SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Petco Foundation, a national, nonprofit animal welfare organization working to inspire and lead change for animals, is teaming up with WholeHearted and the award-winning artist and creator of the heart-warming MUTTS comic strip, Patrick McDonnell to celebrate lifesaving animal welfare work nationwide.

As part of their annual "Love Changes Everything" campaign, the Petco Foundation invites pet lovers to help create the world's largest virtual valentine for shelter pets and the people who care for them. Adopters can submit photos and videos with a message to the staff and volunteers of the organization where they adopted their pet to thank them for saving lives. Participants that submit a valentine at http://www.petcofoundation.org/love will be eligible to win exciting daily prizes, along with the opportunity to secure $1,000 in grant funding for the organization where they adopted their pet. The organization that receives the most valentines is also eligible for a $10,000 grant award and 1,000 pounds of WholeHearted dog or cat food.

On February 14^th, the Petco Foundation will deliver the final Valentine mosaic to their 4,000 animal welfare partners containing heartfelt thank you messages from supporters across the country, and Petco Foundation representatives will be visiting some of the shelters in person with a special valentine delivery. The Petco Foundation will also put their Love in Action by distributing more than $10M in grant investments to animal welfare organizations all across the country to assure that this lifesaving work continues in the future.  

"Love truly does change everything," said Susanne Kogut, president of the Petco Foundation. "Valentine's Day is a great day to celebrate our love for pets and to express our sincere appreciation to the individuals that dedicate their life to saving them. It's because of them that pets and the people who adopt – share a life filled with love. We're so excited to team up with Patrick McDonnell and WholeHearted to celebrate adopted pets and the people who care for them."

In addition to sending a personal valentine to the organizations where they adopted their pet, pet lovers can support the "Love Changes Everything" campaign from February 2 – March 3 by making a donation in any Petco, Unleashed by Petco store or online at petcofoundation.org/love. Anyone who makes an in-store donation of $10 or more will receive a limited-edition tote bag featuring MUTTS artwork and real pictures of adopted pets from throughout the country.

To learn more about the "Love Changes Everything" campaign and the virtual valentine, please visit petcofoundation.org/love. To learn more about Patrick McDonnell and his commitment to promoting pet adoption, visit MUTTS.com. To learn more about WholeHearted pet food go to WholeHeartedPets.com.

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 $230 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 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 5.5 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.

Media Contact: Lisa Lane, Petco Foundation Director of Marketing and Development
(210) 201-9253 | lisa.lane@petco.com

SOURCE Petco Foundation

Related Links

http://www.petcofoundation.org