Several big names in the pet industry are uniting over the holiday season to help hungry pets across the United States.

Pet food manufacturer Royal Canin USA, the Banfield Pet Hospital group, Banfield Charitable Trust, and toy manufacturer KONG are working together to collect food, educate the public about pet hunger, and help senior citizens to care for their companion animals, according to a news release from Banfield and Royal Canin.

"Nutrition is the foundation of good health for both pets and people and we are our proud to support this important pet food drive," said Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, MS, DACVIM, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Banfield Pet Hospital. "As a practice, our focus is making a better world for pets through preventive care and we are committed to ensuring the pets of homebound seniors receive proper nutrition to live long and healthy lives."

How to participate

According to the food drive's organizers, there are three main ways that people can contribute to the event until the Dec. 31 deadline:

• Go to Facebook.com/RoyalCanin.us to take a pledge to end pet hunger. Royal Canin will donate 1 pound of pet food for every pledge made.
• Donate money at BanfieldCharitableTrust.org or at a Banfield Pet Hospital. The donations will assist local Meals on Wheels pet food programs. A donation of $10 or more will send a KONG Classic toy to the pet of a Meals on Wheels client.
• Donate bags and cans of dog or cat food at a Banfield Pet Hospital.

Royal Canin said it will contribute at least 30,000 pounds of pet food, and as much as 20,000 additional pounds based on the number of pledges from its Facebook page.