Pet Paradise near the Jacksonville International Airport is helping pet parents take care of their four-legged friends, and my dog Theo got to experience the fun.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Pet Paradise and a Jacksonville-area school are giving new opportunities to students with intellectual and developmental differences. Students from North Florida School of Special Education unveiled a new piece of artwork Wednesday that will be displayed inside a newly opened Pet Paradise veterinary clinic. We knew that it was going to be a collaboration between our art students and our art teachers and volunteers." Art with Soul is a partnership between the school and Pet Paradise. Pet Paradise said it hopes to use art from the students in all of its veterinary facilities, and the school hopes many more pieces will follow.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Pet Paradise's 6th annual Food for Paws Pet Food Drive collected over 35,000 pounds of pet food to benefit local animal welfare groups and pet owners in need throughout the United States. "It is always rewarding to see people working together, giving back to their communities and helping to make a difference," said Fred Goldsmith, Pet Paradise CEO and executive chairman of the Jacksonville-based company. Local communities provided a little bit of paradise to pets in need this holiday season by donating a bag of pet food to their local Pet Paradise Resort. The pet food drive has assisted over 20 nonprofit organizations nationally and numerous pet owners who are struggling to feed their pets across six states. Since 2009, Pet Paradise has collected and distributed over 110,000 pounds of pet food through its Annual Food for Paws Pet Food Drive.