The project for helping abandoned animals is being developed by Raben Logistics Czech together with its client, Nestlé. It has been more than three years since Nestlé Purina PetCare offered the logistics company a joint project for helping animals in shelters. At Raben, they did not hesitate for long. For five years now, the logistics company has been providing free transportation of donated food to those in need as part of nationwide food collections.
"That project is about helping people in need, so helping abandoned animals was a natural continuation of our long-term CSR strategy, which fights against any waste." - explained Marien Budzel, the Sales Director of Raben for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
For shelters for abandoned dogs and cats that are not supported by municipal or state subsidies, it is very difficult to find money and material aid, which they receive from small donors and sponsors who care about the fate of abandoned animals.
“For us, it is not a problem to occasionally load a car with pet food that would otherwise end up as waste and which provides immediate help and feeds abandoned dogs and cats in shelters. Each month, we distribute approximately 600 kilograms of pet food to shelters in this way. Last year, it was five tonnes, and in a three-year period, it is almost twenty tonnes. With our fight against waste, whether it be food for people or animals, we are thus fulfilling three of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ending poverty, ending hunger, and responsible production and consumption.” - adds Martina Netuhová.
The unique CSR project for abandoned animals is unparalleled in the Czech Republic
Nestlé Purina PetCare always carefully selects certified shelters. In addition to the Animal Protection Association in Tábor and the animal shelter Sirius, they also included the Anidef shelter for abandoned and abused animals in Žim, the cat asylum Gaia in Hanušovice, the cat depository Píšánek in Uničov and the Dočasky De De association for helping abandoned and abused dogs.
“We take corporate social responsibility seriously and strive to truly connect our business and the needs of the community. It is therefore logical that we support animal shelters.” - says Lenka Vašutová, Market Development Organization Manager of Nestlé Purina PetCare. This way, the food ends up where it should, in the bowls of dogs and cats that are in the meantime looking for a new home. “And we are glad that Raben has the same view,” - says Lenka Vašutová.
Ivana Musilová, from the Animal Protection Association in Tábor, which has been involved in the project since its origin, is convinced that it is a completely unique Czech CSR project.
“Thanks to the donated Purina pet food, which is regularly delivered to us by cheerful and willing Raben drivers, we know that the animals we are responsible for will always have enough high-quality food. We are grateful that they have chosen us and that they have been supporting us for four years now. It is a great relief,” - she says.
Even the employees of both companies are involved
The aid to the shelters was met with a great response among the employees of Raben Logistics Czech. Last year, they organized a collection that was even joined by Nestlé Purina PetCare. From their homes, the employees brought old blankets, used bed sheets, towels, dog beds, scrapers, toys, crates, leashes, brushes, absorbent pads and gloves. “A total of three pallets were delivered to the shelters. Nestlé also added high-quality food and animal treats. I can tell that it definitely wasn't the last employee collection. We plan to repeat it again soon,” says Martina Netuhová with a smile.
“I don't like wasting. I myself have a four-legged pet at home, which is an integral part of our family. That is why I realize how fortunate he is that he is properly cared for. This makes me all the more interested in the stories of the dogs and cats that have not had the same luck and need our help. I am glad that our employees have the same view. It is a project that helps not only abandoned dogs and cats, but also us as a company. It is extremely important that not only the management was enthusiastic about social responsibility activities, but that these projects speak to our entire company, in which we have truly succeeded in this project.” - adds Marián Budzel.