Just over a dozen years ago, Peggy and I attended the Transplants for Children Gala. They had an adorable Havanese puppy in their live auction which we purchased. We named him “Bailey.”
Besides being a very loving dog, Bailey was the catalyst and inspiration for both our family and The PM Group. He was the first of the six dogs our family came to have joyfully in our home. Three of them are rescue dogs that we acquired from the God’s Dogs Rescue pet shelter. That was how Bailey inspired us, but that was just the beginning. Our love of dogs led The PM Group to start fundraising for God’s Dogs Rescue a year before the COVID-19 pandemic to assist with badly needed pet food supplies. The shelter had over 600 pets in their care—they are a committed ‘no kill’ pet shelter—and 600 mouths to feed became very challenging for the shelter.
The PM Group answered the call for help. We started providing over $50,000 in financial support annually. But the shelter was still in financial peril to care for their animal population. What more could we do?
In January 2023, we created and launched the Puppy Food Bank. Its initial sole mission was to provide pet food to Texas-based pet rescues. Danielle Gunter was named the non-profit’s executive director. By early 2024, we expanded the reach and support of The Puppy Food Bank to the continental U.S. and presently provide pet food to over 30 pet rescues nationally. Puppy Food Bank operates as a ‘virtual food bank.’ There is no expensive pet food warehouse to operate and warehouse staff to pay. With the money we raise, we ship pet food directly to pet shelters via Chewy. This saves us an enormous amount of money so we can return the most benefit to the pet shelters we agree to support. Danielle and her small staff do a great job coordinating Puppy Food Bank’s pet shelter assistance.
Bailey was our inspiration for all the above and today I have an immense hole in my heart and tears in my eyes as I write this in remembrance of him. Our other pets are somewhat lost too with Bailey now gone. Our home is not the same. But something very great was created because of Bailey’s loving inspiration.
It’s been said that ‘All Dogs Go to Heaven’ and I can only hope we are worthy too! Have fun frolicking amongst the angels Bailey until we meet up with you again!
Bob & Peggy Wills
PS: We want to thank the many individual donors, businesses and all the Puppy Food Bank sponsors for your financial support. You make it all possible to save thousands of pet lives every year!
About The PM Group: Since 1988, The PM Group has been one of top advertising agencies in Texas with annual revenues over $55,000,000. Founded by CEO | Media Director, Bob Wills, the San Antonio-based agency has represented clients across numerous verticals and industries including financial, casual dining and delivery, cultural institutions, home services, sports marketing, entertainment, automotive, legal services, nonprofit organizations, and more. Over the past five years, The PM Group has continued to grow organically through the addition of new clients and by expanding current clients’ marketing efforts. Additionally, the agency continues its renown legacy of charitable giving with each consecutive year outpacing the prior in terms of actual dollars raised and the number of charitable recipients. The PM Group now raises over $2M annually, with the agency’s 10-year total surpassing $17 million dollars. In addition to the primary San Antonio, Texas office, the agency has remote offices in Arizona, Oklahoma, Massachusetts and Virginia.
