Caring for Pets That Need It Most

Brought to you by PrideVMC Gold Partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Written by Joann Fuller (she, her, hers), Brand Engagement Manager

As we head into the season of giving thanks and giving back to others, it’s important to remember that hunger, homelessness and loneliness aren’t just human conditions.  There are thousands of pets in shelters across the country who are waiting to find the love and care they deserve.

At Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Hill’s), we are for ALL pets, no matter how they come into people’s lives, but we have a very special place in our hearts for pets that need a second chance to find love.  That’s why we created Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program in 2002, which is now one of the largest always-on shelter pet feeding programs in North America, providing continuous nutritional support to more than 800 shelters today.

As we look forward to celebrating the 20th anniversary of our shelter program next year, we’re grateful for the partnerships we share with hundreds of shelters and rescues. Working together we have…

So, why would a company like Hill’s be so heavily invested in helping pets in shelters?  It all comes back to our mission – to enrich and lengthen the special relationship between people in their pets.

Hill’s is a company centered around the belief that nutrition has the power to transform pets’ lives. The Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program enables us to put that belief into action every single day. In the case of shelter pets, we believe that Hill’s science-led nutrition, coupled with the love and care of animal welfare professionals, can help give shelter pets the best chance to be healthy, happy and ready to find their forever homes.

And proper nutrition doesn’t just positively impact pets while they are in the shelter or in foster care.  Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program also provides a free small sample bag of Science Diet to go home with every dog and cat adopted through one of our shelter partners.  This may not only ease the pet’s transition into their new home by keeping their food consistent, but continuing to feed Hill’s science-led nutrition creates differences pet parents can see, feel and trust.

I’m happy to share that Hill’s dedication to supporting pets in need continues to expand; moving beyond our evergreen Food, Shelter & Love program to other partnerships that help broaden our reach.  These include:

Hill’s Disaster Relief Network was created in 2013 as an extension of the Food, Shelter & Love program with a mission to provide free nutritional support to organizations caring for pets following disasters.

Today, Hill’s Disaster Relief Network not only works with shelters, but a growing number of veterinary clinics, governmental organizations and large nonprofits caring for pets impacted by disaster. The free nutritional support we provide enables these responding organizations to focus on the medical needs of  pets, reuniting them with their families or rehoming them, without bearing the full cost to feed all of those hungry bellies.

The strength of our partnerships across the country has enabled Hill’s Disaster Relief Network to donate more than two million pounds of nutritional support in response to more than 120 disasters since 2013.  You can find out more about the Network here.

Hill’s is also extending support for shelter pet adoption through our national sponsorship of NBCUniversal Local’s annual pet adoption campaign, Clear The Shelters. Now in its seventh year, Clear The Shelters has become one of the nation’s largest pet adoption campaigns, helping almost 700,000 shelter pets find new homes since 2015.

This year, Hill’s proudly returned as a four-time national sponsor, partnering with NBC and Telemundo local stations,  Greater Good Charities and more than 1,200 shelters across the US, to find homes for more than 142,000 pets in the months of August and September.

Early autumn becomes one of the most exciting times of the year for the Hill’s family, as we join hands across the country to support Clear The Shelters and shine a spotlight on pet adoption. This year, we activated the campaign with our own shelters, eComm partners,  thousands of pet retailers, and more than 6,000 veterinary clinics with two primary goals:

Find homes for as many adoptable pets as possible

Ensure sure pet parents know that when they purchase Hill’s products, they are helping support thousands of shelter pets year round

As you ease into the season of thankfulness and giving this year, we invite you to join us in supporting the furry friends who bring so much joy to our lives. Consider opening your heart and home to a shelter pet. And, if you just can’t make space for another pet right now, consider a financial donation or the gift of your time in volunteering at a local shelter.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of millions of pets across the country and that’s not just a message for the holiday season, but something we can celebrate all year long!