"At Countdown our food rescue policy means that we'd always prefer to see food used for good causes and not end up in landfill wherever possible. It's been great to help out our local community."
The SPCA received a utility vehicle packed with pet food and manager Renee Hickey said she was taken aback by Countdown's generosity.
"Countdown called at 7pm last night and asked if there was any way we could pick up the food otherwise it would be going to the rubbish.
"I was absolutely gobsmacked at how much there was . . . it must have been thousands of dollars' worth because pet food is not cheap."
After filling up a volunteer's chest freezer full of food for the more than 70 cats and two dogs in their care, they decided to pay the kindness forward and gift the remaining dog rolls to deserving members of the community.
All people had to do was show a picture of their four-legged friend or two and receive a dog roll for each of the animals.
After being stationed for just over an hour outside one of their major sponsors, the Espresso Loco cafe at the railway station, only 24 dog rolls were left.
"There has been a constant stream of people showing photos of their dogs. It's nice to give back to the community who does so much for us," Ms Hickey said.
"We didn't have the storage to keep the dog rolls as our freezer chest caught fire and blew up a month a go and we can't afford to buy another one."
The food is expected to last the shelter a couple months on top of the food donated by sponsor Purina.
"We want to give a huge shout out to Purina for sponsoring us. If they didn't sponsor us, we would have to take all the food. Also, thank you so much to Countdown for helping us and the community by supplying all this food," Ms Hickey said.
