Best Friends five Pet Resorts & Salons in New York and New Jersey are helping to feed and house homeless cats and dogs through their service areas.

All five locations are serving as collection centers in the 2003 Statewide Pet Food Drive to help collect food and supplies for dogs and cats in New Jersey shelters.

The Food Drive is an annual event organized by St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center of Madison and North Branch. Beginning in March, the drive continues through May and culminates in distribution of food and supplies to animal welfare organizations at a Shelter Fair during "Be Kind To Animals Week."

Last year, 50 tons of pet food and supplies were accumulated and given to more than 70 animal welfare organizations from across New Jersey, through St. Hubert's Shelter Partnering Program. Items in heavy demand include canned and dry dog and cat food, collars and leashes, treats, toys, kitty litter, and grooming and cleaning supplies.

"Best Friends has always been a strong supporter of shelters and rescue groups," says Dan Charleton, Chief Marketing Officer of Best Friends. "We are happy to be able to support their important work by offering our Pet Resorts as collection points for the food drive. We hope that our participation this year will significantly increase the volume of donations."

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, 127,216 cats and dogs were impounded in New Jersey's animal shelters in 2001.

"If each New Jersey animal lover donated just one can of pet food or a single bag of kitty litter, collectively we can have a huge impact on the welfare of the state's homeless pets," says St. Hubert's President Elizabeth McCorkle. "Many of the shelters and rescue groups tell us this event literally helps them make ends meet."

Founded in 1939, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the humane treatment of companion animals. Its services to the community include pet adoption and animal rescue, animal-assisted therapy, humane education, dog training and pet loss support. St. Hubert's animal shelters in Madison and North Branch, NJ, provide care for approximately 5,000 animals every year.

For more information about St. Hubert's Pet Food Drive, call 973-377-7094 or visit www.sthuberts.org.

To donate, visit Best Friends in North Plainfield, West Berlin, Cinnaminson or Windsor, New Jersey or Chestnut Ridge, New York. For directions, go to the Our Centers page of this website.