Animal lovers from throughout Southern California and around the nation are responsible for providing the Escondido Humane Society with the single largest donation to date.
The money came rushing in following a fire in late January that claimed the lives of more than 100 animals at the Escondido, CA, shelter and totally destroyed the facility.
Donations from thousands of PETCO customers totaled more than $110,000, with another $20,000 raised from radio station KSPA's fundraising effort in the Escondido PETCO parking lot. In addition to this money, the shelter has collected approximately $900,000 to help fund a rebuilding program. Cost to rebuild is estimated to be between $3.5 and $5 million.
Shortly after the fire, PETCO, based in San Diego, partnered with the Society to meet two goals: Find homes for all the healthy adoptable animals that survived the fire with a series of in-store adoption events and provide the community with a convenient way to donate cash. Because of community support, both goals have been met and the campaign concluded this past weekend.
Approximately 40 companion animals were adopted through the effort. Other animals were placed through adoptions elsewhere and through foster "parents" deciding to keep the animals they agreed to foster immediately following the fire.
The "Round UP" fundraising campaign developed by the PETCO Foundation, PETCO's non-profit charity, allowed customers to "Round UP" their purchases or make outright donations. The goal set at the outset of the campaign was $100,000.
"We're overwhelmed with the community support of this campaign," said Bill LoBell, PETCO's Regional Manager for the area that includes San Diego and Orange counties. "This shows once again how people love pets, particularly pets in need. We are so grateful for the support and are proud to have been able to help," LoBell added.
In addition to the Southern California PETCO store involvement, several thousand dollars were raised from PETCO store customers in the East, Midwest and Pacific Northwest.
The Escondido Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It was established more than 65 years ago to serve the region's animal welfare needs.
PETCO, based in San Diego, is a leading pet specialty retailer with more than 530 stores in 41 states and the District of Columbia. To find the nearest store, log on to http://www.petco.com/.
The PETCO Foundation was established in February 1999 to support community organizations and efforts that enhance the lives of companion animals while strengthening the bond between people and pets. Since inception more than $3.6 million has been raised through a variety of Foundation fundraising efforts in communities where PETCO has stores.
SOURCE: PETCO
Contact: Don Cowan of PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc., 858-657-2086, or Paul
Jolly of PETCO Foundation, 626-287-0952
Website: http://www.petco.com/
