Should I feed my dog before coming to daycare?

Dogs should be fed at least 90 minutes before daycare to help reduce the risk of digestive discomfort or bloat during play.

What is the daycare schedule?

Daycare includes morning and afternoon play rotations, rest periods, optional lunch, and scheduled drop-off and pick-up times.

Play My Way is a customized care program for dogs that prefer individual attention, small-group enrichment, or alternative play experiences.

What is Assisted Canine Care (ACC)?

Assisted Canine Care (ACC) is designed for senior dogs, dogs with medical needs, and dogs requiring additional supervision, medication management, or personalized care.

What if I forget to bring my dog’s food?

Food can be provided for an additional fee if owners forget to bring their dog's meals.

Is there someone staying with my dog overnight?

Yes. Trained staff members are on-site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Lux Suites are premium overnight accommodations that include private suites, entertainment, window views, and camera access for pet owners.

Can you accommodate special dietary needs?

Yes. Guests may bring their own food, and special dietary instructions can be accommodated.

Can I add enrichment activities to my dog's stay?

Yes. One-on-one sessions and enrichment activities such as puzzles, walks, snuggle time, and treat games are available.

Do you board puppies, seniors, and special-needs dogs?

Yes. The facility welcomes puppies, senior dogs, and dogs requiring medication or special care.

What vaccinations are required?

Dogs must be current on required vaccinations, including canine influenza protection, before participating in daycare or boarding.

How do you keep the facility clean?

The facility uses air purification systems and regular sanitization protocols to help maintain a healthy environment.

Pet Food Pantry | Best Friends Fur Ever

Pet Food Pantry

For more than 20 years, Best Friends Fur Ever has been committed to creating more good days for Maryland dogs. Today, we’re proud to extend that mission beyond our resort doors with the launch of the Best Friends Fur Ever Pet Food Pantry and The Maryland Dog Food Challenge.

Life can change unexpectedly. A job loss, medical emergency, or financial setback can place tremendous stress on a family. During those moments, we believe no one should have to worry about feeding their best friend.

Because a bag of dog food is about more than a meal.

It’s another morning walk before work.

Another familiar face waiting at the front door.

Another quiet evening with a best friend curled up nearby.

Those everyday moments are worth protecting.

The Maryland Dog Food Challenge

The Maryland Dog Food Challenge is a community initiative that brings together dog lovers, veterinary hospitals, local businesses, schools, scout troops, and community organizations to help stock the Best Friends Fur Ever Pet Food Pantry.

Whether you donate a single bag or organize a food drive, every contribution helps provide temporary support for local families while strengthening the bond between people and their pets.

Together, we can make a meaningful impact—one bag at a time.

Accept the Challenge

Every bag makes a difference.

Every food drive strengthens our community.

Every organization has the opportunity to help create more good days for Maryland dogs.

Here’s how to participate:

Accept the Challenge
Register your organization, business, school, veterinary hospital, scout troop, church, or community group.
Host a Food Drive
Collect unopened dog food and treats with your team, customers, students, or community.
Share Your Story
Share your progress using #FillTheBowlMD and inspire others to join The Maryland Dog Food Challenge.
Deliver Your Donations
Bring your collected donations to either Best Friends Fur Ever location.
Celebrate Your Impact
We’ll recognize your organization as part of our growing Community Partner Network and celebrate your contribution throughout the campaign.

Donate Dog Food

We gladly accept:

Unopened dry dog food.
Unopened canned dog food.
Unopened dog treats

Donations can be dropped off during business hours at either Best Friends Fur Ever location.

Resorts & Donation Sites

Joppa Resort: 1009 Philadelphia Road
Joppa, MD 21085

Cockeysville Resort: 246 Cockeysville Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030

Every donation stays right here in our local community.

Food collected through the Best Friends Fur Ever Pet Food Pantry is distributed through trusted community partners and outreach efforts across Maryland, with an initial focus on Harford and Baltimore Counties.

Your donation helps provide meals for dogs whose families are facing temporary financial hardship—creating more good days and helping keep beloved pets where they belong: at home with the people who love them.

Sponsor a Month of More Good Days

Did You Know?

A typical 30-pound bag of dog food can provide approximately two months of meals for an average medium-sized dog.

One bag can help provide weeks of full bowls, morning walks, bedtime cuddles, and the everyday moments that make life with a dog so meaningful.

Whether you donate one bag or several, your generosity helps provide temporary support for local families during life’s unexpected challenges.

Looking to make an even bigger impact? Challenge your workplace, school, veterinary hospital, neighborhood, or community organization to collect enough dog food to help provide even more months of meals for Maryland dogs.

Community Partners

Every organization that joins The Maryland Dog Food Challenge becomes part of our growing Community Partner Network.

Together, we’re building a stronger community for dogs and the people who love them.

Community Partners receive:

Featured recognition on the Best Friends Fur Ever website.
Social media spotlights celebrating your participation.
Recognition in campaign newsletters and updates.
Opportunities to be featured in community outreach and local media.
A digital Community Partner badge to display on your website and social media.

Because every organization helping fill the pantry is helping create more good days for Maryland dogs.

Meet Our Community Champions

(Coming Soon!)

We’re just getting started.

As The Maryland Dog Food Challenge grows, we’ll proudly recognize the businesses, veterinary hospitals, schools, scout troops, churches, and community organizations helping make this movement possible.

Our Community Champions will be featured here as we celebrate the collective impact our Maryland community is making—one bag, one food drive, and one act of kindness at a time.

Could your organization be one of the first?

FAQs

The pantry is designed to provide temporary assistance to local families experiencing financial hardship. Assistance is available as supplies allow.

We currently accept:

Unopened dry dog food.
Unopened canned dog food.
Unopened dog treats.

For safety reasons, we cannot accept opened or expired products.

Donations may be dropped off during normal business hours at our Joppa and Cockeysville resorts.

Yes. Every donation collected through the Best Friends Fur Ever Pet Food Pantry stays right here in our Maryland communities, helping local dogs and the families who love them.

Absolutely!

We welcome businesses, schools, veterinary hospitals, scout troops, churches, civic organizations, and community groups to participate in The Maryland Dog Food Challenge.

Simply Accept the Challenge, host a food drive, and we’ll provide resources, recognition, and support to help make your collection a success.

More Than a Donation

Every bag placed in our donation bin represents something bigger than food.

It represents neighbors helping neighbors.

It helps preserve the everyday moments that make life with a dog so meaningful—an eager greeting at the front door, a peaceful walk through the neighborhood, and a loyal companion waiting at home.

Those moments may seem ordinary, but to the families who share them, they’re everything.

Thank you for helping us protect them.

Fill the Bowl.
Fuel More Good Days.
Together, let’s build a stronger community—one bag at a time.