Free Food from Vet

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Hey all,

When I took the dogs to the vet today Hill's was doing a promotion (secretly this really irritates me- but I put on my big girl pants and smiled the whole time), anyways, I walked out of there with free bags of food and treats and magnets and pencils.... Blahblah blah. Anyways I will not be feeding the boys the food or treats and was thinking of donating it to a local shelter but I feel bad. I feel like if I donate it I'm basically saying "well it's not good enough for me but maybe you would like it" idk if that's weird but I can't help but feelinglike the animals looking for homes should have great food too. I donate some bags of Fromm to the shelter if my pet store has sales or something or if I have extra money for the month and they seem so happy to receive anything at all and I have no doubt they would be greatful. I guess I would just feel horrible contributing at all to Hill's and all they stand for. What would you guys do?

Thanks all!

Jess, Loki, and Moose

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Donate it. The shelters will be more than grateful, they desperately need it. 

Here's the way to look at it. The shelters are never going to be feeding Fromm or other premium foods on any kind of regular basis, they can't afford it. Which is worse, for the shelter dog to eat Science Diet or Beneful or Dog Chow  all the time and not know any better, or to get a tiny little taste of Fromm and then have to go back to eating Science Diet? I actually feel bad about donating the good stuff for that reason, lol. There's also no guarantee that they're going to get anything better in their new homes, because most shelters don't usually screen adopters like private rescues do. Not that the rescues can force anyone to feed a certain food anyway, and honestly, I'd rather see a dog in a loving home eating Pedigree than a dog in a neglectful home (or a shelter) eating Orijen. :)

As to contributing to Hill's, you didn't buy the food, so you're not putting any money in their pockets. 

Donate it. It's a good thing to do. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Excellent reply!

[John M]

I agree donate it. Any money saved there can be put to maybe keeping a homeless pet alive one extra day, could make all the difference.

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

I hear you and i have felt the same guilt but on the other side of that is what your donation can do.  A pup that is hungry and because of your donation will have a full tummy until adopted.  To me that was better than a hungry pup who is also lost and alone without a home.   We have donated Origen and Fromm but we have also donated 'non-doodle approved' food that has come our way.

I hope that is somewhat helpful.  What would you do with that food if you don't give it to a shelter?  In the end you have to do what you feel is best from you perspective.   It truly is a dilemma.

[Tracey & Spike]

I'm glad you brought this up. I too share your feelings. But as others have said "something is better than nothing". The more donations of any kind the shelters can get the more lives they are able to save.

[Amy and Annabelle]

My husband came home with a big bag of Costco puppy food one day. He was so proud of himself. He bought dog food, he's the man. Anyway I wasn't going to feed my puppy that crap and it was too far to drive to return it, so I donated it to the county shelter. Some lucky pit bull no doubt will be eating it if yours is anything like the shelter in my county. I figure it is still better than Alpo or Gravy Train.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Hahaha this made me laugh a lot!