Keeping pets and families together
7/1/2026
When a co-worker encouraged Tammy Crall to become involved with a fundraising event for Pet Project Midwest, she eagerly agreed. With a passion for animals, she served as vice president and now serves as president of the nonprofit organization. She previously volunteered with other pet rescues in town, but those roles were not the right fit.
“The amount of time other rescues needed didn’t work with my schedule,” she recalls. “Pet Project really spoke to me, plus I can make an actual difference with the pet families.”
Pet Project Midwest is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009. It helps people in need obtain food, services and supplies to keep their pets at home and out of shelters. The organization was originally established as a partnership with Meals on Wheels called AniMeals. When volunteers delivered food to clients, they noticed some people were feeding human food to their pets so the animals would not go hungry.
Pet Project is a 100% volunteer-run organization with active board members who help ensure its services operate smoothly. For many volunteers, the mission is deeply personal.
“The community outreach aspect really spoke to me,” Crall says. “Knowing that something I do can make a big difference for pet owners — and help them avoid the difficult decision of surrendering a pet — is rewarding. I enjoy helping people in the community while also supporting pets and keeping families together.”
As a pet lover, Crall shares her home with two rescue dogs, Whiskey and Porter. When Crall found Porter, the dog had been returned to the shelter several times. She brought Whiskey to meet Porter, and the pair got along immediately. Crall adopted her.
“I think the reason she was probably returned is because she had some unknown food allergies, as we had to take her to the hospital several times,” she explains. “We got her on some special food now, and she hasn’t had any problems in years. We feel like she was meant to be with us.”
The dogs accompany Crall on long trips to enjoy nature. She says pets bring a sense of calm and comfort.
“Pets in general are good for your soul. Their spirits are so pure and they try to cheer you up. They can make a big difference in somebody’s attitude and mental health,” she reflects. “That’s why I think it’s so important to allow people to have pets, even if they’re in situations where it’s hard for them to care for pets.”
Crall recalls helping a woman whose employer unexpectedly closed, leaving her without a job.
“She called in a panic because feeding her Great Dane was expensive, and she wasn’t sure she could afford to care for him,” Crall says. “I told her, ‘Come on in. We’ll take care of you.’ When the woman arrived, she was crying. She said she never had to ask for help before. I told her, ‘That’s what we’re here for.’ ”
The Pet Project relies on community support to help care for a wide range of animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and hamsters. The organization accepts donated food and supplies, often items no longer needed after a pet has passed away or products that were never used.
“We accept almost anything pet-related,” Crall explains. “If we can’t find a use for it, we’ll work with area rescues to make sure it gets into the hands of someone who can.”
For more information about Pet Project Midwest, visit www.thepetprojectmidwest.org. ♦
Jackie Wilson has written hundreds of articles for CITYVIEW and the Iowa Living magazines. She has covered many ordinary people living extraordinary lives.
