We have all heard of the famous Banfield, The Pet Hospital, right? Well I bet you haven’t heard about Banfield’s Season Of Suppers®,. “A Pet Food Drive For Pets In Need,” it aims to help more seniors and their pets fight hunger.

For a third year, Banfield hospitals across the nation have teamed up with the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) for a national pet food drive. They are collecting pet food at their locations and donating it to their local MOWAA program to feed pets of senior citizens who receive meals.

Banfield, The Pet Hospital is a private veterinary practice with hospitals located in many communities across the country. Central to their mission is a commitment to providing quality, loving and wise care to pets and their owners.

From a Banfield press release, “We know that many seniors in our community are compromising their own nutrition by sharing their meals with their pets,” says Phil Shippers, director of the Visiting Nurse Meals On Wheels program of Rochester, N.Y.

“Awareness and action are key to preventing this from happening” says Shippers, who began a pet feeding program in September through partial funding from a $1,000 grant from the Season of Suppers campaign. “In the short period of time since we started a pet feeding program, we have seen great interest and support from not only our meal recipients but the greater community as well; we strongly believe this support will continue to grow and help us enhance the lives of seniors.”

Last year, Banfield’s Season of Suppers campaign raised more than $51,000 to help 50 senior meal programs start or augment pet feeding programs across the country, according to the press release.

“Since the first Season of Suppers campaign over 100 Meals On Wheels programs have started pet feeding programs, “says Enid Borden, President and CEO of MOWAA. “While companion pets are the direct beneficiaries of this campaign, homebound seniors are helped as well – and that’s MOWAA’s primary concern. Before the Season of Suppers campaign, many of these seniors lacked access to pet food and were sharing their own meals with their pets. Now, both seniors and their pets are getting proper nutrition. It’s a win-win.”

With Thanksgiving and Christmas rapidly approaching, this is the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit of giving, and help out some needy pets and people. Go to your local Banfield from now until December 31 to make your monetary or pet food donation to Season of Suppers. You can find your local Banfield here: http://www.banfield.net/hospital-locator.

This week, May 4-10 is the American Humane Association’s Be Kind to Animals Week! The group created this celebratory week in 1915 to celebrate the unique bond between humans and animals.

Though we all love our fur-babies, there are some special things we can do this week to work towards a better future for all animals, everywhere.

So how can you be kind to animals this week? The AHA recommends the following:

Speak out for animals. Get active in local animal welfare policies and legislation.

Report animal abuse. While acts of violence against animals are tragic in their own right, they are also a red flag for other violent behavior, including domestic abuse and violent crime.

Appreciate wildlife. Create an inviting space in your yard or garden for butterflies and birds. Feed the local birds, ducks, bunnies, deer, etc. (Some people might disagree with this one, but oh well. This is my feeling on the subject of starving wild animals).

Make a donation to a local animal shelter. A donation can be monetary, but you can also volunteer or offer up some other service in-kind like contributing to the shelter’s marketing efforts, etc.

Adopt a pet from a shelter or a breed-specific rescue. Approximately 8 to 12 million animals enter our nation’s shelters every year, and more than half of these pets will have to be euthanized because of a lack of homes. Local shelters are the best place to find companion animals, even purebreds — 1 of every 4 dogs in a shelter is a purebred.

Educate others. Share information about animal welfare issues with friends, family and co-workers. Research an issue close to heart, i.e. puppy mills, factory farming, breed-specific legislation, and do something about it! Write letters, call legislators, and get involved with animal welfare advocacy groups!

Spay and neuter. Help solve the problem of euthanasia of adoptable animals by not contributing to it. Make sure your cats and dogs are spayed and neutered.

Everyone gather your orange gear together for ASPCA Day today!  The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals encourages everyone to wear its signature color, orange, to celebrate its 142nd anniversary.

From the ASPCA Groups website:

On Thursday, April 10, cities all over the country will be going orange to celebrate the ASPCA’s victories on behalf of animals and the joy they bring to pet parents everywhere. Lend us your voice on April 10 by dressing yourself, your kids, your pet–even your school or company!–in ASPCA orange, and show the world you support the ASPCA and the pets we protect.”

For other ideas on how to go orange today, visit the ASPCA website. Also, if you order ASPCA gear from the online store today you get 10% off!