The scenes will forever be etched in our minds. A canine handler and his faithful dog searching the rubble for survivors in what was once New York's World Trade Center. Both of them so exhausted they could barely stand, but both committed to finishing a job in part to show the world that America was united in rising from the ashes.
There were many victims on September 11th and not just human ones. In the immediate wake of the disaster, PETCO Animal Supplies, a leading premium pet food and supplies retailer, created the PETCO Foundation-sponsored Disaster Relief Fund. Customers, PETCO associates, and vendors were anxious to "do something." Over $831,000 in cash was donated by customers in the company's more than 560 stores and online at http://www.petco.com/ . An additional $100,000 in products and supplies were collected from vendors to assist animal welfare groups involved with the recovery efforts for animals as well as assistance to the heroic service dogs who so valiantly searched for survivors and later for remains. A total of more than $500,000 has been distributed thus far to a variety of groups.
"Initially PETCO and our vendor partners donated $100,000 in products and supplies to assist the rescue efforts," said Paul Jolly, the PETCO Foundation's Director. "We were honored to have been able to offer immediate help because we had stores close to the disaster areas. But we felt that more would need to be done. The PETCO Disaster Relief Fund has been able to address the longer term needs of the rescue groups."
The PETCO Foundation created a committee of animal professionals to review applications for support. The committee was adamant about getting the money out to the groups as quickly as possible. The ASPCA received $50,000 and the Suffolk County SPCA received $100,000 in the first two weeks after the attacks. The New York City Police K-9 Foundation recently received $170,000 to support their financially devastated canine corps. The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, who sent 13 animals to the WTC, will use the Disaster Fund's donation of $150,000 to develop and document their unique and very effective training procedures in order to have dogs ready to respond to any future disaster situations. Paws and Claws Animal Rescue is dealing with the animal issues of the victims of the Pentagon attacks and is receiving $12,000 to assist with their efforts. City Critters from New York City received $20,000 to aid in caring and adopting the increased number of homeless animals reported after September 11.
Animal welfare groups and canine search and rescue teams that are or were involved in rescue efforts surrounding the World Trade Center or Pentagon disasters are encouraged to apply for support through the Foundation. Applications can be found on-line at http://www.petco.com/ . Click on the PETCO Foundation.
PETCO Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping animal welfare groups that promote the human/animal bond. Since inception in 1999, the Foundation has donated more than $6 million to animal welfare groups. Donations to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent directly to the PETCO Foundation at 7262 N. Rosemead Blvd., San Gabriel, CA 91775.
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X54342961
SOURCE: PETCO
Contact: Paul Jolly, Director, PETCO Foundation, +1-626-287-0952, or Don
Cowan, Director of Communications of PETCO, +1-858-657-2086
Website: http://www.petco.com/
