Pet companies, from retailers to manufacturers, continue to collect and send donations south to help wildlife devastated by the massive oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

For example, employees of the Pet Supplies “Plus” store in Pinellas Park, Fla., have, since May, been collecting items like Dawn dishwashing liquid, pantyhose, new brushes and toothbrushes, T-shirts and towels as provisions for people working with affected animals.

“The oil spill has already affected thousands of birds and marine animals,” said Dave Oser, owner of the Pinellas Park store. “As a company founded by pet lovers for pet lovers, we felt compelled to do something to help. We know that the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and Make Mine Bluegreen will put the donated items to good use in saving the lives of animals harmed by the spill.”

On the production side, Cardinal Laboratories Inc. (Azusa, Calif.) is manufacturing a liquid cleanser designed specifically to wash oil off sea birds and water fowl. In July, the company delivered 20,000 gallons of the special cleanser to bird sanctuaries from New Orleans to Panama City, Fla.

Other companies were sending financial aid. For example, Automated Pet Care Products Inc. (Pontiac, Mich.) sent a portion of July sales of the Litter-Robot to the National Wildlife Federation.

On the pet owner side, the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty toward Animals partnered with the ASPCA and Best Friends Animal Society (Kanab, Utah) to assist pet owners suffering economic hardship as a result of the disaster.

“The coastal parish animal shelters have experienced two to three times the number of pets being relinquished than last summer,” said Ana Zorrilla, chief executive officer of the LA/SPCA. “Knowing how bonded people are with their pets, it’s heartbreaking to hear of families having to make this kind of decision. The pets have become innocent victims of this disaster.” [September 2010 PET AGE]