**Note, Amy Bentley has organized this fundraiser on behalf of and with permission by April Tyler - Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry, a non profit feeding hungry pets.**

I have a story to tell that hurts my heart at the same time that it makes my heart ❤️ happy.

It's going to be a long story...I warn you now. It however epitomizes what our non-profit, Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry stands for and why we do what we do.

Our mission has always been....keeping Pets with their People ❤️!

With his permission, I would like to share Chuck Waggin's story with a man named Will.

The first time that I ever interacted with Will was when he called Chuck Waggin about a year and a half ago at 8:00 at night.

He called because he was supposed to be admitted to the hospital...but he refused to go until he was able to get food for his dog Roscoe.

He found our number when he was searching resources that would help to provide pet food to those in need.

When I talked to him on the phone, he was coughing, wheezing and extremely short of breath. He had a friend Ricky that was going to stay with his dog Roscoe, but neither of them could afford his pet food.

Will was living at that time in Howell and was supposed to be admitted to the hospital there.

After hearing his degree of respiratory distress just from talking to him on the phone, I recommended that he call 911 and go via ambulance to the ER. I promised to take dog food the next day to his friend Ricky.

Will stubbornly refused my offer and insisted on driving to our house in Fenton to pick up food and treats for Roscoe, before returning to Howell and going to the hospital.

He explained to me that Roscoe was his family and he loved him more than anything and needed to be sure that he would have food while he was in the hospital.

Will ended up being hospitalized for 60 days for congestive heart failure and respiratory distress, among other health issues.

Over the next 18 months, I would hear from Will every few months requesting dog food for Roscoe. He absolutely HATED asking for help and only called Chuck Waggin as a last resort.

Every time I heard from him, he was still having major health and financial problems, since he could no longer work. He ended up losing his car and had to move in with his son, he was too proud to share what was occurring in his personal life.

So Chuck Waggin had to deliver Roscoe's food the last few times that I heard from Will. I knew that he was applying for disability and after his 60 day hospitalization, he felt like God saved him for a reason and that the love ❤️ he shared with his dog Roscoe was what was keeping him alive. He always sent me pics of Roscoe ( which I loved seeing!).

The next time that I heard from Will was last week and as usual, he apologized for asking for help. He had a single can of wet dog food left for Roscoe.

When I asked to find out where CW should deliver his dog food, I was shocked to find out that Will and his friend Ricky were homeless and living in a tent in downtown Ann Arbor with their beloved Roscoe.

I could hardly believe my ears, but hustled down to Ann Arbor to get some dog food to our boy Roscoe. I was dreading what I would find.

Since they didn't have an address, I couldn't send them any food. With no transportation, they couldn't come to one of our pet food distributions or pick up in Fenton. So, I had no choice but to meet them there at a nearby salvation army which they walked to.

I got to meet Will and Roscoe in person for the first time. It was love at first sight for Roscoe and myself! He was excited to see what kind of treats and food that I had in my car for him!

Will was much younger than I had ever imagined. We have only talked on the phone once which was the first time he ever asked for help and was on his way to the hospital. I assumed he was in his late 70's because he sounded so old on the phone.

Instead, I find out that he is only 61yrs. old! ( younger than I am!!! ).

He has worked his whole life as a golf pro, until he got sick and lost his job. You lose your job and you also lose your income and your medical coverage.

Like most of us, Will didn't have any money saved and was living paycheck to paycheck. I think most of us can relate .

Sadly, his long hospitalization and huge medical bills combined with no longer being able to work full time have now left him homeless.

Why is he living outside in a tent, instead of being at a homeless shelter???

That's because the shelters don't recognize pets as family and Roscoe is not allowed to stay there.

Will would sooner live outside in a tent... than to ever have to live without his boy Roscoe!

❤️❤️❤️

It's this kind of animal-human bond that Chuck Waggin cherishes and supports.

Anyone can fall on tough times. Job loss, sickness, divorce, death in the family and suddenly your world ( and your financial situation ) are all turned upside down.

That's what has happened to Will and I know that he has a disability hearing soon. He turned 61 this month, so he is asking for SSI one year early.

This is what Chuck Waggin pet food pantry is all about! We consider our beloved pets to be family members and despite tough times, we want pets to stay with the people who ❤️ love them and need them by their side as they struggle with the unfortunate things that can happen in our lives.

Sorry for the long post, if you are still reading this. When I left Ann Arbor and saw where Will, Ricky and Roscoe were living in the woods in a tent...I expected to be bawling my eyes out.

Instead, I got to see a happy human and a very happy, playful pup. They didn't care that they were in a tent. What mattered was that they were together.

The love that they shared for one another is something that I will never forget and has made me more motivated than ever to continue the work that Chuck Waggin does to keep pets with their people! Good Luck Will, we are here for you and Roscoe, as long as you need us!!!

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