Since it was founded more than 60 years ago, we’ve built Banfield Pet Hospital around ensuring the wellness of pets, communities, our people and the veterinary profession. And while this means we are dedicated to strengthening the veterinary community and ensuring quality medical care and advice for pets and their families, it’s important to remember our mission goes far beyond the walls of our hospitals. Through volunteer programs, charitable giving, educational initiatives and more, Banfield associates at all levels are helping create a better world for pets and people.

When Banfield gives back, pets and communities both benefit. But our company benefits, too. There is a bigger picture, one that shows a clear connection between how we engage our communities and our success as a business. These programs contribute significantly to associate satisfaction and retention—and help build our reputation as a trusted and valuable partner. 

Last month, Banfield was recognized by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the U.S. It’s an honor that emphasizes for me how much drive our associates have to do good in the communities we serve, and how much of a difference our collective efforts can and have made. I am beyond proud of the time and resources every one of our associates has given so selflessly, of the teams that create community programs and coordinate our volunteer efforts, and of the impacts we have had – large and small – across the country.

The Civic 50 recognition is the cherry on top of a remarkable year for Banfield, during which we celebrated the first anniversary of the Banfield Foundation that helped better focus and expand our philanthropic efforts. In 2016, we also launched the Banfield Better Together Fund, established in the aftermath of the Louisiana flooding last summer to give our associates a way to help each other in times of crisis. Halfway through the year, it also comes at an exciting time when we’re seeing our 2017 corporate social responsibility efforts come into full bloom.

As we celebrate this moment, I can’t help but reflect on what got us here – and look ahead with anticipation at what’s to come!

Helping People and Pets Affected by Disaster

I’m inclined to start with the floods that devastated communities across the U.S. last year—and the work Banfield Pet Hospital and the Banfield Foundation did to support people and pets in those communities.

In particular, the Louisiana floods I’ve written about before shaped our community-engagement efforts in a new way. Banfield and the Banfield Foundation mobilized alongside American Humane to help pets impacted by the floods, and our associates stepped up to the challenge right alongside us. Over the course of several months, Banfield associates mobilized and volunteered in Louisiana to help rebuild shelters and ensure pets displaced by flooding were cared for until they could be reunited with their families.

We also felt the effects of the flooding ourselves. One of our Louisiana hospitals was damaged by flooding, but more importantly, several of our Louisiana associates had property damaged by the rising waters – one of them lost their home completely. As a leader, it is inspiring to see our company come together and associates requesting to personally support people they had never met.

This desire to help each other led to the development of the Banfield Better Together Fund, a program that enables our associates to make personal donations used to assist eligible associates impacted by natural disasters. The Banfield Better Together Fund issued its first grants to several Louisiana associates in the aftermath of the flooding to help make putting the pieces back together a little bit easier.

Disaster recovery is a long process, and Banfield associates are headed back to Louisiana later in 2017 to continue offering support to communities still rebuilding after the floods. This year, the Banfield Foundation also increased its annual support for American Humane’s fleet of rescue vehicles, which play a central role in the support we are able to offer people and pets in crisis.

Providing Care to Vulnerable Populations

Reflecting on disaster relief reminds me that crises often occur on a smaller, more personal scale. And the work we do to address these moments of isolated crisis is just as important as our larger disaster-relief mobilizations.

My mind turns to Missy, a three-month-old pit bull puppy that was very sick when her family brought her to our Slidell, Louisiana Banfield hospital this past April. She was diagnosed with parvovirus, a highly contagious, life-threatening illness that had recently taken the life of Missy’s littermate. Parvo requires urgent attention – something Missy’s family knew all too well – but they couldn’t afford treatment. This is a heartbreaking reality for many families with pets in crisis, and it’s why we created HOPE Funds.

Qualifying families can apply for HOPE Funds to help cover the cost of emergency care. Missy was the 500th recipient of a HOPE Funds grant. As a result, I’m relieved to report she received the treatment she needed to combat and recover from the virus – and is thriving today!

Since Missy’s treatment in April, HOPE Funds have been granted to more than 70 families – nearly 150 in 2017 so far and almost 600 total since the program was established.

HOPE Funds are just one of the ways we help people and pets that don’t have access to the care they need. Community clinics, including preventive care at Stand Down events targeted specifically at homeless veterans, and donations of supplies and equipment to shelters across the country, all come together to connect Banfield’s expertise and resources with the people and pets who need them most.

Supporting Veterinarians Now and in the Future

The future of pets like Missy depends on the future of the veterinary industry as a whole, and another important focus of our community efforts is helping ensure the industry’s future is bright. In addition to focusing on that future by donating supplies, equipment and funds to shelters in need—and expanding those efforts even more in 2017—Banfield is also focused on inspiring the next generation of veterinarians through Banfield Pet Academy events.

At these hands-on events, interested children can interact with and learn from Banfield veterinarians, not only about the importance of wellness care for pets but also the veterinary profession. Last year, these programs inspired more than 13,000 people, and this year, we rebranded the program and created new engaging and educational content to reach the next generation of pet owners.

Passionate about Making a Difference

The Civic 50 honor cements in my mind how committed Banfield is to doing good—and how dedicated our associates are to supporting the wellness of pets, communities, our people and the veterinary profession.

As we gear up to celebrate the second anniversary of the Banfield Foundation, prepare for our follow-up visit to Louisiana, look ahead to our dedicated month of volunteer service in October, and plan for 2018, I’m inspired by all our efforts and remain deeply humbled to be surrounded by associates who are so passionate about making a difference.