Because our business depends heavily upon building strong relationships, we believe in being a good citizen and a good neighbor in every community where we operate.

Community outreach is an important component of our marketing programs. We support a wide range of service organizations with staff time, education efforts and donations of products and services.

Pet-related causes are a priority, and in particular, we are active in supporting groups that rescue, shelter and find homes for strays, as well as community efforts to reduce or eliminate euthanasia of homeless pets. Many of our centers host local rescue groups for adoption days; others post photos of homeless pets in their lobbies.

Our holiday Giving Tree program encourages customers to join us in supporting the work of local shelters. During holiday season 2001, Best Friends Pet Resorts across the U.S. collected food, toys and treats for several thousand homeless pets being cared for by more than 50 rescue organizations and shelters in the communities where we operate. For more about events like these that we support, see the Back Issues section of our Between Friends newsletter.

Rescue group volunteers and adopters alike become loyal friends of Best Friends out of gratitude for the role we play in these activities.