.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} What if a family can no longer afford to take their dog or cat to the veterinarian or buy food for it? Too often, pets in those situations end up in already overcrowded animal shelters. The Pet Project Midwest’s goal is that people will never have to give up a pet because money is tight.

The organization, which recently attained 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, came together in August 2009 when five women passionate about animals began discussing some of the unmet local needs.

The Pet Project Midwest seeks to fill gaps in services to assist existing animal services agencies, said Becky Mollenkamp, the organization’s president. “In the end, our goal is to keep animals out of shelters, and that’s the same thing that the shelters are trying to do,” she said. The founding board members with Mollenkamp are Holly Eggleston Hartling, Sara Henderson, Karla Rendall and Monica Wimber.

Its first project was to organize Iowa Pet Alert, a free service using social media to quickly broadcast information about lost pets. Among future goals are to arrange for low-cost veterinary care, as well as temporary foster homes for pets whose owners are dealing with domestic abuse, military deployments or other emergencies.

Additionally, the organization has partnered with the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) to offer pet food and supplies to families through DMARC’s Urbandale food pantry at 7611 Douglas Ave., with a goal of expanding the service to all nine DMARC food pantries.

Its first fund-raising event, “Dog-Eat-Dog Trivia Night,” will be held May 20 at People’s on Court, 216 Court Ave. Eight-person teams will compete at an interactive dinner/trivia contest for cash and prizes, for a donation of $20 per person.

Volunteers are needed to donate, package and deliver pet food and supplies at the food pantries, as well as to help with the trivia contest. The organization also seeks to expand its network of donors.

“We have big goals, big dreams, but we also have a business plan and are working with other organizations to get there,” said Courtney Tompkins, marketing/outreach chair. “I think we’ve all been blown away by the support that we’ve received.”