Since 2012, Life’s Abundance has been a 100% employee-owned company. Our purpose is to empower people and their pets to live healthier and happier lives. From the beginning, we have always put people first, and this includes our employees! We believe our team members have a lot to give, so they should benefit from all their hard work and share in our growth and success.

What is ESOP?

Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP, is a special type of employee benefit plan that allows workers to have shares within the company. How amazing is that? This means employees are stakeholders in the truest sense. That means everyone - from each warehouse team member to customer service to our executives- owns a portion of the company.

The decision to make Life’s Abundance a 100% employee-owned company originated from a discussion regarding exit strategies as the ownerships looked to retirement. Lester and the leadership team made preserving the mission and purpose of the company a priority, which could be hard to maintain during ownership changes. So, Lester proposed an ESOP which everyone, including the company owners, could see would protect the company culture, mission, and team members. It was an all-around great decision that was approved wholeheartedly.

How does it benefit consumers?

When employee owners have a stake in the company, you can feel it! Just call our Customer Care team or speak to anyone within the company, and you’ll realize you aren’t just speaking to just another employee. You’re speaking to an owner! It’s simple - owners make better employees. This ensures that you are receiving top-notch customer service all around from people who really care about serving you in the best way possible. As employee owners, we aim to lead with purpose and grow at a controlled pace. This allows us to put our full heart and attention into new projects that will ultimately make your experience with us unforgettable.

How does it benefit employees?

ESOP benefits all parties involved. Financially, we are better prepared for our future as ESOP is a retirement plan. Since we are vested owners, we are empowered to work more creatively. We find ways to better our performance and grow within the company. In turn, with our hard work and amazing results, the company’s performance improves and increases the value of the stock. It’s a win-win!

Employee ownership is fun!

Employee Ownership Month is celebrated every October, and we were able to have a super exciting ESOP Spirit Week, virtually of course. Each day, we did an activity that was either educational or just plain fun. Here’s a recap of how we celebrate being employee owned:

On Monday, we embraced our employee ownership by taking a photo of ourselves with a sign saying “I’m an employee owner.” Some departments went all out with their signs for added team spirit!

Tuesday, we were placed into random teams for a crossword puzzle competition that tests our knowledge on ESOP. The first team that completed the puzzle and sent it back to Human Resources received a sweet prize.

Wednesday was pajama day! As an employee-owned company, you can both see AND feel the difference in our team. We’re a tight knit group and loved showing up to our company-wide morning meeting dressed from head to toe in our comfiest pajamas, slippers and all.

As employee owners, everyone in the company has different roles and responsibilities, but we all work together in creating something great! That’s why Thursday was named crayon box day and each department was given a color to rock for the day. Even our CEO wore a tie-dye shirt since he brings each and every department together.

On Friday, we stopped by the virtual lunchroom and put our knowledge to the test. We played an ESOP trivia game with, once again, prizes for the winning team!

Employee ownership is fun, profitable and empowering for everyone we touch. It makes a big difference in the way we show up for each other and customers every single day. For Life’s Abundance, all of this energy and passion stems from the purpose we all share - to empower people and pets to live happier, healthier lives. From all of the employee-owners, thank you for your business.

We’re pleased to announce that South Florida’s beaming sunlight is now shining down on the brand-new solar panels located at the Life’s Abundance headquarters in Jupiter, FL!

While there are multiple benefits of solar energy, we are most excited about the environmental impact that will also get us closer to our goal of becoming carbon negative as a company — this means that we will be removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than we emit. It is a lofty but worthwhile goal that we project to achieve within the next two years.

Our mission of empowering people and pets to live healthier and happier lives is about more than the products we offer — here are some other ways that Life’s Abundance is making a difference.

Ways we are reducing our carbon footprint:

• Planting trees, nearly 140,000 and counting

• Going digital and eliminating paper products

• Utilizing smarter shipping practices

• Eliminating plastic bubble wrap

• Reduced energy and water consumption at our facilities

  
  

How We're Giving Back:

For each skin care product purchased, a tree will be planted by Trees for the Future in a community suffering the environmental and economic effects of deforestation. We are also part of Trees for the Future’s carbon sequestering program, which captures carbon by planting trees.

Quarter by quarter, we are offsetting the calculated carbon footprint of our headquarters and all six of our warehouse locations. And we are not stopping there!  The plan in place will completely offset the footprints of the daily commute of all employees, the transit and delivery of all packages we ship and receive, and even our annual convention.

At Life’s Abundance, we want to make this world a better place for all people and their pets, from the products they consume to the world we all live in — side-by-side with the support of customers, we’re fulfilling our purpose of empowering healthier, happier living!

 

Every three months, our nonprofit agency The Dr. Jane Foundation awards grants for animal rescue groups across the country. From the October 2019 round of funding, we are excited to thank grant winner CAMO Rescue for their continued work in saving dogs from homelessness and the uncertainty of being in a shelter.

Located in Houston, Texas, CAMO Rescue is a nonprofit animal rescue group that works to save dogs in shelters and on the streets. They work with shelters in the area to move dogs at risk of euthanasia into foster homes, and ultimately find their forever family!

