As a pet owner, you do everything you can to ensure that your four-legged family member lives a long and happy life. That includes feeding them a healthy diet. Your dog would be happy to lap up anything that falls on the floor while you are enjoying a meal, but did you know that many of the foods we humans eat are actually harmful or even toxic to dogs? Here are four human foods you can safely share with your dog the next time they’re begging for your snack.

4 Human Foods Dogs Can Eat

Whole Grains

Whole grains, such as oats, barley, and brown rice, are good for both you and your dog. Cook them so that they are easily digestible and leave them unseasoned to avoid causing digestive issues. So if you make yourself some oatmeal for breakfast in the morning, feel free to make a little extra for your most loyal breakfast companion.

Keep in mind that dogs are carnivores. Grains should make up no more than 7 to 10 percent of their total diet. If you use a commercial dog food, check the grain content to make sure that you aren’t accidentally giving them too much.

Lean Protein

Of course, you already know that dogs love meat. That does not, however, mean that all meat is good for dogs. Fatty cuts like bacon and rib eye should be avoided. Raw or under-cooked meat can be just as bad for dogs as it is for people, so stick to fully cooked meat, cut or ground into small chunks that is easy for them to chew.

Non-red meats like poultry and fish are also great for dogs. Salmon is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep your dog’s coat shiny. Chicken is a good occasional substitute for your usual dog food. Just boil it and add it to some plain white rice for a wholesome dinner your dog will eat right up.

Fresh Vegetables

Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cucumber, and green beans add crucial fiber and vitamins to your dog’s diet. Serve them raw or lightly steamed with no added oil, salt, or seasonings. If your pooch has trouble chewing big pieces of vegetables, shred or cut them up into smaller chunks. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines and suggestions. Every dog is unique, so keep an eye out for veggies that may lead to tummy trouble.

Peanut Butter

This is one tasty treat you can feel good about giving your dog. A tablespoon of raw, unsalted peanut butter delivers healthy fats and vitamins. A quick warning: be sure to check the label for xylitol, a natural sweetener that’s toxic to dogs.

Now that you know which human foods dogs can eat, it’s also important to know which human foods to keep away from dogs. Beef and chicken bones can splinter, causing serious injury. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, avocados, onions, garlic, yeast dough, artificial sweeteners, coffee, and alcohol are all harmful if ingested. If your dog gets a hold of something dangerous, find a vet right away. If you’re away from home or it’s after regular business hours, Kuddly can help you connect with a veterinarian from anywhere and at any time of the day or night.

By keeping a variety of dog-friendly foods on hand, you can prepare meals that everyone in the house can enjoy — and feel good about slipping your beloved furry friend an occasional treat under the table.

This blog post is part of a paid Megan Media and Petco Repeat Delivery blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

There are a number of unspoken rules you come to live by when you have a pet in the family. If you happen to have four cats like I do, they include keeping your cool when you’re abruptly woken up by them running over you during 5 a.m. playtime; adjusting to the early morning breakfast demands that come with bops on your head, whiskers against your nose, or when that doesn’t work, having your eyelids licked (always a fun time!); and the one-sided agreement that you are responsible for doling out pets and cuddles on their schedule, never yours.

And then there’s knowing that you are almost always, without fail, running out of something.

Four cats go through a lot of food and litter, and I can’t tell you the number of times I have gone to scoop a litter box or groggily walked to the kitchen still half-asleep after being woken up by a cat demanding breakfast to find that I was running low or was completely out of the supplies I needed. When you live in a rural area about 20 miles away from the nearest pet supply store, it isn’t always easy or even possible to quickly run out and grab something you need. That is precisely why I was so thrilled to find out about Petco’s Repeat Delivery service, and instantly became a loyal customer.

