Furry friends in the area waiting to find their forever home will now be able to lounge in style and comfort thanks to the Nestle Purina facility in Bloomfield.
Twenty employees from Purina rallied together to construct, paint and deliver dog houses and blankets in celebration of PetCare Pride Day.
The Poplar Bluff Animal Control and Shelter was one of four area pet rescue organizations to receive two dog houses and blankets. The items were delivered May 22.
"We are passionate about pets and ensuring they are receiving high-quality nutrition and care," Bloomfield Purina Buying Associate Ray Mason said. "Pets contribute to our families in many ways and we want the best for them and the people who care for them."
The paint design ideas for the dog houses came from teams of employees by incorporating support for rescue animals and Purina's heart for pets.
Purina is passionate about getting involved in the communities where its employees work and live, Human Resources Manager Leah Tartabini said.
In addition to donating dog houses and blankets, the Bloomfield Purina Facility supports many area pet rescue organizations in the region with pet food and litter as well as the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department K9 Unit with pet food.
The facility also donated $15,000 to support the opening of the dog park in Poplar Bluff, which help provide benches, agility equipment and dog treats during the grand opening.
"Our employees are very generous when it comes to supporting the community," Tartabini said. "We held a pet food drive last year and employees donated over 2,400 pounds of pet food, which was given to local shelters."
The Purina facility in Bloomfield employes 340 people from all over the region.
"At Purina, our passion for pets is at the heart of everything we do, from the way we make cat litter at our facility in Bloomfield to how we support our community," Bloomfield Purina Plant Manager Jeff Goodmanson said. "Our employees enjoy the opportunity to get involved in communities where we live and work, and we're glad to be able to provide four pet rescue organizations across Southeast Missouri with new dog houses and blankets to support their rescue efforts."
The annual PetCare Pride Day is dedicated to helping people and pets in the communities where Purina has a presence. The event was celebrated at Purina locations across the U.S.