When Velma of Richland, New York found some starving kittens in her backyard, she nursed them back to health. After finding good homes for all, she decided to keep this one — and you can certainly see why! So did Ellen, crowning Velma the winner of Halo’s Dog Days of Summer Pet Photo Contest for August 27.

Send Ellen your funny pet photos by clicking here for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for Halo products. Each week there is one lucky winner.

I am the official spokesperson for PETCO, and have established myself as a foremost pet wellness advocate in the United States. My encyclopedic books The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible cover everything from medical issues to training, nutrition and problem solving. I also have a “mini-empire” of weekly live radio programs.

Summer traveling with your pets can be overwhelming, but I have some great ideas that will make it as smooth as possible- and introduces you to a 4-legged friend looking for a new home!

Whenever I travel around the country, people want to know what I feed my own dogs. I feel wonderful telling them that of all the kibble out there, I have chosen HALO. If they are interested in why, I tell them because of the integrity of the company – both in the ingredients they choose to put into their foods, but also in their dedication to the less-fortunate dogs and cats and all the wonderful work they do supporting local and national rescues and shelters.

Plus, there’s that marvelous Ellen DeGeneres who owns part of the company and is so darned adorable and funny when she goes on QVC with Halo that it just makes me want to buy more!

Watch this video clip from CBS KOIN:

Tracie Hotchner, author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible, guest blogs here every Thursday on healthy, natural choices for pets.

Kim from DeBary, Fl. sent Ellen the cutest picture of her dog, Bodie, relaxing poolside. Yes, this is indeed a dog day of summer! The terrific shot won Kim Halo’s Dog Days of Summer Pet Photo Contest for August 6.

Send Ellen your funny pet photos by clicking here for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for Halo products. Each week there is one lucky winner.

For the 2,000 homeless cats and dogs at Los Angeles Animal Services, Halo’s 10,000 meal donation of Spot’s Stew dry and canned food was the cat’s meow.

“The Halo donation is extra special to us,” says Linda Barth, assistant general manager of the city’s six shelters. “Wonderful for us.”

Receiving such a large donation — eaten by cats and dogs, kittens and puppies at two of the shelters — enabled the animals to eat one kind of food for an extended period of time, helping their bellies get used to a new food. “Animals are already under stress in an animal care center and already have digestive issues,” says Barth.

“It is great to be associated with this kind of product and Ellen DeGeneres,” Barth continues. “It is a boost that our organization is something that Halo wants to help, and is providing a natural food.”

The strays who enter the shelter following abuse particularly benefit from a food like Halo. “We would have used this food for animals who need to get healthy,” says Barth, “animals in trouble due to neglect.”

The donation was in partnership with Warner Brothers and L.A. station KNBC.

Barth and her veterinary medical and animal tech staff were so impressed with Halo’s top quality, they are now recommending it to people adopting pets.

I can’t wait to tune in tonight at 9 PM ET to watch Halo co-owner Ellen DeGeneres talk about Halo’s complete line of natural pet care products. I hope you’ll join me!

Visit www.halopets.com/qvc for more, and for your local listings.