Introducing Theo's Best Friend Award: Eco Serve's Quarterly Give-Back with Buddy's Second Chance Rescue
Bottom Line Up Front
Eco Serve has partnered with Buddy's Second Chance Rescue to help local rescue dogs find forever homes, most recently through our own internal "Theo's Best Friend Award." Launched in April, this quarterly recognition lets Eco Serve team members nominate and vote for a coworker who embodies the same spirit as our Chief Barking Officer, Theo — and that person gets to choose a rescue dog for Eco Serve to sponsor. Two dogs, Nero and Scarlett, have been sponsored so far, and it's on top of an earlier fundraiser that raised $1,700 for Buddy's in Spring 2025.
TL;DR — Key Takeaways
- Eco Serve launched Theo's Best Friend Award in April, a quarterly, peer-voted recognition for team members who go above and beyond.
- Each winner gets to choose a dog from Buddy's Second Chance Rescue for Eco Serve to sponsor, and we cover 100% of that dog's adoption fee.
- Val Beier, our Scheduling Specialist, won the first award and chose Nero, who has since found his forever home.
- Jaren Thomas, one of our Team Leads, won the second-quarter award in July and chose Scarlett, whose story was featured on Daytime Buffalo.
- This builds on a Spring 2025 fundraiser where Eco Serve donated $25 for every Eco Premium and Premium Plus Home Plan sold, raising $1,700 for Buddy's.
Protecting Homes, and Giving Second Chances
At Eco Serve, we've always believed that taking care of our community goes beyond pest control. That's part of why we've built a lasting partnership with Buddy's Second Chance Rescue, a local nonprofit dedicated to giving rescue dogs a fresh start across Western New York.
Our support for Buddy's has grown over the past year, from a companywide fundraiser to a brand-new internal tradition we're proud to call our own: Theo's Best Friend Award.
What Is Theo's Best Friend Award?
Named after our Chief Barking Officer, Theo, this quarterly award is an internal recognition where Eco Serve team members vote for a coworker who goes above and beyond to support others, spread positivity, and make Eco Serve a great place to work — the same qualities Theo brings to the office every day.
Image 1: Eco Serve's Chief Barking Officer Theo
Image 2: The Theo's Best Friend Award Logo
The twist that makes this award special: whoever wins doesn't just get recognized by their team. They also get to choose a rescue dog from Buddy's Second Chance Rescue for Eco Serve to sponsor, with the company covering 100% of that dog's adoption fee.
Meet the Winners So Far
Image 3: Quarter 1 Awardee, Val Beier (left) and Quarter 2 Awardee, Jaren Thomas (right) with Theo
Val Beier and Nero. Our first-ever Theo's Best Friend Award went to Val Beier, our Scheduling Specialist.
Here's what one of Val's teammates had to say about him:
"Val is always willing to help me, answer questions, and listen to my rants. We get through the day getting our job done, working as a team and laughing. He has a lot on his shoulders with the schedules yet takes the time to help me when needed and make the day more enjoyable"
Val chose Nero, a sweet pup who loved being outdoors and was patiently waiting for the right family. Eco Serve covered Nero's adoption fee in full, and Val joined Nero for a segment on Daytime Buffalo to share his story. We're happy to share that Nero has since found his forever home, and he's spending his days soaking up the sunshine with a family who loves him.
Image 4: Nero with Audrey (center), Julie (right) and Chelsea (left) at the Daytime Buffalo Show
Image 5: Nero, Eco Serve's first sponsored pup, with his new family
Jaren Thomas and Scarlett. This past July, our second-quarter award went to Jaren Thomas, one of our Team Leads.
One of Jaren's teammates shared this about working with him:
"His reliability, flexibility, and willingness to step in wherever he is needed make him a great example of teamwork and dedication. Jaren consistently shows that he cares about both his work and his co-workers."
Jaren chose Scarlett as Eco Serve's next sponsored pup. Our president, Audrey Hall, joined Julie Starr of Buddy's Second Chance Rescue on Daytime Buffalo to introduce Scarlett and share more about the partnership behind the award.
Jaren chose Scarlett because she's an adult dog. While puppies often receive the most attention from prospective adopters, adult dogs like Scarlett have just as much love to give and can make wonderful companions for the right family. By sponsoring Scarlett, Eco Serve hoped to help shine a light on an incredible dog who deserves a second chance just as much as any puppy. If Scarlett sounds like the right fit for your family, you can learn more and apply to adopt her at buddysrescue.org.
Image 6: Scarlett, Eco Serve's 2nd sponsored pup with Julie (left), Audrey (center) and Chelsea (right) at the Daytime Buffalo Show
More Than Adoptions: Our History with Buddy's
Theo's Best Friend Award isn't where our support for Buddy's Second Chance Rescue started. In Spring 2025, Eco Serve ran a fundraiser donating $25 for every Eco Premium and Premium Plus Home Plan sold, raising $1,700 to help Buddy's continue finding loving homes for dogs in need. Sponsoring adoption fees through Theo's Best Friend Award felt like a natural next step in that same mission: giving second chances, one paw at a time.
Our partnership has also extended beyond fundraising and sponsorships. Buddy's Second Chance Rescue joined us at our company picnic held at Como Lake Park, Lancaster on August 1, 2026, where they hosted a treat and toy drive with our team. Thanks to everyone's generosity, we collected a large box of donations to help support the rescue and its dedicated foster families as they continue caring for dogs in need.
Why This Partnership Matters to Us
Protecting homes and businesses across Buffalo, Amherst, Cheektowaga, and the rest of Western New York is our day job, but we've always wanted Eco Serve to mean more to this community than that. That's really what "Pest Control that's Personal" means to us — it's not just about the service we provide, it's about showing up for the people and causes that make Western New York feel like home. Partnering with Buddy's Second Chance Rescue gives our team a way to give back in a way that feels personal, whether that's through a fundraiser or a quarterly award that puts an Eco Serve teammate at the center of a dog's second chance.
And when one dog finds a home, it helps make room for Buddy's to save another.
How You Can Get Involved
- Considering adoption? Visit buddysrescue.org to see available dogs, including Scarlett, and start an application.
- Not ready to adopt but interested in fostering? Buddy's Second Chance Rescue also offers opportunities to provide a temporary home for a dog while they wait for their forever family. Visit their website to learn more about becoming a foster.
- Curious about future winners? We'll keep sharing new Theo's Best Friend Award stories each quarter, so stay tuned on our social channels.
- Want to support Buddy's directly? You can make a donation anytime through Buddy's Second Chance Rescue's website. Every contribution helps provide food, medical care, and a second chance for animals waiting to find their forever homes.
- New to Eco Serve? Buddy's Second Chance Rescue is just one of the many local organizations we're proud to support. Visit our Community Involvement page to learn more about the causes we've partnered with over the years, or request a free quote to see how we can help protect your home while supporting a local company that believes in giving back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question we didn't cover here? Browse the full Eco Serve FAQ page or request a free quote and our team will be happy to help.