Animal lovers can share the holiday spirit this month with homeless dogs and cats by donating food, toys and treats through Best Friends Pet Care's seventh annual Angel Tree campaign.

Tags on the Angel Tree in the lobby of Best Friends Pet Care in Marlboro asks community members to help local animal shelters with donations this holiday season. Best Friends Pet Care in Marlboro and Shrewsbury created the Angel Tree program to collect and donate pet supplies to local animal shelters in need of support.

"The holiday season can be a difficult time for animal shelters," said Isa Fowler, the manager of Best Friends Pet Care. "Donations of food and funds fall off because we are all preoccupied with the holidays. To make matters worse, fewer animals are finding homes during this time of year, so many shelters are at capacity and desperately in need of donations."

The Angel Tree in the lobby of each Best Friends is decorated with paper stockings providing information about dogs and cats in need at area shelters. The beneficiaries include Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Eatontown, Rescue Ridge Inc. in Wall Township, Mutts-N-More Rescue in Freehold and New Jersey Boxer Rescue Inc.

"Pet lovers are invited to select a card from the tree and donate the listed holiday gifts," Fowler said. "Each shelter has specific needs, so donors are asked to shop from the list on the card."

Donations, which will be accepted through the end of December, can be made by visiting Best Friends in Marlboro at 234 Boundary Road or in Shrewsbury at 24 Riordan Place.

The Angel Tree program began in 2000 and is under way at all 44 of the company's boarding kennels around the United States. Last year's program provided food, toys, treats and pet-care products to more than 80 shelters and rescue groups.

For more information, call 1-888-FORPETS (367-7387) or visit the Best Friends Web site at www.bestfriendspetcare.com.