As John Garcia, Best Friends Animal Society DogTown manager reported, he understands the importance of proper nutrition and was excited that Halo’s donation to the nation’s largest animal sanctuary would help so many pets experience the difference that great nutrition can make.

We agree that the quality of ingredients a pet eats and the quality of its environment are the foundations of excellent health and well-being. Halo uses only the highest quality ingredients and supports a healthy holistic lifestyle by providing natural food and treats, essential supplements, chemical free grooming aids and holistic stain removers.

Click here to learn how to incorporate Halo into your new pet’s life.

It’s a wonderful experience to share your life with a pet and it has great benefits for you, your family and the animal. If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, here’s a great resource to help you get started.

At Halo, we’re big fans of Best Friends Animal Society, and are long-time supporters of their great work. Here are some important tips from their Pet Care Library article, “Choosing the Right Pet for You”.

• What type of animal is the best fit for your home? Will you be able to live with pet hair, a litter box or the occasional wear-and-tear caused by pets?

• If you have children, how will having a pet affect them? Will everyone in your home welcome an animal?

• If you rent, do you have permission from the property owner?

• How much space do you have inside and outside your home? Will you need a fenced yard? If you get a cat, will you want an outdoor enclosure (a cattery) so your kitty can spend time safely outdoors?

• How much time do you have to spend with a pet?

• What is your activity level? Are you sedentary or physically active?

• Do you have the financial resources if your pet has a medical crisis and has high veterinary bills?

• Do you have someone who can be a secondary caregiver if you are away from home? If not, how will you provide care for your pet when you travel?

Click here to read the complete article, “Choosing the Right Pet for You”, in the Best Friends Animal Society Pet Care Library.

If you choose a dog as the pet for you, read Dr. Donna Spectors’ article “Choosing the Right Dog Breed”.

In our current recession many of us need to cut down on our expenses. If you feel you might have to give up your pet or pets to make ends meet, first look into the many national and local resources that may be able to help.

There are several national and local animal welfare organizations that have programs like pet food banks, low-cost veterinary clinics and foster care programs to help people keep their pets.

The Humane Society of the United States has a list of organizations that offer financial aid to people with pets. The list of pet financial aid organizations is listed by nationwide, and some are listed alphabetically by state.

Also Halo, Purely for Pets proudly supports many pet food pantries nationally. Halo has donated thousands of cans of Spot’s Stew to several shelters and rescues, which has been distributed to pet owners in need.

Another great resource is No Paws Left Behind; is a focus driven non profit organization, designed to help pet owners who are facing foreclosure.

You can also contact your local shelters and rescue organizations. Most have lists of local resources for acquiring pet food, pet-friendly housing and low-cost veterinary care.

If you must move out of your home, look for pet-friendly housing. Here are some websites that list pet-friendly apartments and homes for rent, Pets911 and PeopleWithPets.com.

While it is still important to visit your veterinarian yearly for an examination, you can cut out many unnecessary tests and procedures by keeping your pet as healthy as possible throughout the year; read Dr. Donna Spector’s article “Tips on Lowering Veterinary Bills and Pet Expenses“.

Halo is a proud supporter of Best Friends Animal Society; their web site is another great resource for pet owners to find pet-friendly housing and pet financial aid organizations.

Shannon Bahrke, a bronze medalist in this year’s Olympic women’s moguls, is also a champion for animals.

Bahrke, founder of the Silver Bean Coffee Company, brewed up a way to help our furry friends with Best Friends Animal Society, America’s largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned pets.

For every bag of Silver Bean’s Best Friends special blend you buy, Best Friends and the animal on the front of your bag of coffee receives $5.

Bahrke tells NBC that her love of animals is one thing people don’t know about her.

“Whether it’s my own kitty cat or somebody else’s dog or fish in a tank, I just love animals,” Shannon said. “And I really have a soft spot about them. I’m going to be the cat lady, that’s what I tell everyone, I’m going to be the cat lady with like 30 cats because I love them all.”

Halo loves to help Best Friends’ furry friends too. We are longtime supporters, and recently donated 3,599 cases – or 43,188 cans – of Spot’s Stew for its 400-plus dogs.

If you’ve been following the devastating news from Haiti, the photos of bloodied children and adults is heartbreaking. But what about the animals? And what can you do to help in Haiti?

A multi-agency group called Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) is now in Haiti assessing what the animals need. One of ARCH’s members is a Halo friend, the Best Friends Animal Society, America’s largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned pets.

The Utah-based rescue is accepting donations that go directly to help Haiti’s homeless and sick animals. Click here to make a donation.

If you want to go to Haiti and help, Best Friends is lining up volunteers with a history of responding to major disasters and with experience handling small and/or large animals. Click here for more information. If you are interested in volunteering, please email bfvolcoord@bestfriends.org.