“We try to concentrate on euthanasia lists, and dogs on the street or headed to the pound,” said founder Holly Dool. “Last year we rescued over 800 dogs, a few cats and a couple of pigs.”

Holly started helping dogs in her area when she realized how bad the homeless animal situation was. She became an animal advocate, appearing on the local news fourteen times and petitioning the mayor and city manager to reinstate the local shelter committee. Holly even worked to help raise funds for a remodeling of the local shelter.

But a shelter remodeling wasn’t enough for Holly or the animals. There were still a lot of homeless dogs in the area and many on euthanasia lists at shelters.

Holly turned her own shop into a makeshift kennel and started taking in as many dogs as she could. Before she knew it, Holly had about 35 dogs on her property and worked to find new homes for them on the weekends. She knew she had to find an even more efficient way to save a larger amount of dogs.

“I switched from doing it all myself to being foster based,” Holly said. “We probably have about 70 to 80 foster homes spread out among Houston and Dallas.”

Now, CAMO Rescue is an official non-profit that saves dogs that other rescues won’t take due to fearful nature or medical needs. The rescue currently has about 100 dogs available for adoption at foster homes in Texas.

“We tend to take a lot of sick or injured dogs that other shelters can’t take,” Holly said. “To date, we have never euthanized a dog for behavior. We put them with a trainer here in Houston, sometimes for several months and then she’ll tell us what kind of home they need.”

CAMO relies on donations and foster homes to continue operating. All funding from donations and grants goes straight to medical bills, supplies and boarding.

The biggest challenge for a nonprofit like CAMO is finding new foster volunteers. Whenever a dog is introduced to a new foster family, there is a quarantine period where they need to be kept separate from other animals before they are allowed to mingle. Once the dogs go through the quarantine, they are free to live with an available foster family.

“I’m working towards buying a little house or facility so I can keep 10 to 12 dogs in quarantine,” said Holly. “Hard-to-find fosters is our biggest issue and it is with any rescue.”

When the dog is ready to be adopted from a foster home, it’s important that the new family is qualified by CAMO. The rescue group requires references and a homesite inspection.

“We are selective with where we place our animals,” said Holly. “We don’t want these animals to end up right back where they came from.”

Throughout the years, CAMO has had multiple success stories when it comes to saving dogs and finding them a forever home. About three years ago, a tiny, paralyzed yorkie was left in front of a local shelter in a box. The shelter emailed CAMO and Holly picked the dog up right away. Through nutrition, homeopathy and physical therapy, the yorkie was miraculously able to make a 100% recovery.

“I got another picture of a dog who wandered up to a business on the side of a highway who was extremely sick,” Holly said. “He spent two weeks at the vet with fluids and meds and he survived. The foster sent me a picture a year later and it's amazing the difference, it doesn’t even look like the same dog!”

It’s stories like this that drives CAMO Rescue to continue saving dogs in their area. They recognize that dogs are an integral part of the family, should be treated as such and are turning that into a reality for dogs every day. That’s why they received one of the grants for animal rescue groups awarded by The Dr. Jane Foundation! 

If you want to learn more about how we give back, click here and read more!

When you shop at Life’s Abundance, you become part of a homeless dog or cat’s success story! A portion of company profits is set aside to issue grants to animal rescue groups in need of financial aid. Whether you buy a product for your dog or cat, or nutritional supplements for yourself, your purchase helps fund efforts to save the lives of homeless and neglected animals around the country and bring joy to their new families.

Our nonprofit, The Dr. Jane Foundation, has provided support to small and medium-sized animal rescue groups since 2007. Each one of these organizations work hard to combat animal homelessness and overcome the effects of abuse and neglect through love, determination and medical care. 

Many organizations are just getting off the ground or lack sufficient financial support — that’s where The Dr. Jane Foundation steps in. Our foundation has awarded over $200,000 to more than 150 deserving organizations! 

Thanks to your business, The Dr. Jane Foundation recently approved funding for eight more deserving non-profit rescue groups. Here’s a little background on the amazing work of the organizations that received grants this quarter:

CAMO Rescue

CAMO Rescue, located in Houston, Texas, works to save dogs in high kill shelters through action and education. They work with shelters in the area to move dogs at risk of euthanasia into foster homes, and to ultimately find their forever family. They also educate the community about the importance of spaying, neutering, and the vaccination of pets. CAMO is a no-kill rescue that operates on donations, a small group of devoted foster homes and loving families that turn former homeless dogs into beloved family members. 

Fences For Fido

This group based out of northwest Oregon helps add comfort, safety and medical care to dogs that have a family, but whose only living space is the backyard. The volunteer labor force builds fences and insulated dog houses to provide these companions with freedom of movement and a safe, warm environment. They also spay and neuter and provide critical vet care, all at no cost. Over the past 9 years, Fences for Fido has unchained over 1,600 dogs in Oregon and Washington! In 2014, the organization was instrumental in the passage of Oregon’s first anti-tethering law, which restricts the amount of time a dog can be left on a chain.

