PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Humane Society again will accept donated pet food, despite turning down an offer of 5,600 pounds of dry dog kibble from Costco.
Costco’s donation — five pallets of food, each loaded with 28 40-pound bags — last week went instead to the Jefferson County Humane Society in Port Townsend.
The news sparked angry e-mails and phone calls from Clallam County Humane Society supporters.
“We can’t get by without support from the community,” Dr. John Miles, president of the Clallam County society, said Sunday.
“We sure want to patch this up.”
The refusal of Costco’s largesse grew from a policy that was designed to keep dogs healthier in the Clallam County shelter, 2105 W. U.S. Highway 101, Port Angeles.
Until about a year ago, the shelter fed dogs and cats any food that was available. The unpredictably varied diet often gave dogs diarrhea.
“In a shelter, that’s really a bad thing,” Miles said.
To avert that problem, the shelter began buying one brand of food, and society Executive Director Paula Creasey asked donors to contribute in other ways.
She turned down Costco’s offer.
“Paula was trying to be consistent and follow the policy,” Miles said.
The refusal to accept Costco’s donation had nothing to do with the quality of its food, he added.