Fill the Bucket with Yaqui & Hidalgo County

Yaqui Animal Rescue, a nonprofit in Sullivan City, and Hidalgo County Precinct 3 partnered up to kick off the Responsible Pet Owners Month with the Fill the Bucket challenge which runs through Friday.

“We have over 250 animals in our care and that includes cats, dogs, horses, pigs, chickens; we’ve even rescued possums,” said Alyssa Cerroni, Yaqui Animal Rescue media director. “So, we’re an inclusive ranch. We do not euthanize to make space for other animals.”

Cerroni said the nonprofit takes care of the animals until they transition into their forever homes.

“We are here in the Rio Grande Valley trying to reduce the stray overpopulation problem, so we’re working hard to find forever homes for the abused, abandoned and neglected animals of South Texas,” she said.

Yaqui Animal Rescue started the Fill the Bucket challenge Feb. 3 in collaboration with Hidalgo County Precinct 3. Commissioner Everardo “Ever” Villarreal and his precinct help in the collection of food donations and supplies.

“We can help not only the homeless animals of the Rio Grande Valley, but also our community,” Cerroni said. “So if our community needs food, they can reach out to us and, then, we can help them by giving them some food for their pets.”

The nonprofit has donation buckets in over 100 classrooms throughout Precinct 3. 

Lizannie Martinez, an English senior at UTRGV, said she believes it is important to donate to something that actually has a meaning to the community.

Designated collection locations for donating supplies are Mission Consolidated School District schools, Sharyland Independent School District schools and IDEA schools. Also participating are local businesses, such as Tractor Supply Company, PJ’s Coffee, Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply, Matt’s Building Materials, and Martin Farm and Ranch Supply. arti

“Our most needed items are always cat food and dog food,” Cerroni said. “However, we also need food for our pigs, horses and cows, so we are accepting feed as well.”

She said Yaqui also accepts cleaning supplies, such as dish soap, bleach, mops, brooms and laundry detergent.

“This year, we’re predicting it’s going to be our biggest year yet because we have more schools participating than ever before,” Cerroni said. “So, I think it’s going to be a very large pet food drive.”

Villarreal said the partnership with Yaqui Animal Rescue started four years ago when he was elected.

“As soon as I became a commissioner for Hidalgo County, we immediately learned of the huge problem with stray animals of all types,” he said.

Villarreal said partnering with organizations such as Yaqui has been a blessing to the community. The partnership helps each other by taking care of stray animals’ health while they get adopted.

“It’s about creating a lasting impact on the lives of animals and strengthening our community commitment to responsible pet owners,” he said. “… Our community has gotten so involved. We went from 20 classrooms last year to having 100 classrooms throughout the school districts and in Precinct 3.” 

Villarreal invites the community to donate animal food or cleaning supplies at the Precinct 3 Administration Office, located at 724 Breyfogle Road in Mission.

–Pete Mendoza contributed to this story.