Signature adoption event saves the lives of 1,659 pets in Canada,
and 25,522 pets across North America, the most in PetSmart's History
BURLINGTON, ON, Sept. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - A total of 25,522 pets found their forever homes last week during the PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend event held at more than 1,470 PetSmart stores across North America – setting a new record with the most pets adopted at these national events since they were initiated by the retailer more than two decades ago.
Here in Canada, a total of 1,659 pets were adopted from Sept. 12 – 18, representing a 26 per cent increase over PetSmart's previous Sept. National Adoption Weekend in 2015. Pet adoptions take place at PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekends, as well as every day at PetSmart stores. In fact, more than 60 pets are adopted every day at PetSmart stores in Canada.
"We believe that every pet deserves a loving, forever home. That's what PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend is all about—bringing people and adoptable pets together. We're thrilled to announce that 1,659 pets were adopted across Canada, the most in our company's history. These events are highly coordinated efforts involving nearly all aspects of our company and the unwavering support of our local animal welfare partners. From setting up tents and preparing stores to serve as adoption centres to coordinating with our animal welfare partners, we couldn't be more proud of the collaborative efforts that have resulted in this record-breaking number of pets' lives that have been saved," says John DeFranco, President of PetSmart in Canada and Chair of the Board at PetSmart Charities of Canada.
These signature National Adoption Weekend events at PetSmart are conducted in collaboration with PetSmart Charities®, PetSmart Charities™ of Canada and adoption partners—more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations that bring adoptable pets into stores where people save pets and pets save people. While often referred to as PetSmart Charities National Adoption "Weekend," the adoption efforts span the entire week with the majority of the pets (approximately 90%) being adopted between Friday and Sunday when many stores host large parking lot tent-events with their local adoption partners to connect adoptable pets with their forever families.
As a gift to those that adopt and save a life, PetSmart gives its free Adoption Kit, which provides advice on how to integrate a pet into the family and true value – with more than $325 in real savings – to the adoption parent. Included are coupons for a free bag of dog or cat food from Simply Nourish™, Authority® or Good Natured™, as well as a free training session with an accredited trainer, a free Doggie Day Camp session and a free overnight boarding stay, as well as half-off on two grooming services. Also included are savings on all the essentials for a new pet including beds, crates, gates, brushes, feeding bowls, collars, leashes, toys and treats, as well as solutions like pet calming products and stain and odor remedies for the mishaps that are sure to occur.
The PetSmart Adoption Kit is industry-leading and available to anybody who adopts, no matter where they adopt* – at PetSmart, a shelter, community event, or even another retailer. On average PetSmart is handing out about 10,000 free Adoption Kits every week. *Adoption papers are required.
Pet parents everywhere are invited to share their own pet's adoption story on Instagram or Twitter using #iadopted for a chance to be featured on a special adoption story wall at www.petsmart.ca and www.petsmartcharities.ca. So far, more than 1,500 stories have been posted on the #iadopted story wall. Go to www.petsmart.ca/iadopted and www.petsmartcharities.ca/iadopted to see the stories.
The next PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend will be held on Nov. 11-13. If you're looking to add a pet to your family, please consider saving a life by adopting. Visit your local PetSmart Charities of Canada adoption center in most PetSmart stores across the country, or visit www.petsmartcharities.ca for more information. Stay up-to-date on the latest news by following PetSmart Canada on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PetSmartCanada/ and on Twitter at @PetSmartChariTs.
About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart's passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 53,000 associates, operate 1,477 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and 203 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. 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 day care services and pet adoption services in-store. Our portfolio of digital resources for pet parents – including PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, Pet360.com and petMD.com – offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. Through our in-store pet adoption partnership with independent nonprofit organizations, PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, PetSmart helps to save the lives of more than 500,000 homeless pets each year.
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. Each year nearly 500,000 dogs and cats find homes through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and sponsored adoption events. Each year millions of PetSmart shoppers contribute to pets in need by making donations directly to PetSmart Charities on a pin pad at the registers in PetSmart stores. PetSmart Charities administers and efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar of the generous donations by issuing grants and providing additional support to help pets in need. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding adoption and spay/neuter programs that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, independent from PetSmart, Inc. PetSmart Charities has received the Four Star Rating for the past 13 years from Charity Navigator, an independent nonprofit that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization.
About PetSmart Charities™ of Canada
PetSmart Charities of Canada is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets in Canada. Each year more than 20,000 cats and dogs find Canadian homes through our adoption program in nearly all PetSmart stores across Canada and our sponsored adoption events. A leading funder of animal welfare, PetSmart Charities of Canada has granted more than $9 million to help pets in need with a funding focus on adoption and spay/neuter programs that help communities solve pet overpopulation, as well as emergency relief supplies and funding for pets and pet parents affected by natural or man-made disasters. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered charity, independent from PetSmart.
SOURCE PetSmart Canada
Image with caption: "PetSmart Charities of Canada (CNW Group/PetSmart Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160926_C8244_PHOTO_EN_780723.jpg
Image with caption: "PetSmart Canada (CNW Group/PetSmart Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160926_C8244_PHOTO_EN_780724.jpg
Image with caption: "PetSmart - The Adopt Spot (CNW Group/PetSmart Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160926_C8244_PHOTO_EN_780725.jpg
Weber Shandwick for PetSmart Inc.: Fontane Choi, [email protected], 647-400-2468; PetSmart Media Line: 623-587-2177
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