(Left to right) Jamie Langlois and Maria Glidden (Community Relations at Hawaiian Humane Society), Kevin Rokosz (PetSmart Mililani Store Manager), Tammy Cox (PetSmart Salon Manager), Stephanie Ryan (President of Oahu SPCA) and Abigail Lightning Bingham (Executive Director at Oahu SPCA). Photo courtesy: PetSmart
By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– The Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Oahu SPCA) and the Hawaiiian Humane Society have received three and a quarter tons of dog and cat food and cat litter, valued at $8,200, from PetSmart® Corporation (NASDAQ: PETM). The two animal welfare organizations each received 3,250 pounds of pet food and cat litter from PetSmart’s first Hawaii store, located at Town Center of Mililani. The donation is part of the PetSmart Gives Back program, which supports local organiztions that make communities vibrant and strong and that enhance the quality of life for people and pets.
“PetSmart is proud to provide this donation to the Oahu SPCA and Hawaiian Humane Society,” said Kevin Rokosz, PetSmart Mililani Store Manager. “Pet homelessness continues to be a huge problem in America, and we are thrilled to partner with such great organizations that go above and beyond to help find lifelong, loving homes and families for pets truly in need.
More than three tons of pet food and litter donated to Oahu SPCA and Hawaiian Humane Society from PetSmart. Photo courtesy: PetSmart
The Oahu SPCA and Hawaiian Humane Society, which serve as PetSmart’s local adoption partners, make cats available daily for in-store adoptions in space donated by PetSmart. In addition, the two partners bring dogs to the store each weekend for adoptions. Since the store opened in February, this in-store adoption effort has found homes for 337 pets – 151 dogs and 186 cats.
“The Oahu SPCA is honored to be a part of PetSmart’s adoption program,” said Stephanie Ryan, president of the Oahu SPCA. “We are so grateful for PetSmart’s support, generosity and amazing gift of pet food and cat litter. Every donation makes a huge impact on the success of our mission to save lives.”
“Our pet food bank helped more than 2,000 pets last year, in which owners were struggling to put food in their bowls,” said Jacque LeBlanc, community relations director at the Hawaiian Humane Society. “We hope PetSmart’s donation inspires other businesses and people to get involved. It’s a great way to make a difference in the lives of animals and people.”
The Oahu SPCA and Hawaiian Humane Society are currently at maximum capacity and are seeking families to foster or adopt cats and dogs. Both organizations also welcome monetary or in-kind donations of food and other pet supplies.
About Oahu SPCA
The Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Oahu SPCA) was founded in April 2009, based on a no-kill philosophy. The organization rescues animals suffering from abuse, neglect and abandonment on Oahu each day. More than 20 dogs and cats are rescued, rehabilitated and re-homed each week. Oahu SPCA cares for approximately 65 dogs and 100 cats per day, including spay/neutering, micro chipping and medical and behavioral rehabilitation in preparation for adoption.
About Hawaiian Humane Society
On Oahu, the Hawaiian Humane Society is the only animal welfare organization that shelters, rescues, adopts and welcomes animals all day, and every day. The organization protects animals from abuse, finds families for homeless pets, and teaches children about compassion for animals. As an independent nonprofit that receives no funding from other mainland animal welfare organizations such as HSUS and ASPCA, 100 percent of donations stay in the Islands for the benefit of Hawaii’s animals and people.
About PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company employs approximately 52,000 associates and operates more than 1,301 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, over 196 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (http://www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp SM day care services and pet adoption services. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities®, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 5 million pets since 1994. PetSmart Charities, Inc. and PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc. (“PetSmart Charities”) are independent, nonprofit organizations that save the lives of homeless pets and reduce shelter intake through spay/neuter efforts. In 2012, nearly 450,000 dogs and cats found homes through the organization’s adoption centers in all PetSmart stores and by sponsoring community adoption events. PetSmart Charities is the leader in granting money to help pets in need, with more than $28 million given in 2012 throughout North America.