PEDIGREE Foundation Grants $100,000 to Canadian Animal Shelters to Help Dogs Find Forever Homes

Funding builds on excellent momentum achieved in Canada and the U.S. last year and furthers ambition to help end pet homelessness

BOLTON, ON, Oct. 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, PEDIGREE Foundation announced the recipients of its 2023 grant programs in Canada and the U.S. The grant programs are designed to support animal shelters and rescue organizations across North America with vital funds and resources that increase adoption rates for dogs and help them find forever, loving homes. In Canada, $100,000 CAD in funding will be awarded amongst 10 animal shelters and will help provide care for more than 3,300 dogs in need and support in finding their forever home.

"Since its founding in 2008, our mission at PEDIGREE Foundation has been to support dogs in need and to help end pet homelessness," said Kimberly Wise, President of the Board of Directors for PEDIGREE Foundation. "Over the past 15 years, the Foundation has donated millions of dollars through annual grants, furthering its commitment to serving dogs in need and the animal shelters that tirelessly care for them throughout the U.S. and now in its second year in Canada."

Recipients of the 2023 PEDIGREE Foundation Canadian Grants

• The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth
• Cochrane & Area Humane Society
• Victoria Humane Society
• Niagara Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Humane Society
• Pound Dog Rescue
• Montreal SPCA
• The Nova Scotia SPCA
• Georgian Triangle Humane Society
• People for Animal Wellbeing
• Hamilton Burlington SPCA

Grant recipients were selected based on need and individual impact, including contributions their organization makes in promoting responsible dog ownership and increasing dog adoptions.

For the 2023 grant cycle, PEDIGREE Foundation focused on supporting four types of programs that increase dog adoption rates, including:

• Matching & behaviour programs so dogs can move beyond behaviours that might hinder their adoption.
• Transport programs that support organizations in moving dogs from overpopulated areas to improve the chance of adoption.
• Support in remote communities by providing medical care to help reduce overpopulation of homeless dogs.
• Safety net programs that give resources to people and their pets so they can stay together.

"Funding from the grant program will support bringing in vital support for dogs in their adoption journey," said Alicia Avendano, Shelter Liaison, Nova Scotia SPCA. "More specifically, support will increase training for our volunteers who spend one-on-one time with dogs in our care to promote positive behaviours that keep pets mentally and physically healthy which will improve the chances of adoption."

Last year, PEDIGREE Foundation helped 66,000 dogs in Canada and the U.S. with a total of $100,000 CAD in grants given to Canadian organizations. Earlier this year, PEDIGREE Foundation also announced $25,000 CAD in disaster relief to help dogs impacted by the 2023 Canadian wildfires.

PEDIGREE Foundation has a vision of a day when all dogs are safe, secure, cared for, fed and loved. The 2023 grant program comes during a year when shelters in Canada are facing extreme adversity, including overcapacity with high levels of dog abandonment after lockdowns, staffing constraints and lack of resources.

To learn more about the 2023 grant recipients and how they're utilizing their grants to help end pet homelessness, and for information about how you can make a difference with PEDIGREE Foundation, please visit www.pedigreefoundation.org/canada-en/

About PEDIGREE Foundation
We believe every dog deserves a loving, forever home. PEDIGREE Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to help end pet homelessness. Nearly 3.1 million dogs end up in shelters and rescues every year, and nearly half never find a home. The foundation was established in 2008 by Mars Petcare, maker of PEDIGREE® food for dogs, to help increase dog adoption rates. We've awarded more than 6,200 grants and more than $12 million to U.S. shelters and rescues that help dogs in need. Since launching our Canadian grant program in 2022, we have provided $200k CAD to local shelters and rescues in need across Canada, as well as $25k CAD in Disaster Relief. At PEDIGREE Foundation, we're working toward a day when all dogs are safe, secure, cared for, fed well and loved. See how you can help at PedigreeFoundation.org. 

About Mars Petcare
Part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, the 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries in Mars Petcare are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets including brands PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, ROYAL CANIN^®, NUTRO™, GREENIES™, SHEBA^®, CESAR^®, IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™ as well as the Waltham Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of over 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™, Linnaeus, AniCura and Antech. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs and cats, the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in – and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

SOURCE Mars Petcare

Samantha Dickson, Mars Petcare, [email protected]