HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Save the Animals in Huntsville is a brand-new nonprofit organization with just under 300 members already. Its goal is to help people keep their animals off the street and out of the shelter.
"Just like human grocery prices are up, the price is up for pet food," said chairwoman Kelli Taylor. "And animals eat a lot of food."
On Saturday, several of the group's members will be at the City of Huntsville's Optimist Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., collecting pet food and delivering it to Manna House.
"[We're] trying to help the community keep their pets in-home. You can just come in if you have a need, and they'll work with you for that need," she added.
The nonprofit organization started just this summer. It has already participated in a community adoption event along with the Huntsville Animal Services, where it helped to adopt nearly 80 dogs. It also regularly offers training courses for pet owners to keep their animals fenced in at home.
Group member Rachell Eddy said she joined Save the Animals because its members are like-minded about pet safety.
"There, lately, has been a lot of animals loose," she said. "And to save them from being hit by cars, or even dying in a shelter, or things like that, I try to do the best that I can in my own time."
Eddy said she helped because she sees an urgent need in the community.
"Constant posts that animals are lost, wandering the streets," she said. "I think that it's a community responsibility to help the shelter because they get so full, so fast. With all the population growth we have lately, it's getting worse."
"And the facility itself, it's just not big enough," Eddy added.
Taylor said the donation drive this Saturday helps to minimize the strain on animal shelters over the holidays.
"If we can keep the animals in their homes, then they have no need to ever get to the shelter," Taylor said.
The donation drive will accept wet or dry dog and cat food, and members of the nonprofit organization will be at the front parking lot of Optimist Park on Saturday. Taylor said they'll be planning several other events for 2025.