Gunnar’s Wheels Foundation

This dedicated group provides wheelchairs for dogs in need. Each recipient gets to use the cart free of charge until it is no longer needed. Then the cart is sent back to the foundation where they prepare it for the next animal in need. The organization was set into motion when founder Jason Parker’s black lab Gunnar was hit by a car and lost the use of his back legs. After spending all of his money on vet bills, Jason could not afford a wheelchair for his beloved friend. Luckily, Jason’s friends and family stepped in to help him get a wheelchair for Gunnar. Jason then realized that there might be many other people in his situation, so Gunnar’s Wheels Foundation was born. Jason and Gunnar were chosen as GoFundMe Heroes in April 2017, propelling the foundation into the national spotlight — now the foundation receives multiple requests for help every day. Their goal is to help every animal that is in need of a wheelchair.

K Kids Dachshund Rescue, Inc.

Located in Virginia, this all volunteer team is dedicated to finding adopters for dachshunds from shelters and surrendering owners. Each rescued pup is placed into a foster home, given veterinary care with special attention to any health issues, and evaluated to ensure the best match with their forever home. The rescue group aims to prevent dachshunds from entering the shelter and rescue system altogether. They do this by educating owners on common dachshund health and behavior issues, financial counseling about veterinary expenses, and estate planning in case the dachshund outlives their human.

Operation Topcat

Formed in 1995, Operation Topcat helps stray and feral cats in the North Carolina area. The group recommends and uses the trap/neuter/vaccinate/return strategy for all cats. This means that all cats are spayed, neutered, microchipped and given age appropriate vaccinations.  Many cats are good candidates for family life and will be placed for adoption. Those that are unsocialized or feral will be marked for easy identification before being returned to their colony for continued care and feeding by their caretaker. This practice takes great commitment by volunteers and donors, but has been proven to reduce overpopulation while providing humane care for these felines.

Panola County Cat Rescue

This non-profit was founded in Batesville, Mississippi with the mission to reduce the feral, stray and homeless cat population in the area. The group sterilizes and vaccinates adult feral cats that can’t be rehomed as pets. They also find homes for stray cats and kittens that are able to be socialized. The organization’s long-term goal is to open a cat shelter and work with other rescue organizations to grow a network of foster and adoptive homes and to support those devoted individuals who care for feral cat colonies. 

Project POOCH, Inc.

Founded in 1993, Project POOCH pairs incarcerated youth with difficult-to-adopt dogs in Oregon. Guided by professionals, these youth learn to train, groom and find new forever homes for their project dogs. Research shows that the program has had a positive effect on the rehabilitation of both the young trainers and the dogs, with the youth demonstrating improved behavior and heightened traits such as honesty, empathy and nurturing. Each dog, lead by his handler,  must graduate through a series of behavior and canine good manners tests before being adopted into a new home. Project POOCH has helped change the lives of incarcerated youth and saved the lives of many dogs.

RuffRiders Foundation Inc.

RuffRiders volunteers transport dogs from overcrowded shelters to other welcoming organizations across the Western U.S. where they’ll have their best chance at finding a forever home. In addition to transportation, RuffRiders advocates for humane education, adoption and fostering. All donations are used to help give dogs a second chance at life.

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At Life’s Abundance we thank you for your business and for the impact your purchase decision is making on hard working volunteers across the country and the dogs and cats they support. Together, we are helping animal rescue groups achieve their dreams of making a positive difference in the world, one animal at a time.

We are proud to announce that Life’s Abundance is a 2019 Forbes Small Giants winner! This award is bestowed annually to 25 privately held companies that exemplify their commitment to choosing greatness over growth. Each of these companies provides stellar service to customers, offers employees fulfilling, rewarding work and is a vital member of its community. Below is the write-up in May’s edition of Forbes Magazine.

Life’s Abundance has been making and selling healthy pet food (and other products) since 1999, and it’s never had a product recalled, a record that makes CEO Lester Thornhill, a native Trinidadian, proud. It relies on customers to market its products, as in multilevel marketing, but with a crucial difference: There are no quotas, and no one is required to buy or sell anything. That not only means a lot of repeat customers but also lets the company keep its goods out of big-box stores and Amazon, which is a matter of principle, Thornhill says, enabling Life's Abundance to manufacture in small batches and guarantee freshness and quality.

“We are deeply honored to be a part of the Small Giants Community, an inspiring group of purpose-driven business leaders,” says Lester Thornhill, CEO of Life’s Abundance. “This award holds particular meaning to us because it celebrates our commitment to making an impact beyond our balance sheet, whether it’s creating products for the well-being of you and your pets, selecting sustainable business practices, or contributing to charitable organizations.”

The Small Giants Community is open to businesses that are eager to grow and make profits, but only while upholding their culture and purpose. Once a year, 250 like-minded leaders get together for a three-day conference loaded with vivacious speakers and social events centered on how to keep great companies strong. At the summit, the 25 Best Small Companies who were named in Forbes are honored. We were so thrilled to be a part of the celebration this year!

