Tractor Supply Company Supports the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter #TractorSupply

Tractor Supply Company

This post is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Tractor Supply Company but Life with Dogs and Cats only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Tractor Supply Company is not responsible for the content of this article.

 

Tractor Supply Company is not just for farmers

I think the first I heard about Tractor Supply Company® was from another blogger who raved about the store as a great place for pet parents.

Pets need tractors? Or tractor supplies? I envisioned one of my dogs sitting pretty in the seat of a John Deere. I don’t think so.

When I found out that a TSC store was opening only fifteen minutes away, I was intrigued enough to stop by — and I was quite impressed. They had a huge pet supply section. Plus a very large selection of bird feeders and seed (we have over a dozen feeders, so this is a Very Big Deal.) And, as expected, there are supplies for more farm-related needs, like work gloves, bunny hutches, horse stuff, and things I have no idea what they’re for. (My farmer grandparents would not be impressed that I was so ignorant.)

Tractor Supply Company

On a beautiful late fall day, I visited my local Tractor Supply Company.

Tractor Supply Company stores are located in communities that are just on the edge of suburban and rural — which is exactly where I live. They’re kind of like a cross between a Home Depot (only smaller and friendlier), an Agway (although with a lot more products), a pet store (with a more rural-based product line and clientele) a garden center (with the tools you need to keep your green thumb — and your yard — green) and a sporting goods store (offering cold-weather clothes without the judgement that you should be working out right now!)

Tractor Supply Company clinic sign

I did not know that Tractor Supply Company offers low-cost clinics in their stores. Check out the clinic schedule for the store nearest you.

A Chance to Help Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

So when TSC asked me if I’d visit a store to purchase items with the express purpose of giving them to a local animal shelter, I was thrilled. I’ve worked with (and donated to) the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter before, and I’m a big fan of their work. Best part? Tractor Supply gave me a $100 gift card to spend on behalf of the shelter.

I reached out to the folks at Somerset Regional, and their companion volunteer organization Friends of Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, or FOSRAS, and asked them what they needed that I could get from Tractor Supply Company.

Turns out, the shelter had an adoption event planned at the nearby Tractor Supply Company store. “We love Tractor Supply and have already done two adoption events with them,” said Nancy Gedbow, shelter manager.

Tractor Supply Company adoption sign

Tractor Supply Company stores often host pet adoption events like the one I attended.

That’s how I found myself at our local Tractor Supply store with a $100 gift card and the desire to help on a recent Sunday morning.

Adoption Day at TSC

First I introduced myself to the staff member Vicki Kuntz and volunteer Dorothy Lynn, who were helping out at the adoption event, and they introduced me to the sweet kitties who were looking for forever homes.

Some of the literature at the adoption event

Somerset Regional Animal Shelter calls itself the “the little shelter with a big heart,” because of all the good work they do in community. While I was there, nobody adopted a cat, but many donated money to support the FOSRAS.

Dorothy told me that the shelter had recently “run out of cats” — which is a wonderful thing indeed. When that happens, Somerset Regional Animal Shelter reaches out to other New Jersey shelters and takes some of their animals, with the hope that new circumstances might help them get adopted sooner.

Vicki Kuntz of the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter cuddles Pinnacle, one of the adoptable (and very sweet) cats at the adoption event at Tractor Supply Company.

Vicki Kuntz of the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter cuddles Pinnacle, one of the adoptable (and very sweet) cats at the adoption event at Tractor Supply Company.

Recently, another shelter had run into a hoarding situation and couldn’t rescue the hoarded cats unless they had room: SRAS took 21 cats, which enabled the shelter to rescue the hoarded cats.

Pinnacle looks so much like Calvin -- and he was so sweet. I could have taken him home in a heartbeat.

Pinnacle looks so much like Calvin — and he was so sweet. I could have taken him home in a heartbeat. Look at that splotch on his nose!

Starsky and Hutch, two of the cats available at the adoption event at Tractor Supply Company store

Starsky and Hutch, two of the cats available at the adoption event at Tractor Supply Company store. The black kitty is Starsky.

 

White cat Hutch, at the Tractor Supply Company adoption event for Somerset Regional Animal Shelter.

Look at those beautiful eyes on Hutch! If you look carefully, you’ll see a tiny smudge of grey on his face. If I brought him home, I would have named him Smudge and loved him to pieces. Of course I’d have had to adopt Starsky, too, because they’re bonded. Which is one of the reasons I didn’t. But I would have.

