Blue Buffalo Kicks Off Annual Home 4 the Holidays Campaign with Food Donation from Coast to Coast
October officially marks the kick-off of the Blue Buffalo Home 4 the Holidays campaign. Now in its 26th year, the program seeks to encourage families to adopt their new four-legged family members from a shelter this holiday season, rather than shop for them at a pet store or breeder. For the seventh year in a row, Blue Buffalo is providing a very special holiday gift to animal rescue organizations and shelters on both coasts of the country by donating more than 50,000 pounds of pet food and treats in San Diego and New York City. At the same time, Naturally Fresh will also provide free pallets of their premium kitten litter to West Coast shelters.
Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center in 1999, the Home 4 the Holidays campaign has helped place more than 21 million pets – in partnership with more than 4,000 participating global rescue groups – into loving homes. Blue Buffalo has supported Helen Woodward Animal Center’s holiday campaign since 2013. Last year, Home 4 the Holidays resulted in nearly 1 million dogs and cats united with loving families. And since 2018 Blue has donated a total of 628,862 pounds of food for the Home 4 the Holidays Food Drop.
The 2024 donation comes during a crucial time in the world of animal welfare. In a concerning trend that began in 2023, pet relinquishment numbers are up and adoption numbers are down. Many animal welfare organizations are struggling with overcrowded shelters, limited funding and hungry mouths to feed, while juggling strained budgets with increased supply costs and medical expenses. Blue Buffalo is delivering several truckloads of food and treats to Helen Woodward Animal Center and the Center’s partner, Paws Crossed Animal Rescue in New York. The much-needed holiday meals will be distributed to pet rescues and shelters within those regions.
“Blue Buffalo’s mission is to love, feed and treat all pets like family,” said Haley Perry, Senior Manager of Brand Experience at Blue Buffalo. “We believe every dog and cat deserves a loving, forever home where they are truly embraced as family. This holiday season, we hope people visit their local rescue centers and consider the love they can give to shelter pets.”
“Blue Buffalo has an incredible heart for pet parenting and animal rescue,” said Helen Woodward Animal Center VP of Development Renee Resko. ”It’s hard to put into words how much we appreciate their support for Home 4 The Holidays and their ongoing efforts to share the beauty of pet adoption with the public. The annual gift of pet food couldn’t come at a better time for shelters-in-need and we’re honored to facilitate this amazing holiday delivery.”
“The Home 4 the Holidays food donation is one of our favorite times of the year,” said Jennifer Angelucci, CEO of Paws Crossed Animal Rescue Inc. ”We are deeply grateful to Blue Buffalo and to Helen Woodward for including us in part of such an incredible network of people who go above and beyond to help rescues and shelters across the country. This year, the need is greater than ever, as our partners along the East Coast eagerly await their food deliveries in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. Not only is this wonderful gift a lifeline for so many, but it is an opportunity to bring rescues together for a common cause!”
Helen Woodward Animal Center wants to continue to encourage rescue organizations to increase their adoption efforts during the holiday season, when more families opt to bring home a new pet. For the sixth year, the Center is offering $25,000 to the rescue organization that develops the most creative Home 4 the Holidays promotion to increase adoptions.
There are many ways to get involved in the Blue Buffalo Home 4 the Holidays campaign including adopting and encouraging friends to adopt and then showing the world your newly adopted best friend by posting a photo on the contest page or sharing on Instagram with #IChoseToRescue and tagging @hwac and @bluebuffalo. For more information about the campaign or to find participating local shelters and rescues groups, go to Animal Center..
For information on Helen Woodward Animal Center, call 858-756-4117, visit Animal Center or stop by at 6461 El Apajo Road, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.