Did you know that when you shop at Life’s Abundance, a portion of the profits is set aside to fund the good works of our charitable foundation? Whether you’re ordering nutritional supplements for yourself or premium food, treats and supplements for your companion animals, your repeat business funds our efforts to help save lives of homeless, abused and neglected animals across the U.S.

Our non-profit agency, The Dr. Jane Foundation, provides financial support to small and medium-size rescue groups from coast to coast. Many of these rescue groups are just getting their operations off the ground, and the obstacles they face often boil down to limited resources. If we can help dozens of these groups every year to save more lives and further establish their agencies as agents of positive change, we are thrilled to do so. Since 2007, our foundation has given 186 awards totaling more than $270,000!

And that brings us to today's news. We’re incredibly pleased to inform you that our Board of Directors has funded grant applications for the following ten rescue organizations.

1. TLC Humane Society

Based in the town of Dahlonega, GA, the TLC Humane Society is the only no-kill, non-profit shelter in town. They maintain both a physical shelter facility and a foster-care program. The shelter is nestled on six beautiful acres and aims to find adoptive homes for over 300 dogs and cats this year. Our award was allocated to help cover the costs of much-needed building repair, to ensure that their rescued dogs and cats have a safe environment while awaiting placement in their forever homes.

2. Animal Balance

This organization's primary focus is on implementing non-lethal overpopulation control on islands all over the world. Animal Balance provides basic veterinary care, including spay/neuter, microchipping, vaccinations, parasite treatment and addresses other injuries/conditions as needed for both cats and dogs. Even though they don’t do adoptions, we recognize the importance of their hard work in keeping overpopulation at bay. Our award was allotted to help cover the costs of their next island spay-and-neuter mission on Kauai. This five-day operation requires loads of planning but organizers hope to perform surgeries at four different temporary clinics with the ultimate goal of spaying/neutering over 2,000 feral cats.

3. Yorkie Rescue of America

Founded in 2011 by Tiffini Cartozian, who turned her passion for Yorkshire Terriers into a mission for good, this breed-specific non-profit rescue has saved the lives of over 400 Yorkies. This organization only provides aid to Yorkies who require extensive medical care and/or intensive rehabilitation. At present, they have approximately 40 foster homes with over 70 volunteer caregivers nationwide. Our financial award has been allocated to help offset the costs of veterinary care and to help build awareness for their services across the country.

4. 3rd Coast Labrador Rescue

Established in 2015, 3rd Coast Labrador Rescue is a non-profit organization comprised of unpaid volunteers who are dedicated to rescuing, healing and rehoming Labradors and Labrador mixes in Michigan. The vast majority of their dogs come from animal control, nearby shelters or owner surrenders, so they must deal with a wide range of extreme health issues stemming from abuse, neglect or accidental injury. At present, they do not maintain a presence in a dedicated facility, but rather utilize their own private network of foster homes throughout the state of Michigan. Our financial award was specifically earmarked for to veterinary costs. 

5. Douglas County Humane Society

Partnered with Douglas County Animal Shelter, the Douglas County Humane Society works to reduce the number of stray dogs and cats in their community through outreach, education and by providing veterinary care to animals in need. Since they were founded, their primary goal is to eliminate euthanasia at their local shelter, which they're on the cusp of achieving. Additionally, they provide assistance to local low-income families through their Pet Pantry, helping people keep and feed their pets during tough economic times. Our foundation award is allocated towards covering the costs of neuter and spay surgeries for numerous dogs and cats. 

6. Fur Fun Rescue

Fur Fun Rescue’s goal is to lower the rate of canine deaths in a five-state territory that includes areas of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. By coordinating with local and national transport coordinators, including Pilots N Paws, they transfer dogs from high-kill shelters to welcoming rescue groups. They specialize in difficult-to-place dogs, many of whom have urgent medical needs and seniors who have close to no hope of rescue. This year, they are on target to successfully adopt out over 300 dogs! Our financial award has been allocated to help offset the high costs of veterinary care incurred in rescuing sick and older dogs. 

7. Golden Oldies Cat Rescue

Based in Monterey, California, Golden Oldies Cat Rescue is a resource and advocate for adult cats from Monterey County whose guardians can no longer care for them or who are at-risk in area shelters. Founded in 2016, this group places cats into foster homes while searching for their new forever families. Their motto is “Older Cats, New Beginnings.” Golden Oldies is working to build its foster program to expand its reach. In fact, our award to this organization will help them to reach this goal, while the rest of the funding will be allocated to finding forever homes.

8. Happy Trails Animal Rescue

After years of rescuing dogs in need from local area shelters, this central Florida rescue group underwent a change in their philosophy ... namely, to devote their energies towards resolving one of the most persistent failures of animal rescue: when adoptive pet parents return dogs due to problem behavior. Soon, they will open a brand new Community Resource Center for dog adopters to provide free training, educational and youth programs, free vaccine clinics, a pet food pantry, low-cost spay and neuter services, free grooming and other assistance. Our financial award has been allocated to fund additional training scholarships to dogs and families across Central Florida, including free professional training for dogs with behavioral problems stemming from their experiences in high-kill shelters. 

