Portuguese 
For seven years, veterinarian Leonardo Barreto has requested pet food instead of birthday gifts, and this year he collected 760 kilograms, two hundred and thirty more than last year, which was delivered to a shelter located thirty-eight kilometers from Brasília.
This story was published by Só Notícia Boa on August 30. Leonardo, known as Leozão, graduated as a veterinarian in 2007 and began exchanging gifts for pet food in 2019. This year’s collection reached 760 kilograms, compared to 530 kilograms in 2025.
The primary recipient of the donation was the Flora & Fauna Shelter, located in Gama, Federal District, about 38 kilometers from downtown Brasília. Over the years, the donations have also supported the La JB and São Francisco shelters.
The Surprise Was His Own
The veterinarian himself did not expect the outcome. According to his account published in the report, he thought he wouldn’t be able to collect even the five hundred kilograms from the previous year, and he was surprised to receive 760.
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The difference between this year and last year is notable because it didn’t come from a structured campaign or sponsorship. That’s 230 kilograms more, an increase of over 43%, achieved solely by repeating the same request each birthday, year after year. For 2027, he has already set the next goal: one thousand kilograms, or one ton.
It’s hard not to see the simple strategy that underpins this. The request doesn’t require anyone to organize anything, doesn’t create overhead, doesn’t ask for money, and doesn’t depend on an institution. It simply redirects an expense that people would have anyway, as those attending a birthday typically bring something.
What 760 Kilograms Mean for a Shelter
Pet food is the most expensive and consistent item in an animal shelter’s operations. Unlike blankets, toys, or occasional medications, it runs out every day and needs to be replenished every month, which makes feeding the largest expense for these organizations.
That’s why donating food in bulk has a practical impact different from scattering cash donations. It covers entire weeks of operation at once and frees up the shelter’s budget for expenses that can’t be solved with volunteer work, like spaying, veterinary care, and water bills.
There’s also the issue of distance. The shelter is situated 38 kilometers from Brasília, which is a common characteristic for this type of institution in Brazil. Shelters typically are located far from urban areas due to land costs, the space needed, and neighbors’ tolerance to noise. Consequently, they often end up off the path of potential donors, relying on those who make a special trip to donate.
Seven Years, and This Is What Changes
It is worth noting what the report does not include. There is no mention of Leonardo’s age, the number of animals served by the Flora & Fauna Shelter, or the total amount raised over the past seven years. Only the numbers for this year, last year, and the goal for next year are known.
However, what matters in this story is not the total. It’s the fact that this is the seventh iteration. Individual donation initiatives typically have a short lifespan: they happen once, generate a photo, and do not repeat the following year because sustaining such energy alone is not feasible for long.
Reaching the seventh year, with an increasing volume, indicates something else. It shows that the request has become an expectation among those who interact with him, to the point where people arrive already knowing what to bring. From this perspective, what Leonardo has built is not just a donation; it’s a small collective habit that continues without him needing to push for it.
I can only imagine what might happen if everyone celebrating a birthday this month requested five kilograms of pet food instead of yet another mug.
Would you exchange your birthday presents for a donation to a cause, or find it awkward to ask?
