Innovative “Pet Food Pantry” Program Allows Families to Keep Their Pets During Hard Financial Times
December 14 2016 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
VCA Charities and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Serve
1.5 Million Meals to Cats and Dogs in Need
VCA Charities and Hill’s Pet Nutrition are marking the 1.5
millionth meal served to pets in need through the VCA Pet Food
Pantry Program. The celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the
historical All Souls Church in New York, NY, will recognize the
major milestone in their six-year partnership.
Hill’s supports the VCA Pet Food Pantry program, which was
initiated by VCA Charities in 2010 to provide pet food to pet
parents stricken by the economic downturn. The program was designed
to help families continue to care for, and draw emotional support
from, the animals they love as they struggle through financial
hardship and hunger.
In its first six years, the VCA Pet Food Pantry program has
expanded to more than 30 locations throughout the United States and
Canada, providing free pet food to clients of existing food
pantries.
“We started the Pet Food Pantry program to provide healthy,
nutritious pet food to families who could not otherwise afford it
in the local communities we serve,” said Art Antin, Chief Operating
Officer for VCA Animal Hospitals. “By providing these 1.5 million
free meals, we have helped many families in need hold on to the
loving and comforting bond their pets provide.”
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the maker of the Hill’s Science Diet®,
Hill’s Prescription Diet® and Hill’s Ideal Balance™ brands, donates
premium pet food to VCA’s Pet Food Pantries across the U.S., and
has made a commitment to expand the current partnership by
supporting additional pet food pantries with pet food donations
over the next few years.
“Our mission at Hill’s is to help enrich and lengthen the
special relationships between people and their pets,” said Kostas
Kontopanos, President of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, North America. “We
want to help transform lives, and this partnership with VCA
Charities enables us to do that by keeping pets with their families
during a time of need, when unconditional love is needed most.”
In furthering its mission, Hill’s has a long-standing history of
helping pets in need through its Food, Shelter & Love® program,
which has donated more than $280 million worth of Hill’s Science
Diet® brand foods to more than 1,000 shelters in the U.S. since
2002. Hill’s also comes to the aid of communities impacted by
disaster. In the past four years, the Hill’s Disaster Relief
Network has helped feed cats and dogs displaced by disaster by
delivering free pet food to 167 shelters and veterinary clinics
across the country in response to 61 major incidents.
VCA Charities continues to support programs, organizations, and
causes that promote pet healthcare education, proactive veterinary
care, proper pet nutrition, and prevention of cruelty to animals.
In furthering its mission, VCA Charities partners with the American
Red Cross in their Disaster Relief Network, and provides free
exams, boarding, and vaccinations for pets displaced or injured
during a disaster or emergency.
The Dec. 14 event will include a staging of the 1.5 millionth
meal served to a dog from a local New York City shelter. In
addition, the event will feature a range of speakers, including
senior leadership from VCA Charities and Hill’s Pet Nutrition; a
representative from the Food Bank for New York City’s Harlem
location; and Jeff Perryman, a Special Agent and Response Team
Canine Handler with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF) and his canine, Ike. Media interview and photo
opportunities will be available.
About VCA Charities
VCA Charities is a 501(c)(3) with a mission to end medically
unnecessary euthanasia. Established in 2005 by the founders of VCA
Animal Hospitals, VCA Charities has helped feed thousands of pets,
provided free medical treatment, and donated time and money to pet
charities globally. Please visit the VCA Charities website and blog
to find out the most up-to-date information about VCA Charities and
its programs at www.VCAcharities.org.
About Hill’s Pet Nutrition
Founded more than 75 years ago with an unwavering commitment to
pet nutrition, Hills' mission is to help enrich and lengthen the
special relationships between people and their pets. The right
nutrition combined with the devotion of veterinary professionals
can transform the lives of pets; and healthier and happier pets can
transform the lives of pet parents. Hill's is dedicated to
pioneering research and groundbreaking nutrition for dogs and cats
based on a scientific understanding of their specific needs.
HILL'S® Prescription Diet® therapeutic pet foods, HILL'S® Science
Diet® and HILL'S® Ideal Balance™ wellness pet foods are sold
through veterinarians and pet specialty retailers worldwide. For
more information about Hill's, our products and our nutritional
philosophy, visit us at HillsPet.com, HillsVet.com or Facebook,
keywords "Hill’s Pet Nutrition."
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161214005130/en/
Hill’sEdisa Chacin, (785) 368-5946Edisa_Chacin@hillspet.comorVCA
CharitiesAgnes Huff Communications Group, LLCAgnes Huff, PhD, (310)
641-2525ahuff@ahuffgroup.com
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