Petco makes stocking up on pet essentials easier than ever by delivering everything you need to keep your pets happy, healthy, and taken care of right to your front door. You don’t need to go into a Petco store to get started, or even have a Petco near you. Simply navigate their website to shop for your pet’s favorite products, like litter, food, treats, catnip, and more, choose how often you would like your supplies delivered (anywhere between every two weeks to 12 months), check out, and wait for your delivery. Talk about a better system than realizing you’re out of something your pets need last minute and having to drive 20 miles to the nearest store and back!

The process is so easy and takes just a few minutes, plus Petco stocks a wide assortment of brands, including specialty brands, so you can rest assured knowing that you will still be able to give your fur babies the very best, which is what we all want for our pets. Repeat Delivery also offers savings that really add up, with discounts of up to 20% off select items and everyday free shipping on purchases of $49 or more.

There are a few exclusions to scoring free shipping — for instance, it doesn’t include cat litter, namely because have you ever had to lug around a bulk-sized box of cat litter? It is heavy! However, by planning our delivery schedule accordingly, it can still be an awesome savings, plus I won’t have to pick up those heavy boxes or pails more than from my front door to the litter box, which is great. And if you realize you need something sooner than the schedule you had originally set your deliveries up for or wanted to put off a shipment, you can do so easily by accessing your Petco account.

Would Petco Repeat Delivery make your life as a pet parent easier?

(BPT) – When you come home from work, he’s always there to greet you. When you need extra motivation to work out, he’s happy to join for a walk. When you’ve had a bad day, he can sense it and is quick to give you a loving nuzzle. Pets provide endless joy to their families, but for millions of shelter animals, each day is a test of patience in hopes of finding a forever home.

Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide every year, according to the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) statistics. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. These numbers underscore the massive need for volunteers to provide the necessary care to ensure as many pets as possible can be placed in safe, loving homes.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any shelter, and it’s a true community effort to keep animals healthy and safe. The Dumb Friends League — Denver’s largest animal shelter dedicated to giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves — depended on 1,418 volunteers who donated 211,307 hours of service last fiscal year to help needy animals in Colorado. That’s the equivalent of 101 full-time employees worth $4.7 million in donated time.

This is just one example of the impact volunteers make in the estimated 13,600 shelters nationwide.

In addition to volunteers, support from a variety of businesses and corporations helps keep shelters running strong. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, for example, is one of the largest donors of food to shelters across the country. In fact, Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love® program has provided more than $280 million worth of food to more than 1,000 shelters since its inception in 2002.

Both volunteers and Hill’s share the common goal of transforming the lives of homeless pets. To recognize the vital contribution of shelter volunteers, Hill’s has launched an initiative this year to bring volunteers long overdue recognition. Hill’s has created a contest, Hill’s Shelter Heroes, to recognize the amazing volunteers who continue to go above and beyond in their commitment to shelter pets.

One of the recent winners, Annie Hughes with Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, who has dedicated more than 7,279 hours to her shelter, wanted to express her appreciation to Hill’s for creating a program that “allowed her to share her passion for helping sheltered animals.” Hughes’ submission, along with the rest of the 10 finalists, can be seen at Hill’s Shelter Hero Contest page.

It’s apparent that caring for shelter animals is a group effort, yet one person can make a big difference to help save lives. If you want to change the world for animals in need, here are some tips for becoming a volunteer.

1. Reach out to local shelters. Call your local animal shelter or rescue group to see if they are accepting volunteers.
2. Think about your interests and skills. Caring for animals one-on-one is a popular shelter activity, but there are so many more opportunities for volunteers. Whether you’re able to foster in your home, offer professional skills in administration departments, or serve as an adoption counselor to new pet parents, volunteer options are truly endless.
3. Spread the love. Once you find your volunteer home, spread the love to help pets find homes and encourage friends to volunteer. By sharing posts on social media like the #HillsShelterHeroes contest, hosting fundraising events, and simply bragging about that adorable new pooch to your friends, you’re helping to open everyone’s eyes to the growing need for volunteers at shelters and the importance of pet adoption.