Paw-fect way to help furry friends

The UTRGV Communication Department is holding a pet food drive through Friday on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses, with a portion of donated supplies given to three nonprofit organizations.

The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley; Yaqui Animal Rescue, located in Sullivan City; and the Brownsville Animal Defense adoption center will receive the donations. 

Donations being accepted include general cleaning supplies, bleach, paper towels and a variety of animal feed.

Students on the Edinburg campus may drop off donations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Wednesday in Liberal Arts Building South Room 172 and at the same location from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday. Donations will also be accepted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday in Liberal Arts Building South Room 165. 

Students on the Brownsville campus may drop off donations from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. through Friday in Main Building Room 1.102A.

Alyssa Cerroni, a communication lecturer, told The Rider how the pet food drive got its start. 

After finding out that the Rio Grande Valley has one of the highest rates of stray animals in the nation, Cerroni said she would do all she could to help lost animals. 

Eight years ago, the department set up the first pet food drive on campus, which continued until COVID-19 hit in 2020. 

This year, however, Cerroni made the decision to bring back the drive to “help furry friends in need.” 

She would like to donate 100 individual items to each of the organizations, and while items, such as toys and dog beds “will be gladly accepted,” an emphasis is put on cleaning supplies, as both Yaqui Animal Rescue and Brownsville Animal Defense use Dawn dish soap, paper towels, puppy pads and gloves in order to keep the facilities clean. 

Esmer Garcia, rescue coordinator of Yaqui Animal Rescue, said that food and cleaning supplies are used every day. 

Asked what else the community can do besides donating to the rescue, Garcia replied, “We do accept volunteer work.”

“It has to be … by appointment,” she said. “[Volunteers] would need to call the ranch director, [Melissa Garza], just to set it up. …  Awareness. … Letting people know about our organization, letting people know about adoption. Please don’t buy from breeders.
We have wonderful animals who need homes. Some dogs have been with us for
nine years.” 

There are other ways that allow the Yaqui Animal Rescue to continue operation, including the transport of a few animals at a time to less populated shelters across the nation.

Garcia stays in contact with shelters nationwide that help the rescue when it is at maximum capacity, which is mostly year-round. 

The overpopulation of the rescue is in part due to the expectations of adopters looking for hyperspecific breeds of dogs, when the only ones available at the shelter are the “mangy dogs,” she said.

“We’re picking up the little black mutts,” Garcia said. 

Although the rescue itself does not have influence or authority over individuals who break animal protection laws, it still gets calls from people who have witnessed animal cruelty. 

“If you see something, say something,” Garcia said. “Always. …  Just call it in [to the police].”

The Brownsville Animal Defense tackles the stray population for dogs in the Valley. B.A.D. works with veterinary clinics, volunteers and plans months in advance for the spaying and neutering of dogs. 

For more information on the pet food drive, visit @utrgv.commdpt on Instagram.