Local Businesses Fill Subarus with 3,000 Pounds for Shelter Pets

In a remarkable display of community collaboration, Baltimore's premier dog care provider Best Friends Fur Ever joined forces with Jones Bel Air Subaru and The Mill throughout October for the "Fill a Forester" campaign, benefiting the Humane Society of Harford County. This month-long initiative encouraged donations of pet food, toys, cleaning supplies, and other essential items to support local animals in need, resulting in an extraordinary outcome: two Subaru Foresters completely filled with donations, plus an additional two full pallets—nearly 3,000 pounds—of dog food donated by The Mill. These substantial contributions will help feed and care for shelter animals as well as pets in the community who rely on the Humane Society's Pet Food Pantry, demonstrating the power of local business partnerships in addressing critical community needs.

The campaign's success reflects the deep commitment of all three businesses to animal welfare and community service. Jones Bel Air Subaru, part of the Jones Junction family of dealerships with over 108 years of community presence, leveraged its participation in Subaru Loves Pets—a national program launched in 2016 to promote animal welfare and adoption. Anthony Barkas, General Manager of Jones Bel Air Subaru, emphasized that "supporting animal welfare is part of Subaru's DNA," while Mary Steinebrunner, President of Best Friends Fur Ever, noted how the partnership allowed their commitment to canine care to extend "far beyond our doors and into the hearts of pets and families across Harford County." The Mill, a family-owned business with eight agricultural retail locations across Maryland, demonstrated its longstanding dedication to supporting local communities through quality products and meaningful partnerships.

The impact of this collaboration was powerfully articulated by Amanda Hickman, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Harford County, who described the donations as representing "compassion in action" that ensures "animals in our care, and the families who love them, won't go without." The campaign's overwhelming success—thousands of pounds of food and supplies collected through the collective generosity of customers, staff, and partners—underscores what can be achieved when local businesses unite behind a shared mission. This initiative not only provided immediate relief to animals and pet owners in need but also strengthened the fabric of community support in Harford County, setting a powerful example of corporate social responsibility and collaborative problem-solving.