Petco Foundation Invests One Million Dollars to Save Shelter Animals in Philadelphia
Supporting efforts to save more animal lives at ACCT Philly, Philly’s animal control shelter
Philadelphia (March 25, 2015) – The Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT Philly) today announced it has been awarded a one million dollar grant from the Petco Foundation to support its adoption programs. With this grant the Petco Foundation encourages Philadelphia’s animal lovers to show their support by adopting a pet or donating to save lives.
“We selected ACCT Philly for this important grant because of the incredible lifesaving achievements they have accomplished, while working with so very little,” says Susanne Kogut, Petco Foundation Executive Director. “It is clear the Philadelphia region is home to many animal lovers and this organization needs more resources to save lives. We challenge everyone who cares about homeless animals to join us in support of this amazing organization with a donation to match our million. Together we can build a lifesaving nation, once community at a time.”
The Petco Foundation investment will help construct a new adoption center at the shelter’s Hunting Park Avenue location and support ACCT Philly’s adoption program for the next three years. ACCT Philly is a nonprofit organization providing animal care and control services to the City of Philadelphia. The organization’s animal shelter will provide temporary housing and care for nearly 28,000 animals this year. Since assuming operations in 2012 ACCT Philly has reduced euthanasia by 38%, to the lowest euthanasia rate in Philadelphia’s animal control history. The organization is the largest pet adoption agency in the region performing more than 8,200 adoptions in 2014 and saving 11,000 more through its other lifesaving programs.
“We are saving more lives than ever before but with this grant and community support we can do so much more,” said Susan Cosby-Jennings, ACCT Philly’s Executive Director. “All of Philadelphia’s city services face funding challenges but in our case, innocent animal lives are at stake. We are eternally grateful for the Petco Foundation’s support for saving lives and helping us get the word out about our needs.”
The Petco Foundation has served as a voice for companion animals across the country since 1999. Today, with more than 8,000 local animal welfare partners across the country, the Petco Foundation donates approximately $15 million a year to make a difference in the lives of millions of animals. The organization is funded through donations raised during fundraisers conducted in Petco’s more than 1,300 stores across the country, as well as from Petco associates, vendors and corporate contributions. Money raised helps fund animal welfare organizations, spay and neuter efforts, animal-assisted therapy programs and humane education. The majority of the funds raised remain in the communities where they were raised, as well as animal welfare efforts nationwide.
For more information about ACCT Philly or the Petco Foundation, visit acctphilly.org or www.petcofoundation.org. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or by using the hashtag #PetcoFoundation.