Veterinary Specialty Center Hosts Fifth Annual Holiday Pet Food Drive for Nina's Pet Food Pantry and Our House of Hope Pet Food Pantry

Veterinary Specialty Center in Buffalo Grove has kicked off their Fifth Annual Holiday Pet Food Drive with a goal to bring in over 4,000 pounds of pet food and supplies for Nina's Pet Food Pantry and Our House of Hope Pet Food Pantry (OHOH). Both pantries provide pet food and supplies to help pet families in need who qualify for their assistance programs.

"A lot of human food is collected for food pantries. Unfortunately, the same people that need food for themselves, are also struggling to feed their four-legged family members," says Dawn Kemper, executive director of Young at Heart Pet Rescue, the organization that oversees Nina's Pet Food Pantry. "Too many families end up having to surrender a pet to a shelter when they hit hard times and just need food. The pet food pantry helps to keep pets out of shelters and families together."

Nina's Pet Food Pantry provides pet food and supplies to the Palatine Township Food Pantry. Because of the donations, Palatine Township is able to provide pet food and supplies for families that qualify for their programs.

"Our goal here at Our House of Hope Rescue and Pet Food Pantry is to be proactive versus reactive," says Lisa Krinninger, President of OHOH. "We try to provide programming and resources to allow pets to stay with their people and to stay out of rescues and shelters altogether. The Pantry's motto is - Keeping pets with their people."

OHOH Pet Food Pantry currently provides for 223 Lake County families in need and services 397 individual animals. In addition, they assist other local rescues and animal control agencies upon request or when in crisis. They distribute on average 1,500 pounds of food per week and 78,000 pounds per year. This does not include the special treats, litter and toys that they try and add in as they become available. Food and supplies are distributed to qualifying families at Central Bark Doggy Day Care at 256 Commerce in Grayslake.

"We see the importance of the human/animal bond every day when families come to our hospital to get their pets treated," said Becky Murray, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Veterinary Technician at Veterinary Specialty Center. "Our employees are passionate about pets and assisting in the community to help rescues and other programs that keep pet families together."

Donations may be dropped off at Veterinary Specialty Center at 1515 Busch Parkway in Buffalo Grove between 6 am and midnight through Monday, January 9th. Canned cat and dog food and small bags of Pedigree dog food and Whiskas or Friskies cat food are most needed, though all unopened pet food is accepted. Treats, toys, gift cards to pet food stores and monetary donations are also accepted.

Last year's drive at Veterinary Specialty Center netted over 3,600 pounds of pet food and helped keep the shelves stocked at Nina's Pet Food Pantry for several months. This is the first year that the drive has included OHOH's Pet Food Pantry as well. Learn more about Veterinary Specialty Center at www.vetspecialty.com, Young at Heart Pet Rescue and Nina's Pantry at www.adoptaseniorpet.com, and Our House of Hope Rescue and the OHOH Pet Food Pantry at www.ourhouseofhoperescue.com.