Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Giving Day, Tuesday Dec. 3, the Suffolk Animal Hospital donated 1,055 pounds of food to the Suffolk Humane Society, for their annual pet food drive. This year was their largest haul, hospital office manager Alison Coffey said, compared to their usual donation of 700 and 900 pounds of food. 

Every November, the hospital encourages their customers to purchase a six pound bag of their pet food to donate in exchange for a free dose of flea and tick prevention. 

“It’s something that our whole team looks forward to every year,” Coffey said. “We really love doing it, and it’s something that the clients enjoy. They enjoy helping out and giving to the pets.”

Coffey emphasized this is a win for everybody, because not only does the Humane Society benefit, but clients save money on preventative treatment as well. With a bag of food costing between $15 and $35, Coffey said clients can save between $5 and $15 on their prevention treatment.

Megan Armbuster, Humane Society office manager, the food drive benefits them “tremendously” every year, and the donations this year will last them at least six months.

“We’re so grateful for all the members of the community, for Suffolk Animal Hospital for everything that they do for us,” she said. “We could not reach our mission without them.”

Karen Barber, one of the hospital’s vet technicians, mentioned the quality of the donated food and how it’s important the Humane Society has high end food to satisfy the needs of the animals at the Humane Society. 

“We love supporting the Humane Society,” Coffey said. “It’s kind of on a personal level, we all really love to help give back.”