PetSmart Charities Announces $15 Million Commitment to Improve Access to Veterinary Care

Nation's Top Funder of Animal Welfare Broadens Commitments to Pets and People in Need of Support

PHOENIX, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 70% of homes in the U.S. now include a pet. While pets improve the lives of their people, some 50 million pets lack access to even the standard veterinary care needed to maintain long, healthy lives. PetSmart Charities is addressing this discrepancy with a $15 million commitment in 2022 to support veterinary organizations and community changemakers across the U.S. Through grant funding and innovative delivery models, PetSmart Charities will address immediate problems and create sustainable solutions that improve access to veterinary care for pets in need.

Pet parents want to do what is best for their pets, but access to preventative or critical veterinary care is out of reach for many. Affordability is cited by pet parents as the primary barrier. Regions considered "veterinary care deserts," also disproportionately impact communities of color and people in rural areas.

"We are committed to supporting people and pets and are working to break down the barriers that prohibit pet families from living happy and healthy lives together," said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities. "We have a unique opportunity to drive immediate and real change for pets through our grant programs. By working with partners and leaders in the veterinary space, we hope to help build low-cost veterinary care models that can be replicated across the country to meet the tremendous need for affordable care."

One organization receiving grant funding through PetSmart Charities' commitment is Emancipet, a nonprofit organization working to make veterinary care affordable and accessible to everyone. Since 2017, PetSmart Charities has helped Emancipet expand its programming and scale its low-cost business model in Philadelphia, where its newest location will open July 20th. The new clinic, located inside a PetSmart store further serves the Philadelphia community where more than 500,000 pets live with families who cannot access affordable veterinary care.

"Thanks to the continued generosity of PetSmart Charities in funding the opening of two of our newest clinics in Houston and Philadelphia, Emancipet is one step closer to achieving our vision of ensuring that everyone in the United States will have access to veterinary care they can afford," said Amy Mills, Emancipet CEO.

To date, PetSmart Charities has funded more than $500 million in grants to support pet adoptions and animal welfare. Building on the impact, the organization is making increased commitments to promoting access to veterinary care, alleviating pet food insecurity and supporting disaster response efforts.

To support these initiatives, people can donate to PetSmart Charities as they check out at the register in PetSmart stores or by visiting petsmartcharities.org. For more information on how PetSmart Charities is working to keep families together and build healthier communities, visit petsmartcharities.org/our-stories.

^*Source: PetSmart Charities, University of Tennessee, Emancipet

PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities has helped 10 million pets connect with loving homes. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. PetSmart Charities' grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter and disaster relief. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by 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 more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row – placing it among the top one 1 percent of rated charities. To learn more, visit www.PetSmartCharities.org.

PetSmart LLC is the leading pet retailer offering products, 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 together 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. 

PetSmart operates approximately 1,660 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. We provide a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption.

PetSmart, PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada work with nearly 4,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. 

Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated over 10 million adoptions, more than any other brick-and-mortar organization.

SOURCE PetSmart Charities