Thanks to your generous donations, we collected over 369 lbs of pet food including 215 lbs of dog food/treats, 104 lbs of cat food/treats and 50 lbs of horse feed for abandoned dogs, cats and even horses during our Community Foundation Pet Drive.  Also received were a large selection of toys, blankets, puppy training pads, two beds and a dental care package. The supplies were donated to the Animal Rescue Coalition in Sarasota, where Executive Director Roberta Druif gratefully accepted them on behalf of the many animals that are suffering from the bad economy along with their owners. The Animal Rescue Coalition saves cats and dogs in Sarasota County from being euthanized and runs a Spay and Neutering Mobile Clinic to keep strays from reproducing. Their mission is to reduce the overcrowding in animal shelters and to prevent pet abandonment. We received the following thank you letter from Roberta: Dear Community Founation Staff: Thank you once again for organizing the Pet Food Drive to benefit ARC.  It has been wonderful working with the staff from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in this incredibly successful endeavor and I hope to partner with you again in the future. To date, the pet food and supplies have been distributed to three families fostering roughly 35 puppies and kittens as well as to no-profit rescue groups like Puffy Paws Kitty Haven, Animal Network, Honor Sanctuary and Moe-Jo’s Pits & Friends; we still have additional reserves to distribute as needed.  It’s inspiring to see the difference people can make in one month’s time in the lives of so many animals. While significant progress has been made, thousands of healthy dogs and cats are still euthanized in the United States every day.  ARC’s Spay/Neuter Program proactively addresses pet overpopulation through prevention, but it remains important to help those animals that have already been born and need a forever home.  To date, over 500 dogs and cats have found forever homes through ARC’s Foster Program. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s generous Pet Food Drive will help us to continue rescuing animals from certain euthanasia by placing them in foster homes and eventually finding loving homes.  Thank you again for your support. Warmest regards, Roberta C. Druif Executive Director of ARC