescuing and feeding stray animals.
"I don't want to think about it because I'll start to cry. It's just this big burden kind of sitting on me right now. I don't know what to do," she said.
That's because Carleton's nonprofit, The Pet Food Bank, is in jeopardy of closing its doors because she says her rent is going to double come August.
It's already gone up 35 percent since last year.
"We've been looking for cheaper places, smaller spaces, which is a concern," she said. "We have about 300 to 400 rescues that come here and we move about two million pounds a year."
That's two million pounds of pet food which she stores at their 9,000-square-foot warehouse in Huntington Beach.
Robert Baldwin comes to the warehouse once a week to feed his rescue dogs at his nonprofit in Acton.
"I rescue handicap, wounded, medical throwaway animals that nobody wants, that nobody wants to take care of," he said.
Rescue organizations from Tijuana also depend on The Pet Food Bank.
Volunteers come monthly.
"Without the food bank, I don't know what rescues are going to do," said Cathy Edmonson, a volunteer. "We're really one of a kind."
The nonprofit says there is nowhere for them to cut as none of their workers are paid and the facility doesn't have running water or electricity , not even a bathroom for the volunteers to use.
Carleton is hoping someone will donate a space for reduced rent r help subsidized their rent increase until they find another suitable location.
"I keep praying for that little miracle that something is going to happen," she said.
For information on how to assist the nonprofit, click here or visit their Facebook page.