Other than a herd of very satisfied dogs, what else will 12.7 tons of dog food get you?

Why, a suitable test for a new baggage conveyor system, of course.

Unbelievably the massive purchase really happened last October, to test the system at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to Brietbart.com. All 1,600 bags were then stored in a warehouse until last week, when port officials finally put the food to its intended use, voting to donate it to two animal shelters in Seattle and King County.

Because neither shelter could store the loads itself, both are distributing the abundance at food banks. After all, children aren't the only hungry mouths needing fed by those falling upon hard times these days.

-- Sandra M. Klepach, SKlepach@News-Herald.com