All Paws Count, a local animal rescue committed to helping abandoned pets find good homes, now has a food pantry offering free dog and cat food to families in need. The 501(c)(3) charity organization welcomes anyone who is struggling to feed their four-legged friends to call (801) 380-3907 and schedule a food pick-up appointment. Food availability varies, so it’s essential to call in advance.
All Paws Count, formerly known as Utah Valley Animal Rescue, celebrated its 10th anniversary this July. The organization decided to rebrand in 2023 to avoid being confused with South Utah Valley Animal Shelter (SUVAS), also located in Spanish Fork. The two organizations are completely separate entities, though All Paws Count often takes in dogs from SUVAS when the shelter runs out of room to house them.
Heathre Hone is the owner of All Paws Count and has been matching abandoned or stray pets with good families for over a decade. She volunteered at SUVAS for four years, then called her husband one day and said, “Let’s start a rescue.” He agreed, and they started what would one day be known as All Paws Count out of their garage. Since then, the organization has continued to grow and serve the surrounding community.
A person only needs to talk with Hone for a few minutes to realize she’s extremely passionate about what she does. She affectionately refers to the animals in her care as “kids.” She explains that even though All Paws Count currently adopts out about 1,100 animals each year, she still wishes she could do more.
Once an animal comes into the All Paws Count program, it stays there until it’s adopted (with rare exceptions for animals deemed unsafe or so sick that a vet recommends putting them down). Putting an animal down is always a last resort for All Paws Count. Hone and her team do everything possible to nurse sick or injured animals in their care back to health.
“None of our kids get adopted until they’re fixed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed, and as healthy as we can get them,” Hone explained. “If they show signs of any problems, we take care of that before they get adopted.”
Besides finding families for homeless four-legged “kids,” All Paws Count now also helps families in need get their hands on free dog and cat food. The organization recently opened a food bank and offers free dog and cat food whenever it’s available.
Hone is a Greater Good Ambassador, which means she qualifies to receive discounted pet food in bulk through Greater Good Charities’ GOODS Program. Greater Good Charities is an organization dedicated to helping people and pets (both with and without homes) across the country. GOODS sources short-dated and re-branded pet food from retailers, manufacturers, and distributors to approved distribution groups known as Greater Good Ambassadors.
As a Greater Good Ambassador, Hone periodically receives large shipments of food for a discounted price. All Paws Count reserves much of the food it receives through this program for the dogs and cats in its care. The organization also offers some of the food to community members in need through its food bank. Hone hopes that the food bank can help more pet owners keep their four-legged friends instead of giving up their animals because they can’t afford to feed them.
All Paws Count welcomes anyone who needs help feeding their pets to call (801) 380-3907 and schedule an appointment to pick up food. Those interested in volunteering time or donating money to the organization are invited to contact Heathre.hone@allpawscount.org or visit the organization’s website to make a monetary donation. Recurring donations are always encouraged. Just $10 will spay a cat, while $100 will spay a dog.
All Paws Count is also looking for businesses that would like to be part of their Trunk or Treat for Dogs and Humans event this October 26th. Last year’s event was a success, with a greater turnout than the organization expected. This year, All Paws Count plans to give away dog coats, dog beds, and plenty of treats.
To participate, trick-or-treaters and their dogs simply need to show up in costume and enjoy the free human and doggy treats. All dogs need to be on leashes while at the venue. CAL Ranch is slated to host the Trunk or Treat event this year and will reserve a portion of its parking lot for the occasion. Businesses that would like to participate are encouraged to contact Hone at Heathre.hone@allpawscount.org.
