JACKSON, LOUISIANA, March 21, 2018 — American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, and Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food delivered tons of love (three and a half to be exact) in the form of nutritious free food and special dog treats to the animals at the Pen Pals Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Jackson, Louisiana. The donation is part of an ambitious national campaign called “Fill-a-Bowl … Feed-a-Soul™” to help care for shelter pets in need. In this case, the food will help not only abandoned pets, but America’s brave vets coping with the invisible wounds of war such as Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury, since the Pen Pals shelter program, which is located at Dixon Correctional Institute, is a critical partner in American Humane’s “Shelter to Service” program, which rescues abandoned shelter animals and trains them to become lifesaving service dogs for veterans.
The Pen Pals program has become a key link as shelter dogs move towards their new life of service. Once appropriate dogs are identified in Louisiana shelters, they are transported to the correction center where they are brought back to health, cared for, and pre-trained by the inmates under the direction of an American Humane professional trainer using the country’s first recently developed national standards. After final training, the result is highly prepared service dogs normally costing up to $30,000 who can now be supplied to veterans in need at no cost.
“By providing this high-quality food, we help bring these dogs back to health while we prepare them to help our veterans,” says American Humane veterinarian Dr. Lesa Staubus. “In addition to the premium quality food, which will provide thousands of meals to animals in need, the dog treats are an important tool for our ‘Shelter to Service’ program, as all training is done with positive reinforcement training.”
Together, American Humane and Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food are distributing more than a million meals of premium, all-natural Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food annually to U.S. shelters. The campaign has benefited the animal victims of flood-devastated Louisiana in 2016, as well as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017. American Humane now works with Chicken Soup for the Soul to identify shelters where a donation of food can do the most good.
“We are so grateful to American Humane and Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food for this generous donation,” said Shane Winans of the Pen Pals Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. “This donated pet food will help many pets…and our nation’s vets.”
“This campaign helps animals when they need help most,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “On behalf of all the beloved pets across the country, a big thank-you to our friends at Chicken Soup for the Soul!”
The “Fill-a-Bowl … Feed-a-Soul” campaign is the latest collaboration between American Humane and Chicken Soup for the Soul, which have worked on several projects together, including the publication of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dog Really Did That? and Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cat Really Did That? earlier this year, with forewords authored by Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane.
Chicken Soup for the Soul’s publisher and editor-in-chief Amy Newmark said, “We’re pleased that we can provide assistance to animals in need and we are glad to be working with American Humane on this vital campaign.”
About American Humane
American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization. To learn more, please visit www.americanhumane.org.
About Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food
Chicken Soup for the Soul understands the unique relationship between people and pets. Health conscious consumers have been feeding their cats and dogs Chicken Soup for the Soul wholesome and balanced, super premium pet food for over 15 years. Holistic in nature, the entire line of products is made from only the finest ingredients: real meats (chicken, turkey, duck and salmon), fruits, vegetables and herbs. With no added corn, wheat, soy, artificial coloring, flavoring or preservatives, Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food is inspired by your love for pets, and promotes overall health and well-being for dogs and cats. The products are proudly made in the USA, and feature rescued shelter pets on every bag. Core and grain-free formulas and a line of treats are available in independent pet specialty stores nationwide and online.
A portion of all proceeds from the sale of Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food goes to help shelters and pets in need through Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Fill-a-Bowl … Feed-a-Soul™ program. The program which was launched in association with the American Humane aims to provide a million meals to shelter pets annually. www.chickensouppets.com.
