Tarrant County business owner Aisha Byrd started R&B Dog Bakery to offer healthy and natural treats to customers.
But she also realized that some families struggle to put food in their pets’ bowls at all.
“As time went on, one of the things that I would notice is, in our community, the surrender rate was increasing due to lack of resources to be able to feed their pets,” Byrd said.
No one should have to decide between their own needs and those of their four-legged family members, she said. That inspired her to start Paws 4 A Cause Pet Food Pantry, a nonprofit that collects and donates pet food to those in need.
Byrd’s charitable work has earned her a nomination for 52 Faces of Community, the Fort Worth Report’s weekly series highlighting unsung local heroes.
“She has genuine care for the community,” said Cecilia Gonzales, director of Pixee’s Paws Pet Palace and a friend of Byrd’s. “She genuinely has a big heart and a kind soul.”
Byrd said her work helping animals in need started by keeping pet care kits in her car that she handed out to unhoused people she saw with dogs.
Now, she will hold her second pet food drive in April, an event she plans to do annually. Last year’s drive collected about 500 pounds of food donations as well as toys, treats and dog beds, she said.
“It was a huge success,” Byrd said. “I was very overwhelmed with the support of the community.”
The pet food pantry is a family affair. Her mom is the secretary, and her husband is the coordinator. Her 15-year-old son volunteers, helping with packaging and distribution.
Meanwhile, students from the University of Texas at Arlington’s chapter of the American Marketing Association help spread the word about the food drive. For last year’s event, they asked Tarrant businesses to hang promotional posters and developed a social media campaign, she said. The students also helped during the event.
One of Paws 4 A Cause’s current outreach efforts gives pet care kits to veterans through a partnership with Veterans Affairs. Byrd wants to grow the nonprofit’s outreach and in the future would like to be able to deliver pet food to older adults who have limited ability to leave home.
She believes it is important for people to get involved in their community because it fosters connection.
“When you’re in a community, you don’t feel alone,” she said. “That’s one reason dear to my heart with R&B Dog Bakery and Paws, is that we bring families and communities together to build long-term relationships.”
McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
The Fort Worth Report partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
The Report’s higher education coverage is supported in part by major higher education institutions in Tarrant County, including Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College, Texas A&M-Fort Worth, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington and UNT Health Science Center. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Great Job McKinnon Rice & the Team @ Fort Worth Report for sharing this story.
