The one that is filled was sitting in the aisle empty. The other two were in the back by the receiving doors where they throw out the trash. I just ask if I could have them. The store employees do know me so I don't know whether or not that would make a difference but it couldn't hurt. By way of a vent, it makes me SO ANGRY at the stuff that is thrown away. Having said that, they are a big contributer to many of the rescue organizations but so much stuff is thrown away it is unbelievable!!!! Last night, there were 15 bags of dog & cat food, litter, some toys and other 'opened' product that was unsaleable. It was all going into the dumpster this morning. When I can, I go over and "dumpster dive" to pick out useable items. Some of the food that is thrown away is "expired", that is the 'use by' date was maybe Monday. It get thrown out Tuesday. Or maybe when employees are opening a crate, the bag is slit - out to the dumpster it goes. If someone returns a bag of food, out it goes. There have been nights I have gone home in tears. My biggest haul one day was 4 40 lb. bags of Purina dog food, 6 bags of various cat food, including Science Diet and Iams, 2 dog/cat beds (they were missing the little pillow), 4 collars, a retractable lead and 4 packages of cat litter. It used to be that they would just throw the stuff in but now they make big slits in the bags/boxes, rips in the beds, break any toys, smash the hampster cages, stomp on the pet carriers (the ones you put your pets in to carry in car or wherever) and then dump it into dumpster. Sometimes they don't do a great job and I can recover it with not too much damage. I've sewn rips together in the little beds, the animals don't care at the shelter. As I said, I would have gone back early this AM but we got so much snow last night that I figured everything would have been wet. One of the other volunteers got lucky so I have some to take to the shelter tomorrow when I go to get more kitties. On some days, they have had to give the animals less food because they just don't have it to give. Do you think 'they' care if it has been expired for one day or if the bag was cut by the employee? To a hungry dog or cat, it just doesn't matter. I know I'm way off the thread so I'll shut up. Just ask one of the managers if they may have anything or if they would be willing to put your name on it to save before tossing. I have been really happy with the one I am using and look forward to figuring out the best use for the other two. 3 more items NOT going to the landfill.
Wendy