What can you get for free these days? Not much. Thankfully, there are still freebies available for pet owners, especially dog owners. You just have to look for them. From dog food to T-shirts, those who love canines can score some pretty cool items by investigating such places as local stores and Internet sites.

For example, my local Ace Hardware store offers free samples of dog food. I score one package of each type of food when I go shopping there. I have also gotten dozens of free dog food samples from promotions on the Internet. A few years ago, I even received a coupon good for a five pound bag — of one of the most expensive brands!

To find many of these offers, all you need to do is search “free dog food,” and if any samples are currently available, they will pop up in the search results. Check often, as companies change their promotions regularly. One site not to miss is Wal-Mart.com. For instance, a promotion for dog snacks just expired, but they have free samples on and off throughout the year. And if you hurry, you can get a sample from Rachael Ray for her new dog food, Nutrish. Just register on the Nutrish web site.

Another way to get freebies is to sign up for birthday clubs at participating local pet stores. At Mound’s Pet Food Warehouse in Wisconsin, dog owners can enjoy free events throughout the year, and each time they make a purchase in the store, they receive a free Mounds candy bar. Check your local pet shop to see what kinds of freebies they offer in order to secure your business.

Finally, check out the website, BringFido.com. If you love to travel with your pet, you can find listings of pet friendly lodging, restaurants, and more. There’s also a place to sign up for freebies. Not long ago they were offering free T-shirts!

One thing to be aware of – not all free offers end up being really free. One promotion for two free flush doggie poop bags added a $1.99 shipping and handling fee. (The cool thing, though, is that these bags are both biodegradable and flushable).

Owning a dog can be expensive, so why not take advantage of the many freebies offered by companies vying for your business? All it takes is a little time, and minimal effort, but you will get good quality items in return.

In addition, even if you don’t own a dog, but you love canines, consider signing up for these free offers. When you have a collection of free food samples, you can donate them to the local animal shelter. (This could even be taken on as a project by a youth group, with each child competing to see how much free food they could secure for a shelter in a given amount of time).

With freebies you win, companies win, and even the local pet shelter or rescue could win!