Blue Buffalo Rewards Pet Parents During Tax Time
General Mills’ Blue Buffalo is giving shoppers a reason to think about their furry family members as they prepare to file their income taxes.
Raising awareness of its Love Made Fresh line — which debuted in stores nationwide last October — the company is highlighting its fresh dog food in a targeted digital campaign that plays on many pet households’ inquiries for tax deductions.
Dubbed “Love Made Fresh Dog Tax Credit,” the campaign directs consumers to BlueBuffaloDogTaxCredit.com to "claim" their pup as a dependent — and enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a $1,000 credit.
Beyond the dedicated site, social activity on Instagram and Facebook features influencers and creators sharing their dog stories and encouraging followers to enter. The promotion is also being communicated through major news outlets.
The company will randomly award 200 grand-prize winners who can use the credit toward Love Made Fresh products in stores or on the brand’s website. An additional 1,500 instant-win prizes will be given away in the form of a promotional code redeemable at Chewy.com.
Inspiration for the effort came from recent data by The Harris Poll, which found that 82% of pet owners view their pets as their children. Furthermore, Google searches for pet-related tax deductions rose 40% from 2024 to 2025.
“Every tax season, we see pet parents asking questions about how to claim their dog on their taxes, like children, and since that’s not an option, we are stepping in to give credit for everyone who shows their four-legged family member unconditional love every day,” said Nicole Ayers, business unit director of growth accelerators for North America Pet at General Mills, in a media release.
The Love Made Fresh line is the company’s first refrigerated fresh dog food and is available at Walmart, Target, Kroger, Meijer, Chewy and local grocery stores. The promotion began on March 23 and runs through April 17.
