A goal of healthier dogs, cats

Local residents are getting some help in keeping their pets healthy and happy. Aurora’s Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) program will be offering Nulo brand pet vitamins and treats at the Aurora Mall this Sunday as part of a new initiative for providing supplements for any dog or cat owner in Hamilton County. The distribution takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Handing out vitamins and treats last Sunday was the head of TNR, Shannon Goltz, who discovered Nulo Pet Food when the company was offering food supplements and vitamins to rescue programs pets in their care.
“I found out Nulo was giving away free cat products and dog products to rescues and I managed to get on the iMessenger feed for cats,” Goltz explained. “It helps cats when they’re out in the heat or if they’re malnourished to help them gain weight, that kind of thing. And so since I do the Trap, Neuter and Release program here in Aurora I thought, ‘Well, why not?’”
Goltz began by providing Nulo packets to people who were feeding stray, feral and community cats to keep them healthy and hydrated. 
While in Omaha picking up the cat food, she discovered they also made food and supplements for dogs.
“I’m sitting there thinking, my mind’s going a hundred miles an hour and I’m like, ‘Well, if they’re just going to give it away (to rescues), why not go get it and give it to people who need or want it that can’t normally afford it?” she said.
Goltz said the Nulo products have been rated positively by pet owners and have grown to be one of the highest rated providers for food and vitamin supplements in the state and beyond.
“Omega vitamins are the all around what the dog would need, just a general vitamin,” Goltz explained.
Immune Health is a vitamin for pets that have allergies or skin conditions that cause itching. Another product is Mobility B.
“Mobility B would be for any dogs that have joint issues, muscle problems and the older senior dogs or dogs that are getting up there in age,” she continued. “It just helps their joints move freely.”
In addition to the vitamins, Goltz will be giving away gravy packets to complement the pet food.
“I have beef and I have turkey,” she said. “You just spread it over the dry dog food and they eat it.” 
For cats, the gravy contains pieces of chicken or fish. 
“You can either put it over their dry food or you can give them a bowl as a treat and they’ll eat it real fast and they love it,” Goltz commented. 
Training treats will also be available for dog owners.
“They’re more for puppies or dogs that you would get from the shelter and you want to train them to sit or do tricks,” she said.
No matter the expiration dates labelled on the bags, Goltz stated that as long as the containers remain unopened, the vitamins can last up to a year.
“You have a year to use them if they’re unopened,” Goltz stated. “If you open them, you need to, you know you need to use them because they’re soft chews.”
She said small dog should only be given one vitamin a day but dogs weighing over 100 pounds should get four. She said if pets accidentally are fed a little over the amount they are supposed to take, that isn’t a cause for concern as it will go through the pets’ system without any concern. If pets eat a larger amount of the supplements she said owners should call their veterinarian immediately.
“The gravy toppers, I would say, start once a day and see how they like it,” she commented. “Most dogs get fed twice a day so you could use it as a special treat for them.”
The gravy toppers for both dogs and cats are vacuumed sealed and can last up to 5-7 years unopened.
“They need to be kept in a climate controlled place so anywhere in your house,” Goltz stated. “If they put them in their basement or in their closet, it’s fine.”
Goltz said she was pleased with the turnout of pet owners for the first event last Sunday. Every pet owner who showed up received gravy packs and a full box of each vitamin supplement. The distribution is on a first come, first served basis. 
During their hours there had given out 10 boxes of each vitamin with a box containing 12 containers, 50 boxes of 24 cat pouches and 50 bags of treats for the community.
So far Goltz has received from the company two truckloads of Nulo products.
When pet owners register with her they can receive updates from Goltz about upcoming distributions. 
“That way when I get more shipments... I might be able to keep track and kind of tell who wants it and who doesn’t,” she said. “That way I don’t come home with excess amounts and if more people want it, I’ll go back and do more trips to get more.”
If the response from pet owners continues to be positive this Sunday, Goltz plans on getting more of the products in the fall continuing on a fall/spring cycle.
For future distribution dates those interested should check the Aurora Adopt A Pet Facebook page.