In observance of National Pet Month, which celebrates our furry friends throughout May, AAA Central Penn branches are collecting pet supply donations for local animal shelters and hosting three hands-on volunteer events.
The entire month of May, all AAA Central Penn branches are collecting top-needed pet supplies including: dog chews and chew toys; kitten milk replacer; kitten food (canned and dry); cat litter; and cat treats. Other items needed include paper towels and kitchen drawstring trash bags. Specific items are listed on AAA’s website. Community members who donate will receive a thank you gift from AAA Pet Insurance.
AAA Central Penn also invites the community to join AAA Cares employee volunteers to lend local animal shelters a hand. Volunteer events are planned at three local shelters:
- Huntingdon County Humane Society on Thurs., May 21 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Join the AAA Cares Team to clean kennels and care for fur-babies in need of a forever home. Lunch is provided.
- Perry County Animal Rescue on Wed., May 27 from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm – Join the AAA Cares Team to clean kennels, care for fur-babies, and work on repair and paint projects that need completed.
- Pet Pantry, Lancaster on Sat., May 30 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Join the AAA Cares team for Doggy Day Out! Help take dogs out for an excursion to a nearby park, giving them exercise, enrichment and a break from the shelter environment. Volunteers are asked to help transport the dogs back and forth from the park. Staff will be there to support and guide the group.
More information on these volunteer events is available on AAA Central Penn’s website. To register, email AAACares@aaacp.com. All volunteers are eligible to receive a free AAA Cares T‑shirt as a thank you for giving back.
According to a review of pet ownership statistics on Forbes.com, pet ownership in the U.S. has jumped significantly over the past three decades. As of 2024, 66% of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet, up from 56% in 1988. Pet owners who adopt from shelters were also nearly equal to the percentage who got their pets from a store with 38% of dog owners and 40% of cat owners getting their pets from an animal shelter or rescue, while 42% of dog owners and 43% of cat owners got their pets from a store.