White cat Hutch, at the Tractor Supply Company adoption event for Somerset Regional Animal Shelter.

Oceangate, a beautiful tortie was looking for someone to appreciate her gorgeous colors.

I had to drag myself away from the cats and actually spend the gift card, so, armed with a list of “most-wanted” items for the shelter, I went shopping.

Tractor Supply has a huge pet section, with many of the name brands I know and trust.

Tractor Supply has a huge dog food section, with many of the name brands I know and trust.

Their cat food section is also filled with great brands.

Their cat food section is also filled with great brands.

It's not just food: TSC also carries flea and tick products, toys, pet carriers -- everything

It’s not just food: TSC also carries flea and tick products, toys, pet carriers — whatever you need to take care of your pet.

I spied my favorite magazines: Dogster and Catster. The store had a large selection of books and magazine about pets and other farm-related topics.

I spied my favorite magazines: Dogster and Catster. The store had a large selection of books and magazine about pets and other farm-related topics.

I was especially happy to see Dog for Dog brand treats at Tractor Supply Company

I was especially happy to see Dog for Dog® brand treats; for every item you buy, they donate the same item to a dog in need. You can get a sense from this photo of the variety of products at the store: TSC’s own 4Health Brand® treats, bird food and boots.

Time to shop

My cart was filled, and it was time to ring it up, and hand over the goodies to Vicki and Dorothy. I was able to buy the food they use at the shelter — what the staff and animals are used to — and while it might not seem exciting, it does make a difference. Every bag of dog or cat food they don’t have to buy means they can put shelter funds toward medicines or veterinary care.

Tractor Supply shopping card

Time to check out.

I also bought some toys for both dogs and cats; giving them some kind of enrichment can reduce the stress of being in the shelter. I had carefully added up the total so I would come in just under the $100 gift card, hoping to allow for sales tax. I had a little more left, and I asked Vicki and Dorothy what else would really help the shelter. Dorothy showed me a huge bag of bird seed whose price was greatly reduced; the shelter has a couple of feeders set outside the cat room windows, and the kitties love to watch birds. Purr-fect!

In the end, I wound up spending more than the card, but Dorothy wouldn’t let me chip in the rest.

Somerset Regional Animal Shelter and Tractor Supply Company

Dorothy and Vicki with some of the cats from Somerset Regional Animal Shelter — and all the great stuff the got from Tractor Supply Company.

And what you don’t see is that I didn’t go home empty handed either: I bought suet for my bird feeders and Dog for Dog treats.

How you can help Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Somerset Regional Animal Shelter is a municipal organization providing animal control services to several towns in central New Jersey. They care for about 1000 lost, abandoned and surrendered animals each year. Because it is funded by municipalities, the shelter is not considered a nonprofit.

However, the organization Friends of Somerset Regional Animal Shelter (FOSRAS) is; these folks do everything they can to support the shelter and the animals they serve.

To help the animals of Somerset Regional, you can

  • Adopt! I can’t guarantee the animals in this post are still there, but the shelter is full of cats and dogs that need homes.
  • Buy items on the shelter’s wish list through Amazon.com.
  • Donate money to FOSRAS. The money goes to buy medical supplies and prescriptions, pay for veterinary care, and to purchase items that wouldn’t normally be donated.
  • Show your support by attending a FOSRAS event.
  • Volunteer to help socialize the dogs and cats of the shelter.
  • Follow the shelter on Facebook, and share their posts.

Don’t have a Tractor Supply Company store near you?

That’s okay; find them online.

 

 



8 Comments on "Tractor Supply Company Supports the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter #TractorSupply"

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  1. love companies like this that give back!! yay to the shelter for a great donation…..

  2. easy rider says:

    I totally love this stores! it’s on my bucket list when I visit the US once, I will not visit a shoe store or tiffany’s I will visit a TSC :o)

  3. Tractor Supply is my new favorite go-to store for dog treats, Dog for DOg butter and flannel shirts! LOL! They have so many cool things in their stores that I find myself just wandering around looking.

  4. I just can’t say enough about how impressed I was with Tractor Supply Co. Their passion for helping rescue animals is amazing – they have a fan for life!

  5. That sounds like a pawsome store ! Purrs

  6. We have a TSC near us and the mom has yet to go to it. She needs to! Paws up to TSC for helping the shelter.

  7. Deziz World says:

    Oh Meow y’all have a pawsum TS. Glad you found out ’bout it. Gweat posty.

    Luv ya’

    Dezi and Lexi

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