BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Animal Care and Adoption has been honored with a special “check” from the Petco Foundation for a $250,000 Life Saving Impact Award grant to support Animal Care’s pet retention and shelter programs.
The check was presented by Karen Meader, Petco Foundation’s National Adoption Program Manager, and accepted by Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich and Animal Care Director, Lauralei Combs.
The Petco Foundation's generous award will help residents keep their pet. Often people surrender their beloved dog or cat to Animal Care for financial reasons. However, the funds from the grant will provide free microchips; wellness clinic services; supplies and behavior training directly to pet owners in low-income communities. By promoting and distributing these services to under-served communities, residents will receive the assistance they need to keep their dog or cat in their home.
In addition, Petco’s Life Saving Impact Award will enhance pet adoptions by partnering with the Dogs Playing for Life (DPFL) organization. It has been proven that play groups and enrichment/behavior programs are a much-needed necessity in shelters since they reduce stress and promote the physical and psychological well-being of shelter dogs. Medium to large breed dogs are the most challenging to adopt. Because of this, the DPFL Program will focus on keeping this dog population mentally and physically engaged so they can engage in socialization, decompress, and in the end, become healthier and more adoptable.
“This $250,000 lifesaving grant from the Petco Foundation will expand our critical, low-cost spay neuter programs through community clinics and a mobile van. Additionally, it will provide free microchips, wellness pet supplies, and behavioral training for pet owners in underserved communities. This funding will help move the Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Shelter further toward our goal of becoming a no-kill shelter. It is wonderful to have a partner like the Petco Foundation,” said Commissioner Nan Rich.
“We are very thankful to the Petco Foundation for their generosity and support of our efforts," said Lauralei Combs, director at Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Division. "The grant is an investment in our comprehensive strategy to increase adoptions and help keep pets in their home. Support from partners like the Petco Foundation allows us to achieve these goals much sooner."
For more information about Broward County Animal Care or the Petco Foundation, visit Broward.org/Animal or petcofoundation.org. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at #PetcoFoundation.
About Animal Care
Broward County Animal Care and Adoption is dedicated to providing shelter for lost and homeless pets. The agency provides access to hundreds of shelter pets hoping for a new home. Please prevent unwanted pets and have your pet spayed or neutered. For more information about the agency, visit our website, or like us on Facebook.
About the Petco Foundation
At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999 we've invested more than $250 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving in initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we've helped more than six million pets find their new loving families, and we're just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.
DATE: September 27, 2019
CONTACT: Lauralei Combs, Director
Broward County Animal Care and Adoption
PHONE:
954-359-1313
EMAIL: lcombs@broward.org