Just in time to kick off National Adoption Weekend, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando proudly announces the receipt of a total of $140,000 in grants from PetSmart Charities. One of the most common reasons pets are surrendered to local shelters is the lack of affordable pet wellness, training and education programs.
Due to cost and other barriers, pets in under-resourced communities often do not have access to basic veterinary care such as spay/neuter services, vaccinations, dental care and other medical and preventative care. With a $75,000 grant from PetSmart Charities, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando can now support even more pets and families in need by providing free wellness exams, vaccines and spay/neuter surgeries to under-resourced communities in the tri-county area.
Partnering with Osceola County Animal Services, the City of Orlando and Orange County, Pet Alliance will offer wellness and vaccine services via its Mobile Veterinary Unit at locations throughout the community. Free spay/neuter surgeries will also be offered to community members in need at Pet Alliance’s Alafaya Clinic. The goal is to serve 1,000 pets over the next twelve months.
“This pilot program will expand Pet Alliance’s work in the community and provide services to residents and pets that are most in need,” says Steve Bardy, Executive Director at Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. “Pet Alliance’s vision is to create a more caring community by promoting happier, healthier pets and their families, and this program will help us achieve that goal. We look forward to building partnerships and collaborating with other agencies to serve the families and pets of Central Florida. This program would not be possible without the generous support of PetSmart Charities, which we are extremely grateful for.”
In addition, a $65,000 grant from PetSmart Charities has been awarded to Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando to support adoption activities that prepare animals for adoption, like staffing, spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, medical supplies and more. This grant will help support the adoption of 2,500 animals over 12-months.
“We believe communities are stronger with pets and are committed to supporting pets and the people who
love them,” says Kelly Balthazor, Regional Relationship Manager at PetSmart Charities. “We are thrilled to support these initiatives with Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando that remove barriers to basic pet care and
promote adoptions to ensure more animals achieve proper, quality care and find happy, healthy homes.”
Since 1994, through its partnership with nearly 4,000 humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues across North
America, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 9 million pets to find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 1,650 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $400 million, to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets, to help preserve families and to improve access to veterinary care through initiatives like this with Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando.
About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for nearly 600,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to nonprofits aligned with its mission. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting nearly $400 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 16 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc
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