9. One Step Closer Animal Rescue (OSCAR)

Headquartered in Sparta, NJ, OSCAR is a non-profit rescue organization that saves dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters where animals are still euthanized due to lack of space. At present, they have working relationships with four different state Animal Control Centers. They ensure that all the pets in their care receive the proper veterinary attention and vaccinations, and that all are spayed or neutered. Additionally, OSCAR helps the local community with strays, re-homing animals, intake of NJSPCA abuse cases and operate a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) program for feral cats. Our financial award has been allocated to help offset the cost of building repairs to keep their rescues safe and happy as they await adoption. 

10. Paws & Prayers

Founded in 2001, the animal rescuers who formed Paws and Prayers sought to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home forgotten, neglected, or otherwise left-behind pets. They utilize a foster-based rescue system in which every saved pet receives loving care and attention from their dedicated volunteers until the perfect adoptive home can be identified. Their ever-growing base of volunteers and foster homes proudly saves over 1,000 companion animals each year! Our financial award has been allocated to help pay for spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats.

For everyone who actively support the vital work of our non-profit, we can’t thank you enough. Thanks to your personal donations and continued Life's Abundance patronage, we are helping animal rescue groups achieve their dreams of making a positive difference in the world, one animal at a time.

As far as problems go, they don't come much larger than the threats posed by global climate change. And yet, instead of engaging in a meaningful debate about the best solution to the problem, we seem to be stuck in a cycle where many remain resistant to the mere idea of tackling the issues we face. Why is it that? Sociologists have an answer to this conundrum that makes perfect sense. Because the problem is so monumental, and the potential devastation too frightening, it almost seems inevitable, as something impossible to fix. But, what if the solution is much simpler than we're expecting? Not only simple but completely doable? And, icing on the cake, what if the fix was something that pretty much everyone views as positive?

In mid-February, a Swiss researcher named Thomas Crowther presented his research findings at the Science Transcending Boundaries Conference, this year's Annual Meeting of the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science). Until very recently, the prevailing wisdom was that a widescale adoption of wind turbines and a mass conversion of diets from meat-eating to vegetarian would have the greatest impacts on the planet's environment. But after Dr. Crowther presented the results of his amazing research project, we now know that a worldwide tree-planting "spree" would have the greatest impact on our planet's environment. That's right, simply by increasing the number of trees worldwide from three trillion to four trillion, we could cancel out more than a decade of greenhouse emissions right away! According to Crowther, trees should now be viewed as “our most powerful weapon in the fight against climate change."

Could restoring the health of our planet be as simple as planting one trillion trees? The longer answer is that a combination of ending destructive farming practices and replenishing our planet's biodiversity through forestation really could be the turning point in our ecological crisis. In a very real sense, planting seedling trees is the first step in a proactive solution to most of our climate problems. On the micro-level, we can help lift people out of poverty, while on the macro-level, we could make great strides towards reversing the proliferation of carbon in the atmosphere.

As part of our Evergreen commitment (Life’s Abundance has been certified as an Evergreen company by the Tugboat Institute), we make decisions based not just on profit, but on long-term sustainability and on being a good steward of the environment. When we launched our line of premium skin-care products, we wanted to do something above and beyond our typical commitment to creating a better world. A reflection of our natural philosophy, we entered into a partnership with Trees for the Future. Every time a customer purchases one of our skin-care products, we make a corresponding commitment to further fund this green initiative by planting a tree.

Trees for the Future (TREES) is an international development non-profit that meets a triple bottom line through their tree-planting mission: poverty alleviation, hunger eradication and healing the environment. In addition to planting trees, they train farmers to manage "forest gardens" in order to sustainably feed their families and raise their incomes by as much as four times! And because they utilize sophisticated algorithms and tracking software, our trees are planted are used in areas where they can have the greatest impact. At present, they have trained at-risk peoples in six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon, Guinea, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. Since they were founded in 1989, TREES has planted over 150 million trees!

According to John Leary, executive director of TREES, "Our planet loses 50 soccer fields worth of trees every minute, and much of this deforestation is occurring in the developing tropics where hundreds of millions of families depend on trees for their survival. Once the trees are cleared, most subsistence farmers in the developing world use destructive farming techniques – including both slash-and-burn and modern agriculture – that inhibit the growth of anything but one or a few temporary crops." Leary's belief is that restoring agricultural lands with a diverse combination of trees and crops is the answer to a whole host of pressing global problems, including: desertification; diminishing access to potable water; hunger and poverty; forced migrations; and, of course, climate change itself.

As a corporate sponsor, you can visit our very own TREES web page to view our current count of tree seedlings planted to date. So far, we've planted an amazing 46,000 trees! To put our participation in perspective, if every registered business in the US were to plant the same number of trees, the trillion number goal would be met with an extra 288 billion on top of it!

