Fall in love with an adoptable pet at Petsmart Charities® of Canada's National Adoption Weekend, September 14-16

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2012 /CNW/ - Fall head over paws for an adopted dog, cat, puppy or kitten during the PetSmart Charities of Canada's National Adoption Weekend. Sponsored by PetSmart^®, from September 14-16 you can visit your neighbourhood PetSmart store to participate, gain a loving companion and give a forever home to a deserving pet.

The event brings together more than 126 Canadian, local animal welfare organizations with a variety of adoptable pets in need of homes and a perfect match for you. Both purebreds and mixed breeds are available for adoption, as well as cats and dogs looking for their lifelong home.

"Adoption is one of the key ways to save pets and end pet homelessness, not to mention enrich our own lives with a loving companion," said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc. "Thanks to generous donations from our supporters, PetSmart Charities of Canada funds hundreds of adoption events and awareness programs each year that have helped find homes for more than 130,000 pets."

Animal welfare organizations will be on-site in all PetSmart stores across Canada and will participate in National Adoption Weekend. These events are proudly sponsored by PetSmart, Purina^® Pro Plan^® and MAXX Scoop^®.  Every adoption benefits participating local animal welfare organizations and rescue agencies which receive $35 in adoption-reward grants from PetSmart Charities of Canada for every pet they adopt during the event.

"Each year, more than 140,000 companion pets are admitted into animal welfare organizations in Canada," said John DeFranco, vice president of supply chain, merchandising and marketing, PetSmart Canada. "We are committed to working with PetSmart Charities of Canada to help save the lives of homeless pets. By offering training classes and a variety of products that help pet parents, we help these pets stay in happy, forever homes."

How to Adopt
Visit the PetSmart Charities of Canada's adoption center inside any PetSmart store in the Canada from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, September 14 and Saturday, September 15; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 16. To find the PetSmart store nearest you and to learn about the adoption center's fees and guidelines, visit www.PetSmartCharities.org/adoption or call 1-877-473-8762.

All of PetSmart Charities of Canada'a programs are made possible through donations. You can contribute to programs that save lives by making a donation online, by email at [email protected] or by calling 623-587-2826. Your donation may be tax deductible.

Stay up-to-date on the many ways PetSmart Charities of Canada is saving the lives of homeless pets by visiting www.PetSmartCharities.org and by following on Facebook at www.facebook.com/savehomelesspets.

About PetSmart Canada^®

PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. In Canada we employ approximately 29,000 associates and operates over 78 pet stores across Canada, more than 7 in-store PetSmart^® PetsHotel^® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading provider of pet supplies and pet care information (www.petsmart.ca). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp SM day care services and pet adoption services.

About PetSmart Charities^® of Canada

Since 1999, PetSmart Charities of Canada Inc., an independent non-profit animal welfare organization, has raised more than $4.3 million benefiting animal welfare organizations across the country. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities^®, PetSmart Canada has helped save the lives of nearly 130,000 pets.

Follow PetSmart on Twitter @PetSmart
Find PetSmart on Facebook www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Image with caption: "Those looking to adopt a pet can find thousands of adoptable pets at PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend events in all PetSmart stores Sept. 14-16. (AP Photo/Art Foxall) (CNW Group/Weber Shandwick Worldwide) (CNW Group/PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120905_C3632_PHOTO_EN_17467.jpg

SOURCE: PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc.

For further information:

Meghan Ney, GolinHarris for PetSmart Canada
416-642-7957
[email protected]