Petfood Forum 2014 will offer multiple opportunities for convention-goers looking for ways to give back directly to the pet community.

Visits with pets from Tree House Humane Society will be available on Tuesday, April 1, from 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Schaumburg East Foyer outside the exhibit hall. Tree House Humane Society rescues and rehabilitates stray cats-often ill, injured or abused-for adoption. Steve Dale, the opening keynote for Petfood Forum 2014, serves on the board of directors. Tree House supports Chicago-area pets in many other ways, including a petfood pantry that is seeking new donation partners. Cash donations are also welcome. Please contact Ollie Davidson, director of programs, at Ollie@treehouseanimals.org.

On Tuesday, April 1, from 2:25 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Wednesday, April 2, from 9:25 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., Petfood Forum attendees can meet Joseph Worley, America's VetDogs' graduate, and his service dog Benjamin, in the Schaumburg East Foyer. Learn from Worley, who served in Iraq as a US Navy corpsman, how his service dog changed his life. Worley and Benjamin are visiting with Wells Jones, CEO of America's VetDogs and the Guide Dog Foundation, and Petfood Forum 2014's closing keynote; and Katherine Fritz. The Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs provide guide and service dogs at no charge-and team the right dog with the right person-to ensure someone with visual or physical disabilities can live a life without boundaries.

Both groups' visits are courtesy of Trouw Nutrition USA.