The thing that stands out for most people is the idea of planting trees is appealing. Pretty much everyone who has ever planted a tree thinks of it as a positive experience. Anyone can do it. They improve urban environments. They absorb carbon dioxide and generate oxygen. As far as ecosystems go, planting more trees is always a good thing.

Best of all, it would appear people are enthusiastic about Crowther's bold proposal. The UN has already changed the name of their tree-planting initiative to the Trillion Tree Campaign!

So, if you've ever felt like you can't make a difference, now you know you can! We encourage all our readers to visit trees.org and trilliontreecampaign.org and find out more about these initiatives. And, if you're looking for something a little more local, make planting tree seedlings into a regular fun family outing.

For more on the science and the solution, check out these informative links!

^{https://aaas.confex.com/aaas/2019/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/23744}

^{https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/forests-climate-change-co2-greenhouse-gases-trillion-trees-global-warming-a8782071.html}

^{https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/ez-pcc021119.php}

^{https://www.wearesalt.org/stopping-the-sixth-extinction-habitat-creation/}

^{https://futurism.com/planting-trillions-trees-cancel-co2-emissions/}

^{http://trees.org/app/uploads/2018/03/One-Shot-Meltwater-Email-PR.pdf}

Honestly, I was just getting used to it being 2018. Where does the time go?

For me, the holidays are a time of joy and reflection. A time to celebrate our family and friends. To fondly remember those we’ve lost. To find inspiration and hope. To share with those who are less fortunate than ourselves. To do something meaningful and unexpected for someone in need or having an especially hard time. To my mind, there is so much to be grateful for and so much to cradle in our hearts.

Perhaps more than anything, I'm truly thankful to be part of a company that is so focused on helping others improve their quality of life. A company that works to make life better for both people and their companion animals.

I consider it a great privilege to work with such a dedicated team. And to communicate with you through this blog, where we try to share valuable information to help people be informed and entertained. And, of course, to bring you updates about the vitally important work of The Dr. Jane Foundation.

Our charitable foundation has achieved great things this past year! In addition to 18 financial awards given to worthy animal rescues through our usual grant process, we were also able to provide emergency funding to two groups that coordinated assistance to injured and homeless animals displaced by devastating fires that raged in California last month. As many of you know, the Camp Fire was the deadliest wildfire in California's history. The emergency response of the last two groups on the following list of grant recipients made a tremendous difference for all kinds of animals, and for that, we are extremely grateful. Without further ado, here's the list of amazing rescue organizations that received funding from our non-profit this year.

• Paw Warriors, Inc. of Spring Hill, FL
• BARC Humane Society of Quitman, GA
• People & Pets Together of Minneapolis, MN
• Paws for Life of Youngsville, NC
• Rescues Unlimited of Gregory, SD
• ACTion Programs for Animals of Las Cruces, NM
• Animal Rescue of Southern Colorado of Antonito, CO
• Bounce Animal Rescue of Fort Collins, CO
• Boxer Aid and Rescue Coalition, Inc. of Tallahassee, FL
• Eastern Plains Animal Welfare Alliance of Burlington, CO
• MeeowzResQ of Orange, CA
• My Second Home Rescue of Carr, CO
• New England Society for Abandoned Animals of Barnstable, MA
• Res-Que, Ltd of Reno, NV
• The Animal Interest League & Sanctuary (dba TAILS) of Delta, CO
• Rehoboth Animal Advocates of Rehoboth, MA
• Herd U Needed A Home Rescue of Bend, OR
• Greyhounds in Motion of Winter Park, FL
• Humane Society of Ventura County of Ojai, CA
• North Valley Animal Disaster Group of Chico, CA

The generosity and patronage of our customers enables our foundation to continue its good works. From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you. Every time you shop at Life's Abundance, a contribution is made to our funding. And we are very proud that over 95% of that money goes directly to the organizations that need the most help.

While the work of the foundation is a vital part of Life's Abundance, our central commitment is devotion to the people who use our products: you inspire us. Without your support and feedback we would not be the company we are today, and from the very core of my being, I thank you. Rest assured, we will continue to improve our innovative health formulations and create new, cutting-edge products to help improve the health and longevity of companion animals. With the combined efforts of our committed and motivated team, we can surely make 2019 our most successful year ever!

Thank you for the privilege of working with you and your families, for the trust you place in our products, and for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals.

From all of us here at Life’s Abundance, we wish you and yours a Meowy Christmas and Happy Paw-nukkah!

  Dr. Jane Bicks

Did you know that when you shop from Life’s Abundance, a portion of the profits is set aside to fund the good words of our charitable foundation? It’s true! Whether you’re ordering the finest nutritional supplements for yourself or premium food, treats and supplements for your companion animals, your repeat business will help fund the efforts to save the lives of homeless, abused and neglected animals throughout our great nation.

Our non-profit agency, The Dr. Jane Foundation, provides financial support to small and medium-size rescue groups from coast to coast. Each charitable organization dedicates itself to the hard work of ending animal homelessness and helping pets survive and overcome the effects of chronic abuse and neglect. Many of these rescue groups are just getting their operations off the ground, and the financial support we provide can help them grow and enable them to save even more lives. Since 2007, our foundation has awarded in excess of $200,000 to over 150 deserving groups!

