This Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ post is sponsored by PetSmart® and the BlogPaws™ Pet Influencer Network™. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.
Credit: PetSmart®
We are pet people. Growing up, we always had at least 2 dogs, and often fish. Rumor has it that my dad had horses and a goat and cats, too, when he lived in Michigan with his first wife. While I didn’t get to enjoy all of those animals, if you ask my husband, we’re more than making up for it at our house now.
Chickens. Dog. Cat. Hamsters, bird, fish. Perhaps a bunny soon if my son gets his way.
Most of the people we know have a pet of some sort, and in general, dogs and cats lead the pack (see what I did there?) in numbers. Most kids I know love animals and if they don’t have pets, they want them, or at least want to help them.
Case in point? My Girl Scout troop earned their Bronze Award two years ago making feral cat shelters to distribute. They also collected wet and dry foods for cats (and dogs, too) for donation to the shelter we paired up with. Several kids I know asked for pet food donations in lieu of gifts at parties. We save old towels and blankets to give local shelters for animal care, and if I see a great sale on pet food, especially if I have a coupon? I grab it to donate.
I’m a firm believer in doing for others. That “others” can include humans or animals. It doesn’t have to be a big gesture or a costly one, but I was raised to believe that there’s always a way to help others, and am trying to instill that belief in my kids. From donating worn, torn towels or blankets for use in shelters, to buying packages of food to donate- or even just sharing the message that there are animals in need, there’s a lot of ways we can do things. It’s also something kids can help with- just like my Scouts did.
My reasoning is this- if we ever fall on hard times, someone might donate food that could help us keep OUR beloved pets with us. Someone purchased the food and donated the blankets to the rescue that took our Brownie (and her 7 siblings and both parents) in when they were dumped in the middle of the woods. Brownie and her siblings didn’t ask to be born. They certainly didn’t ask to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere in the deep woods of the south, left to starve or be food for predators. Someone who, like me, believes in doing for others donated in some way to the folks who volunteer for the rescue that took the whole litter in… and as our luck would have it, thanks to that rescue and Facebook photo shares, Brownie came into our lives.
Credit: PetSmart®
Brownie’s story is not, sadly, uncommon. There are a million others just like it, or far worse. So when I hear that brands like PetSmart are taking it upon themselves to run campaigns like the new “Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™” program, I’m happy to share and support it.
Credit: PetSmart®
The program launched earlier this week, where for every bag of dog or cat food purchased online and at all its 1,500-plus stores across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, the leading pet specialty retailer will donate a meal to a pet in need. The program runs March 1-Dec. 31, 2017, and PetSmart expects to donate more than 60 million meals. Read the PetSmart press release here.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PetSmart. The opinions and text are all mine.
aziel morte says
We believe that all animals deserve respect and protection. We believe that humanity at large has lost connection with animals and now only see them as objects, but once people get connected with animals again, especially farm animals, by hugging them and spending time with them in a natural and peaceful environment, they come away happier and a fresh new perspective on life.
Marielle Altenor says
I’m not going to lie; the video had me in tears. I’m glad there are companies such as PetSmart that are looking out for the pets without a home.
Lynndee says
Kudos to PetSmart for creating such an awesome campaign. We are pet people here too and I couldn’t be more delighted about this campaign.
LoveYouWedding says
What a great campaign. I don’t have spent right now,but I will definitely share this with my friends.
Claudia Krusch says
We love PetSmart for having such a great program. It’s great to see a company that cares and helps out their community. They are our go to store!
uprunforlife says
I love this campaign. Too bad that I don’t need any dog food at the moment. I bought two bags in October when they had a 50% off coupon on Petsmarts new line of food. Well with only 1 dog in our house since January, who doesn’t eat very much, I still have almost a full bag left.
Our local food bank also collects dog/cat food and lutter for pets too. They will give it to families who need help feeding their beloved animals too. Giving up animals is hard to do and I wouldn’t want to give up my Yorkie either if I fell on hard times. He is a huge emotional and physical support for me since I have chronic health problems.
Aduke @ Aduke Schulist says
This sounds like a great way to give back. We don’t have a Pet Smart around here, but I bet I can find a way to utilize it from afar.
Ann Bacciaglia says
I love to support companies that give back. This is a great program. Petsmart is my go to place for all my cats needs.
Kelly Hutchinson says
We always had dogs when I was growing up. Because we rent, we just have cats now. I really love Pet Smart for this initiative.
Eloise says
I love that this program exists (buy a bag give a bag) way to go! makes me happy to hear this and to see that good people out there are doing their part to make a difference : ) thanks for sharing!
Debra Schroeder says
Hats off to PetSmart for such a great program. It’s so neat to see a company that cares and helps out their community.
Rebecca Swenor says
Kudos to PetSmart for they “Buy a Bag, Give a Meal” campaign. It is amazing the little things people can do to help others which includes animals. I love the idea of donating the old towels and blankets to the shelters. Thanks for sharing this amazing campaign and thanks for your donations as well.
Nancy @ whispered inspirations says
What an amazing program! I would so adopt more but we currently have 2 dogs and their a handful!
Joely Smith says
This is such a wonderful campaign and thing that they are doing. We visit and purchase from PetSmart often.
Vera Sweeney says
I love this so much! There are so many animals out there that need help, and shelters don’t generally have much funding.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That is such a wonderful program. I love to see a company doing their part to give back like this.
Doria says
What a great program! We used to foster and we try to donate when we can. Such a great initiative!