New York Pizzeria Puts Shelter Dogs on Pizza Boxes to Help Find Them New Homes

(TMU) — When we usually order a pizza, we expect to receive it in a typical cardboard box, perhaps with a few coupons attached and some packets of crushed red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese.

But at one pizzeria in New York hungry customers are also receiving an adorable bonus along with their pie: flyers of adoptable shelter pups attached to pizza boxes.

The brilliant idea is a result of a partnership between Just Pizza and Wings Co. in the upstate town of Amherst and the Niagara Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). After the family of pizzeria owner Mary Alloy and three of her kids began volunteering at the SPCA, the collaboration seemed like a natural solution to the problem of helping shelter pups find new forever homes.

SPCA event coordinator Kimberly LaRussa told WKBW Buffalo:

“Pizza boxes are pretty plain, and so you add a shelter dog to it and it adds a little fun to it.

I reached out to Mary Alloy of Just Pizza, and I said, ‘You know, we would like to advertise our shelter dogs on your pizza boxes.’ She immediately said yes.”

And if the gorgeous pooches on the flyers as well as the promise of a delicious pie isn’t enough for prospective adopters, Just Pizza is also offering $50 gift certificates for anyone who adopts a dog.

Since the initiative was announced last Friday, the shelter has been engulfed in the sympathy of not only locals, but news outlets and social media users across the United States.

La Russa told CNN:

“We’ve had a tremendous amount of interest and support from the community and beyond since the story went viral on Friday.

Many people want to order a pizza just to get the shelter dog photo, other pizzerias have offered to put flyers on their pizza boxes, and so many people are tagging their friends and family.”

The effort has already had positive results. Just one day after the initiative began, 6-month-old shelter puppy Larry was adopted into his new family.

Just Pizza and Wings Co.’s owner Mary Alloy said that her business has swiftly picked up as well, with pizza sales doubling over the weekend. But for her, the real reward comes from helping a good cause. She told CNN:

“I try to do whatever I can for other organizations who need help.

We have donation boxes all over the store. Anything I can do to help the community, I’m going to do it.”

By Elias Marat | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com