The needs are many and great. Even though reliance on euthanasia is but a fraction of it was 20 or 30 years ago, still far too many adoptable dogs and cats have their lives ended prematurely ... nearly three million pets every year. The vast majority of recently founded animal rescues are committed to a no-kill approach, something we very want to support. For these new groups, many of the obstacles they face boil down to limited resources. If we can help dozens of these groups every year to save more lives and further establish their agencies as agents of positive change, we are thrilled to do so.

To qualify for funding from our foundation, applicants must meet rigorous criteria. Most of our grant recipients utilize one or more strategies that have proven successful in curbing pet overpopulation and reducing the number of dogs and cats euthanized. These initiatives include low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, TNR (trap-neuter-return) management of feral cat communities, affordable adoption fees and community education efforts regarding the proper care of companion animals and the dangers of animal abuse and neglect. And all of this is done in addition to the day-to-day activities undertaken by these committed workers to place rescued animals in loving adoptive homes.

Just think, simply by buying from Life’s Abundance, you’ll be making the world a better place for dogs and cats in need. How often do you get to do something super positive without having to do anything different at all? As long as you keep purchasing our health-promoting products, you’ll be supporting rescue efforts across the US!

And now, we’re pleased to inform you that our Board of Directors held a quarterly meeting on July 17th. We approved funding several grant applications and sent checks the following worthy rescue organizations.

ACTion Programs for Animals

Located in Las Cruces, NM, this 100-volunteer-strong animal rescue is making a tremendous difference, not only in their local community, but even beyond state lines. Since May of 2012, they have rescued more than 3,500 dogs and cats. Nearly all of those were pulled from a nearby high-kill shelter. They have been able to make such great strides through the tireless work of their committed volunteer network of rescue and foster coordinators and families. They've even managed to hold weekend adoptions to locate loving homes for their rescues quickly and efficiently, all on a shoe-string budget. Soon, they plan to move into a newly purchased facility that will double their housing capacity, further bolstering their presence in the area as a welcome alternative to municipal shelters.

Animal Rescue of Southern Colorado

Based in Antonito, CO, this small yet committed animal welfare group focuses their efforts on two pressing needs: one, to house, care for and adopt out neglected and abandoned dogs; and two, to reduce pet overpopulation through spay-neuter services. Now barely into their second year of operation, this hardworking rescue managed to save 74 dogs in their first six months! Their goal - and fervent hope - is to never have to turn away a dog in need. Our financial grant has been earmarked to help cover the costs of constructing a modern kennel, which will allow them to rescue even more homeless animals. The new kennel will utilize solar panels to provide heat during harsh winters.

Bounce Animal Rescue

This foster-based rescue organization is located in beautiful Northern Colorado. Their goal is to grow to the size where they'll be able to rescue unwanted animals from high-kill shelters all over the country, place them with loving fosters and ultimately find them forever homes where they will be loved unconditionally. Even while they're out there saving lives, they're still focused on the well-being and adoption of unwanted animals. They're committed to building stronger community relationships, investing in technology and fundraising at the grassroots level. Bounce focuses on quality veterinary care, nutrition, spay/neuter programs, training and, of course, adoptions.

Boxer Aid and Rescue Coalition, Inc.

Headquartered in Tallahassee, Boxer Aid and Rescue Coalition is a not-for-profit rescue organization that operates a network of volunteers in north Florida and south Georgia. In their decade of operation, these devoted caretakers have helped to rescue and find forever homes for hundreds of Boxers. Each dog receives medical care, basic training (including a behavioral assessment), a caring foster environment and the promise that they’ll be ultimately be placed in homes where they will be treated "as a member of the family." Keep an eye on this group, as they plan to expand their organization to help provide care for senior and hospice dogs. 

Eastern Plains Animal Welfare Alliance

Based in Burlington, CO, this small non-profit got its start in 2011 as a TNR program for feral cats. That has now grown to a much larger effort to rescue both cats and dogs, and to help curb overpopulation in their area. In just a few short years, they've achieved great success, altering more than 1,700 animals and vaccinating over 360 feral cats! A dedicated team of volunteers help with all aspects of the rescue effort. Amazingly, they're able to locate loving homes for their dogs and cats in record time. They're so insistent on matching up prospective pet parents with new intakes that the average wait-time for these creatures just two-to-four weeks before moving from terrible situations and into their forever home. Our grant will go towards the costs associated with low-cost spay/neuter community clinics or towards the purchase of a high quality shed to safely store their supplies, which has previously been done by their many volunteers. 

MeeowzResQ

Located in Orange County, this non-profit, all-volunteer organization is dedicated to the rescue of cats and kittens in Southern California. Every year, they have been able to save more than 2,000 felines! Their kittens are hand-raised in foster homes, and many of those are bottle-fed babies. These kittens grow into sweet and people-oriented cats thanks to the amazing foster care by pet parents who are dedicated to raising and finding good homes for these abused, injured or abandoned cats. They routinely hold feline adoption events in numerous cities, and operate an extensive foster network spanning even more locations throughout Southern California. Our financial grant will help them to further their mission as their current needs dictate. 

