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.”

In a poll of 10,000 moms in honor of Mother’s Day, AOL’s parentdish.com found that Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi were the celebrities with whom they’d feel most comfortable leaving their kids. They received 31% of the vote. Jennifer Aniston was next at 22%.

Actress Jennifer Garner (left) was named the best celebrity mom, followed by Reese Witherspoon and Michelle Obama who tied for second.

Anyone who watches Ellen can easily come up with a long list of reasons why Ellen and Portia would be honored with this ultimate trust from moms everywhere.

But I can’t help but think their love for animals — the tireless work Ellen and Portia do to defend those without a voice, and the exemplary care they give their own pets — is part of why they are so trusted. Think of it the other way too — if you saw someone being mean or careless with animals, would you trust them?

Did you see this cute video of one of Ellen DeGeneres’ producers playing with his Portuguese water dog with Halo Liv-a-Littles treats?

The dog goes bonkers, and Ellen said she’d send some Halo to the White House for the Obamas’ Portuguese water dog Bo.

I wonder if Ellen was able to get Halo through security? If so, I hope Bo enjoyed!

Click here to see video from the show.

Ellen DeGeneres recently had Best Friends Animals Society’s John Garcia — a star of National Geographic’s DogTown — on her show.

Garcia, a dog trainer, brought along one of the rescued animals he has worked with at Best Friends, a dog named Aristotle.

Poor Aristotle’s prior owner treated the pooch’s mange with a chemical that scarred him very badly and left him almost bald. But the care at Best Friends enabled Aristotle’s fur to grow back and his personality to shine.

Click here to see the segment.

“It’s amazing, you have fur everywhere,” says Ellen as she leans in to Aristotle, sitting on Garcia’s lap.

“You need a Liv-a-Little, that’s my pet food company, do you like it?” she says as she leans in to Aristotle and give him a treat, which of course he quickly gobbled.

Halo recently donated $130,000 worth (retail) of canned natural dog food and cat food to Best Friends, a sanctuary that is a refuge for up to 1,700 homeless dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other orphan animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups all over the country.