During these hard times, some people write in asking for help feeding their pets. Some of the stories break our hearts, and we’re busy giving as much as we possibly can to shelters and pantries helping out people and pets.

Recently, Ellen DeGeneres started her own program to help some deserving families down on their luck – Ellen’s Big Stimulus Package. So of course, we wanted to be a part of it. Ellen’s had a number of episodes where she’s given away money and Halo. Here’s one great example with Brandy from Pennsylvania – who has been known to feed her dog Bo rather than feeding herself.

Watch the Ellen Big Stimulus Package video here!

At a magical place in southern Utah live dogs and cats, bunnies and pigs, and an assortment of other animals, all there because they were once thrown out, abused, abandoned, or neglected. This is the sanctuary of Best Friends Animal Society, where, when a lucky animal gains entry, his or her life is forever changed for the good.

On 90 acres of the 33,000-acre property, the largest animal sanctuary of its kind in America, is a kingdom of dogs called DogTown. Here, dogs once chained to pieces of metal outdoors all day and all night, like those of football player Michael Vick who bred and fought pitbulls, find a new life. Halo thinks so highly of the great works of Best Friends that it donated 3,599 cases — or 43,188 cans — of Spot’s Stew for its 400-plus dogs.

“We do receive substantial donations on a regular basis but this one topped the scales a little bit,” says John Garcia, DogTown’s manager and a star on the National Geographic series DogTown that documents the works at this doggie university. “In order to feed over 400 dogs, it has to be quite a bit. It really helped. The dogs really love it too, it’s a good-quality dog food.”

Three dogs who recently arrived at Best Friends were severely malnourished and had a hard time eating. “It was very difficult to find a good quality food that they would actually enjoy,” Garcia says. He ended up combining Spot’s Stew with the dry kibble Best Friends uses. “So far they have put on so much weight,” he says, “it’s unbelievable.”

Halo also donated five cases of Liv-a-Littles treats, which Garcia uses for training. “They’re absolutely phenomenal,” he says. “This past week, three dogs in particular I’ve been working with, I’ve had trouble finding a certain thing they really really love, as soon as I brought them Liv-a-Littles it made my life alot easier. The Liv-a-Littles are motivating everyone at this point. Every dog has loved them so far.”

The treats have also provided some dogs a sense of comfort.

“I was working with a dog the other day who literally had just come into us, and the dog was very scared, and unfortunately because of the environment, they don’t realize we’re there to help them,” Garcia says. “It’s a very scary place– the sights, the sounds, the smells. And with the Liv-a-Littles we are able to go in and do a little treat trail and it helps show the dog we’re here to help them.

“It’s building a relationship with the dog,” he continues. “We take in very difficult cases sometimes, and we want to make sure we have every available treat or motivation for the dog.”

Garcia, who has twice been a guest on The Ellen Show, feeds Spot’s Stew to his own two dogs and one foster pup. Spikey Doo, who is having some health issues, doesn’t have a good appetite. But with Spot’s Stew, “it really helps out alot,” he says, “she just mouths her food down. Having something so good, they want to eat it, it helps them gain weight, it helps them get healthy.”

Puppies have a critical learning period and the most effective socialization is done by 12 to 14 weeks of age. Socialization is pretty simple - it only requires that you spend time with your puppy in various situations and expose them to new things, noises, and people during this time. It certainly takes time and patience on your part, but any dog, young or old, can do it! With socialization, you reduce the risk of dog bites and make your dog a happier and less anxious dog in every day situations.

Click here to get tips and ideas about puppy socialization.

In northwest New Jersey, volunteers from the Pet Adoption League open their homes to abandoned dogs and cats they’ve saved from overcrowded shelters, fostering them until a forever home is found. They work closely with 11th Hour Rescue, an all-volunteer group that swoops in to save dogs and cats about to be killed because their shelters just can’t handle all the animals needing a home.

Earlier this year, Halo donated 192 cases of Spot’s Stew to the Pet Adoption League, which they shared with 11th Hour Rescue. “Right now they are overrun with dogs,” says the Pet Adoption League’s Deb Severud, noting PAL has five dogs in their network of foster homes, far fewer than 11th Hour Rescue’s scores.”They are thrilled, and we are absolutely thrilled.”

Both rescues keep the animals they save in a network of foster homes until they are adopted, and provide any needed medical care. On the website of 11th Hour Rescue, their philosophy is poignantly described:

“Approximately 7 million pets will die this year in shelters across the US. Some die humanely with lethal injection, some will be thrown into a gas chamber and die a slow, frightening death, some will be shot, or beaten. They will die with a feeling of abandonment, lonesomeness, and fear. Yet, these dogs are real, they are living, breathing beings that crave love, companionship, and trust, while offering the same in return. They do feel pain, hunger and sadness and we do what we do because we want to make a difference. If we can bring comfort to just one, we will. If we can save just one life, we will. The stories we read and each dog’s story is heart-wrenching, the numbers of those we can’t help are overwhelming, and every day we are haunted by the faces of those we can’t save.”

And at least for awhile, many of 11th Hour’s and PAL’s dogs will have Halo holistic food to feast on. “I had never seen it before, and when I opened up a can, I couldn’t believe it,” says Severud. “I said to my husband, ‘You could pour it over rice and have dinner!’ The food has been a huge blessing, one thing we didn’t have to worry about.”

Q: I have a 12 year old poodle who weighs 22 pounds and is diabetic. He gets 16 units of insulin 2x daily. He is on science diet W/D and does not eat it well. What food would you recommend?

A: The picky appetite you are experiencing with your Poodle is not uncommon on some of the diabetic dog food diets. The best diet for a diabetic dog IS indeed a high fiber diet as the fiber helps to best control the fluctuations of their blood sugar levels.

Most commercially available high fiber diets contain high levels of a fiber that is called “insoluble” fiber (e.g. lignins and cellulose). We actually find better palatability and better blood sugar control when more “soluble” fiber sources (e.g. gums and pectins) are the main source of fiber in the food.

Most regular adult dog foods only have about 2-3% fiber in them so my recommendations would be to select a high quality natural pet food (not too high in fat!) and then add soluble fiber to that diet. Good natural sources of soluble fiber include psyllium husk and canned pumpkin. The goal for best blood sugar control is a diet with approximately 8% fiber (combination of insoluble and soluble fiber).

Ask your veterinarian for advice on what natural dog food might be best for your dog–and then you can work on adjusting the fiber from there!

Good Luck!
Dr. Donna Spector