Families with wagging tails in tow turned Congo River Golf into a parade of pet-food philanthropy Saturday, answering Logan and Sadie’s call to “Putt Putt for Pets.”
Its the latest chapter of the 96.9 WINK-FM Pet Project, the radio station’s year-round mission to rescue, feed and forever-home Southwest Florida’s four-legged friends.
What started as a modest pledge to collect 1,500 pounds of dog and cat food finished with a staggering 4,022 pounds. That's enough kibble to fill the beds of two pickup trucks and then some.
Listeners drove the distance and made the difference.
Mini-golfers arrived from as far north as Venice, Port Charlotte and North Port, each handing over at least a 10-pound bag of food for a free round on the tropical course.
Before the first putt dropped, volunteers were trading shopping carts for flatbeds and wheelbarrows to keep pace with the haul.
“A huge thank-you to the caring community of Southwest Florida and the fantastic Logan & Sadie listeners on 96.9 WINK-FM! Your remarkable contribution of 4,022 pounds of pet food will make a real difference in the lives of the animals being cared for by Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue and Haven on Earth Animal League,” morning-show co-host Logan said, beaming beside a mountain of kibble bags.
Sadie chimed in, “It’s always such a great event. I love the opportunity to help rescues in Southwest Florida all while getting to meet our listeners and thank them for all they do for our community … Nothing tops it!”
The Pet Project promise
WINK-FM’s Pet Project rallies listeners for quarterly drives, food, supplies and adoption “paw-ties,” to make sure no local shelter faces an empty pantry or an empty volunteer roster.
Saturday’s success underscores the project’s guiding belief: when neighbors unite around paws and claws, entire communities thrive.
Two rescues, hundreds of hungry mouths
Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue (GOFAR), based in Fort Myers, specializes in pulling at-risk dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters, placing more than 400 pets in foster or forever homes each year.
Haven on Earth Animal League, headquartered in Naples, focuses on neonatal kittens and special-needs pets that often require round-the-clock care.
Both nonprofits rely entirely on donations to keep food bowls and medical supply cabinets full.
Food is the single largest expense for local rescues, especially during kitten season and the height of summer intake. Saturday’s haul is expected to feed dogs and cats in foster care for three full months, allowing volunteers to redirect cash donations toward spay and neuter surgeries, vaccines and lifesaving medical treatments.
Logan and Sadie teased that the next Pet Project drive (hint: it involves pups, paddles and a splash of summer) is landing soon. Until then, Southwest Florida’s animal lovers can enjoy bragging rights for turning a friendly game of putt-putt into two tons of tangible kindness.
Catch Logan and Sadie every weekday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on 96.9 WINK-FM, where Southwest Florida wakes up to local stories, laughs and community spirit.
