Shelter and Dog Rescue Groups Across the U.S. will Receive Help from PEDIGREE Foundation Grants

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PEDIGREE Foundation announced today the recipients of seven Innovation and 691 Operational Grants. Thanks to the generosity and donations from dog lovers across the country, the Foundation is proud to award a total of $750,000 to these selected local shelter and dog rescue groups. These one-time grants help fund creative programs and basic operating costs aimed at increasing dog adoptions and helping the more than four million homeless dogs find loving homes. In 2010 alone, PEDIGREE Foundation helped shelter and rescue groups give more than 80,000 dogs much needed comfort until they found their forever homes.

PEDIGREE Foundation Operational Grants were awarded to help alleviate the struggle shelters and rescues have to fund and provide the essential needs for dogs, including food, comfort, transportation and medical care. The 691 shelter and rescue groups will each receive $868 to help one dog at a time as they wait to find a loving home. Since 2008, PEDIGREE Foundation has distributed $4 million to thousands of organizations to help with their operational expenses.

For the second year, the Foundation is awarding $150,000 in Innovation Grants. These grants recognize shelters and rescues that are pioneering the industry with new ideas and efforts to help find dogs forever homes. Seven selected shelters will receive between $10,000 and $25,000 in grant money to fund their unique programs aimed at helping increase dog adoptions. Chosen out of almost 200 grant applications, these organizations truly demonstrate their ability to bring creative ideas to help improve adoption rates and the welfare of animals within their communities.

"We are grateful for the hard work shelters and rescues do every day," said Debra Fair, PEDIGREE Foundation president. "From community outreach to behavior programs, we're proud to award grants to aid in the adoption process that helps dogs find their forever homes."

PEDIGREE Foundation Innovation Grant money, to be used within a one-year period, will assist homeless dogs with a variety of needs, including; behavior training, feeding, housing and support for medical issues:

• Paw Prints Humane Society of Sedona, Inc. of Sedona, AZ, was awarded $10,000 to help fund the Mobile Adoption Vehicle to help increase adoptions, increase community education and awareness and serve as an emergency evacuation vehicle for at-risk animals in the Northern Arizona area.
• Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Eatontown, NJ, was awarded $25,000 to help fund a Dog Behavioral Department which uses positive reinforcement training and enrichment to increase the adoptability of shelter dogs. The program focuses especially on those who come into the shelter with behavioral issues or who develop behaviors as a result of an extended stay in the shelter system.
• Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County PCA of Fairport, NY, was awarded $10,000 to help fund the Behavior Modification and Enrichment Program to help dogs change behavior and ultimately find an adoptive family and forever home.
• Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of Philadelphia, PA, was awarded $25,000 to help fund "Adopt a South Philly Dog" program which increases dog adoptions in this densely populated area with few walk-in adoption facilities.
• Nashville Humane Association of Nashville, TN, was awarded $14,000 for a research program that will evaluate staff training and adoption policies of collaborative organizations that use visual and staff-based experience to identify dog breeds and mixes of those breeds. This program is aimed to increase dog adoption and retention.
• Oklahoma Humane Society of Oklahoma City, OK, was awarded $25,000 to help fund the Homeward Bound Transport Program to safely and efficiently transport 80 dogs at a time from high-risk situations to safe outcomes.
• SPCA for Monterey County of Monterey, CA, was awarded $25,000 for its 'Take the Lead' program which pairs dogs with at-risk youth. During each five week course, the youth are tasked with teaching their dogs basic skills and providing one-on-one interaction. The dogs learn new skills which make them more adoptable and the children learn important life, leadership and communication skills as they work to teach un-socialized dogs how to be great canine citizens through positive reinforcement.

For a complete list of 2011 Operation and Innovation Grant recipients, to make a donation or gather more information on PEDIGREE Foundation, visit www.PedigreeFoundation.org.

Formed in 2008 by the makers of PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs, PEDIGREE Foundation is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping dogs in need find loving homes by supporting the good work of shelters and dog rescue organizations throughout the country. Through no fault of their own, more than four million dogs end up in shelters and rescue organizations every year, and nearly half of them never find a place to call home.

The Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) shelter and dog rescue organizations nationwide and encourages dog lovers to adopt, volunteer and donate to support the cause. Since 2008, PEDIGREE Foundation has donated $4 million toward helping dogs find loving homes. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation online, visit www.PedigreeFoundation.org.

®™ Trademarks © Mars, Incorporated 2011. Used with Permission.

SOURCE PEDIGREE Foundation