Best Buds program creating happy tails By Francesca Sacco Over the last five months, 12 animals Each year, the nonprofit rescues and have found their forever homes with the rehomes roughly 2,500 animals. Since help of Best Buds, an adoptable pet of the pandemic began, they've had to al- the week program that publicizes avail- ter their adoption process. Exposure, able dogs, cats and rabbits in the region. especially from corporate partners like The Healing Center, has helped to cre- Formed in February, the program start- ed with an end-of-year charity event ate vital awareness about the shelter started by a local medical cannabis dis- and their services. pensary, The Healing Center. "Every December we hold our Healing came to Animal Friends after his family Hearts charity event, where patients can purchase a heart for a dollar. The patients put their favorite charity on the heart, and timid senior, Parker is looking for a and then all of the hearts are placed into home with older children. a drawing. At the end of the event, one "Through this partnership, we have heart is selected and the money raised been able to extend our mission of cre- Chris Kohan, co-founder of The Healing Center goes to the listed charity," Lisa Craig, ating lifelong matches, and with the The Healing Center's director of market- help of our friends at The Healing Cen- ing, said. "This year's winner selected ter, shine a positive light on pet adop- Animal Friends as their charity." Special messaging placed at dispensa- organization like Animal Friends," Cody ry's locations in Washington, Cranberry Hoellerman, Animal Friends' chief com- and Monroeville struck a nerve. More importantly, dogs like Parker can have a second chance at love. Parker was unable to take care of him. A sweet tion and the amazing animal compan- ions who are waiting at shelters and munity engagement officer, said. "It was very well received," she said. Best Buds will continue to be featured "Our patients are really passionate on The Almanac's website with the about animals and really took a vested hopes of many more happy matches. interest. We sold 1,438 hearts and we "Nothing gives us more joy than wit- matched our patients' donations for a nessing alli of these amazing animals total of $3,000." In an effort to do more, they partnered them forever. We are extremely proud with Animal Friends, located in Pitts- to partner with great organizations like burgh, and The Almanac to draw atten- Animal Friends and The Healing Center tion to animals in the region in need of to promote adoptable animals to our a loving home. get matched with a home that will spoil caring readers across the South Hills," "We laugh when we say 'Best Buds' Chris Slota, the advertising manager of because of the marijuana connota- The Almanac, said. tion. The reality is they are always To learn more about Parker and other Best Parker 'Best Buds' when given the oppor- Buds, visit thealmanac.net/bestbuds. tunity. We love our animals at The To learn more about Animal Friends, Healing Center, both adopted and un- the services they offer and their current adopted," Chris Kohan, co-founder of adoptable companions, visit thinking- The Healing Center, said. Sponsored content brought to you by outsidethecage.org. The Healing Center Best Buds program creating happy tails By Francesca Sacco Over the last five months, 12 animals Each year, the nonprofit rescues and have found their forever homes with the rehomes roughly 2,500 animals. Since help of Best Buds, an adoptable pet of the pandemic began, they've had to al- the week program that publicizes avail- ter their adoption process. Exposure, able dogs, cats and rabbits in the region. especially from corporate partners like The Healing Center, has helped to cre- Formed in February, the program start- ed with an end-of-year charity event ate vital awareness about the shelter started by a local medical cannabis dis- and their services. pensary, The Healing Center. "Every December we hold our Healing came to Animal Friends after his family Hearts charity event, where patients can purchase a heart for a dollar. The patients put their favorite charity on the heart, and timid senior, Parker is looking for a and then all of the hearts are placed into home with older children. a drawing. At the end of the event, one "Through this partnership, we have heart is selected and the money raised been able to extend our mission of cre- Chris Kohan, co-founder of The Healing Center goes to the listed charity," Lisa Craig, ating lifelong matches, and with the The Healing Center's director of market- help of our friends at The Healing Cen- ing, said. "This year's winner selected ter, shine a positive light on pet adop- Animal Friends as their charity." Special messaging placed at dispensa- organization like Animal Friends," Cody ry's locations in Washington, Cranberry Hoellerman, Animal Friends' chief com- and Monroeville struck a nerve. More importantly, dogs like Parker can have a second chance at love. Parker was unable to take care of him. A sweet tion and the amazing animal compan- ions who are waiting at shelters and munity engagement officer, said. "It was very well received," she said. Best Buds will continue to be featured "Our patients are really passionate on The Almanac's website with the about animals and really took a vested hopes of many more happy matches. interest. We sold 1,438 hearts and we "Nothing gives us more joy than wit- matched our patients' donations for a nessing alli of these amazing animals total of $3,000." In an effort to do more, they partnered them forever. We are extremely proud with Animal Friends, located in Pitts- to partner with great organizations like burgh, and The Almanac to draw atten- Animal Friends and The Healing Center tion to animals in the region in need of to promote adoptable animals to our a loving home. get matched with a home that will spoil caring readers across the South Hills," "We laugh when we say 'Best Buds' Chris Slota, the advertising manager of because of the marijuana connota- The Almanac, said. tion. The reality is they are always To learn more about Parker and other Best Parker 'Best Buds' when given the oppor- Buds, visit thealmanac.net/bestbuds. tunity. We love our animals at The To learn more about Animal Friends, Healing Center, both adopted and un- the services they offer and their current adopted," Chris Kohan, co-founder of adoptable companions, visit thinking- The Healing Center, said. Sponsored content brought to you by outsidethecage.org. The Healing Center