My Second Home Rescue

Based in Carr, CO, this no-kill organization is on a mission to rescue and re-home stray, neglected and abandoned dogs from high-kill shelters. They believe that all living creatures should be treated with dignity and respect. They provide much needed care, medical attention, microchipping and socialization, all towards their ultimate goal of placing these pups in permanent adoptive homes where they will be loved like family. At present, they adopt out between 125-150 dogs per year, which is no small feat for a small rescue. They strive to increase public awareness about overpopulation problem and hope to see an end of euthanasia in their area. Our award was earmarked to help fund heartworm treatments for two very sick dogs. 

New England Society for Abandoned Animals

Located in Centerville, MA, this non-profit was founded in 2009 to serve the Cape Cod community and surrounding areas. They are one of the few organizations committed to hands-on rescue work in the region, whether those cases stem from neglect, abuse or abandonment cases, to assistance with strays and their TNR program for feral cats. They take it as their mission to advocate, protect and rescue, using a proactive, humane approach. They are committed to increasing community awareness and creating progressive changes in animal welfare. As a “no-kill” organization, NESAA has a no-exceptions spay/neuter policy ... that notion is at the heart of every program implemented by the organization. They have established relationships with other organizations who serve individuals with disabilities, and these groups routinely help volunteers socialize animals at the shelter. Our financial award is earmarked for their multiple overpopulation prevention programs, from TNR to low-cost spay/neuter programs for the low-income community.

Res-Que, Ltd.

Based in Reno, NV, this non-profit group rescues dogs of all breeds. Res-Que was founded by Rhonda Shafer in 2009, after working as a distributor of dog food and supplies for local rescues. They work extensively with small, outlying shelters to rescue dogs and find them forever homes in both Northern Nevada and California. As their rescues recover from trauma and learn socialization skills, they live with one of the 15 caring families who make up their foster network. This group works very hard to find the less popular dogs from surrounding shelters where they will likely languish without interest from possible adopters, then place them in nurturing environments where each dog's true personality can finally shine. And their efforts are definitely paying off. In 2016, they were able to provide quality care and adopt out 147 dogs, and last year that number more than doubled to 303 dogs! Our financial grant will go towards covering the costs of veterinary medical care. 

To all of these groups, we say "congratulations!" Your remarkable efforts to make the world a better place for companion animals are truly paying off.

Are you involved in an animal rescue, or know someone who is? It's not too late to apply for 2018 funding. Our Board will be considering another round of applications at our final quarterly meeting in mid-October, so try to have completed grant requests submitted by the end of September to ensure your group’s consideration.

For all of you who actively support the vital work of our non-profit, we can’t thank you enough. Thanks to your personal donations and continued Life's Abundance patronage, we are continuing to make great strides towards helping animal rescue groups achieve their goals. Together, we’re making a positive difference in the world, one animal at a time.

The holiday season is upon us once again. Soon, many of us will be swept up in a whirlwind of festivities. Buying the perfect gifts, trimming trees and spending time with loved ones. Once the gifts are opened and the twinkly lights are extinguished, it’s the time to pause and reflect on the year that’s passed. And, of course, make resolutions for the New Year.

As I look back on 2017, I feel truly grateful and honored to be a part of a team of individuals that are so devoted to the health and well-being of companion animals. At Life’s Abundance, the quality of our products pretty much speak for themselves. But they all include one important ingredient you won’t find on the label … heart. From our customer service agents to our management team to our dedicated Field Representatives, everyone affiliated with Life’s Abundance plays their crucial part in fulfilling my personal mission in life … to help dogs and cats lead longer, healthier and happier lives.

As far as my own role, I’m thankful for every opportunity I get to speak with customers and reps, as well as potential customers. I only share my thoughts and insights in the hopes someone will benefit. That being said, because this is the season of giving, I wanted to update you on the work of the foundation that bears my name.

As you probably by know, The Dr. Jane Foundation is a non-profit organization that awards funding to small and medium-size animal rescues, each of which are committed to saving abused and neglected animals from a variety of dangerous situations. Thanks to the generosity and continued business of people just like you, our non-profit was able to help fund the everyday activities of so many worthy groups this year, as well as providing emergency funding in the wake of the disastrous flooding in Texas after Hurricane Harvey.

While the work of the foundation is a vital part of Life's Abundance, our central commitment is devotion to the people that use our products: you inspire us. Without your support and feedback we would not be the company we are today, and from the very core of my being, I thank you. Serving as Director of New Pet Product Development has been my great privilege. By monitoring discoveries in nutritional science, I will continue to improve our innovative health formulations and create new, cutting-edge products to help improve the health and longevity of companion animals. With the combined efforts of our strong, motivated team, we can surely make this New Year more successful than ever before.

On behalf of everyone here at Life's Abundance, I wish you and your family joy, health, and success in 2018.

Thank you so much for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals.

  

Dr. Jane Bicks