Successfully collected 6 tons of food for abandoned dogs and cats in shelters across Serbia

Customers of Pet Center stores collected 3 tons of food. Mars, together with its distribution partner NELT and Pet Center, will donate an additional 3 tons.

During a holiday humanitarian campaign carried out in Pet Center stores across Serbia, customers donated three tons of food for abandoned dogs and cats. In cooperation with Mars, through its brands Whiskas and Pedigree, and with the support of distribution partner NELT, the collected amount was doubled, resulting in a total of six tons of food to be donated to shelters across the country.

Between December 15 and January 11, Pet Center customers throughout Serbia collected three tons of food for abandoned dogs and cats by leaving purchased products at designated donation points in stores. In line with the announced campaign model, Mars and Pet Center matched the collected quantity, securing a total of six tons of food for shelters during the winter period.

Throughout the campaign, donations were collected in Pet Center stores in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Subotica, Vršac, Sombor, Pančevo, Čačak, Kragujevac, Kruševac, Niš, and Šabac, while the distribution of food will be carried out in cooperation with local shelters and animal welfare organisations.

The joint giving model once again proved to be highly effective and sustainable. Compared to one ton of food collected two years ago, this year’s result represents a significant step forward and confirms that continuity, a clearly defined mechanism, and public trust can lead to tangible and measurable progress. The growth in donation volume also reflects increasing public awareness of the needs of abandoned animals, as well as the strength of the partnerships that make this initiative visible and accessible nationwide.

The holiday initiative once again demonstrated that individual gestures, when united around a shared goal, grow into systematic support for those who need it most. Every donated package of food became part of a broader story of care, empathy, and shared responsibility toward dogs and cats spending the winter in shelters.

Through initiatives like this, Mars and Pet Center, with the support of distribution partner NELT, continue to invest long-term in improving pet welfare and, together with citizens and local communities, build a culture of solidarity and responsible care for animals – especially during periods when support is most needed.