For some seniors, getting around easily is not an option. Often, their best friend and only companion is a loving dog or cat. The Season of Suppers campaign, now in its third year, calls attention to the importance of Pets to the well-being of homebound seniors. Helping keep these companion Pets well fed, healthy and part of the family for as long as possible became the motivating factor behind the partnership among Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the Banfield Charitable Trust (BCT) and Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA).

Phil Shippers, director of the Visiting Nurse Meals On Wheels program of Rochester, N.Y., knows the importance of getting the message out that homebound seniors with Pets are a vulnerable population.

“We know that many seniors in our community are compromising their own nutrition by sharing their meals with their Pets,” says Shippers.

“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.”

Making a significant impact for seniors and their Pets
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.

“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.”

Banfield’s 2008 Season of Suppers campaign takes place throughout Banfield’s more than 730 Pet hospitals across the country, beginning Nov. 1, 2008, and continues through the end of the year. Supporters can drop off Pet food or make monetary donations at any local Banfield.

NEW this year—2008 Season of Suppers Pet-themed note cards
In addition to donating Pet food and monetary contributions at local Banfield hospitals, supporters can participate in the campaign by purchasing full-color, Pet-themed note cards. A packet of eight cards will be sold for $10 and all of the proceeds from the note card sales, as well as monetary donations throughout the campaign, will be used to improve the lives of MOWAA recipients and their Pets.

Supporters may also purchase cards by contacting the Banfield Charitable Trust at (503) 922-5801 or writing to info@banfieldcharitabletrust.org

How the story began
After realizing that, like their owners, the Pets of many MOWAA recipients were in need of nutritious food, MOWAA launched We All Love Our Pets (WALOP). This initiative enables local Meals On Wheels programs to begin or sustain Pet food programs to nourish the Pets of seniors.

The Banfield–MOWAA partnership is the first initiative of its kind on a national level—it aims to feed all Pets of MOWAA recipients.

“We are truly honored to help support MOWAA’s WALOP program through the collaboration of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the Banfield Charitable Trust and MOWAA and our Season of Suppers campaign,” says Sandra Campbell, President, Banfield Charitable Trust. “The success of this campaign continues to grow each year.”

About Banfield, The Pet Hospital®
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield has become the largest Pet general veterinary practice in the world, with more than 730 quality hospitals in many neighborhoods across the U.S., in the U.K. and in Mexico. More than 1,500 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving Pets the same level of care that their human family members receive. Banfield hospitals offer a full-range of comprehensive, medical services, computerized medical records, Pet preventive care plans, extended operating hours, and is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the lives of millions of Pets each year.

Go to your local Banfield from now until December 31 to make your donation! Find your local Banfield here.

Copyright © 2008. Courtesy of Edelman Digital for Banfield®, The Pet Hospital.