Petfinder Celebrates 20th Anniversary, 25 Million Pet Adoptions with Video that Can Unlock $200K Shelter Donation

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Petfinder, a national resource for pet adoption, will celebrate 20 years of operation in 2016. According to the company, more than 25 million pets and millions of pet parents can claim that they #MetOnPetfinder since the organization was established in 1996.

Petfinder was founded in 1996 by Betsy Banks Saul and Jared Saul, who started a website to help save the lives of adoptable pets by connecting people to various animal shelters across New Jersey. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Petfinder is asking users across the country to join the celebration and its effort to donate $200,000 to the Petfinder Foundation, which will award grants to 20 shelter and rescue members. To make this donation possible, Petfinder is asking animal lovers to watch and generate one million views by Oct. 24 of its #MetOnPetfinder anniversary video, which can be found on the organization’s website at www.petfinder.com and shows how adopted pets have transformed the lives of their adopters.

When the video has been viewed one million times, 20 selected Petfinder shelter members will each receive a $10,000 grant from the Petfinder Foundation to help continue to transform the lives of the pets in their care. As part of the celebration, Petfinder families, advocates, members and fans are also encouraged to share their Petfinder adoption stories on social media by using the hashtag #MetOnPetfinder.

Celebrity animal adoption advocates Jamie Chung and Tony La Russa have partnered with Petfinder to promote the campaign and the larger mission of Petfinder.

“I’m proud to team up with Petfinder and celebrate the lifelong happiness they’ve created for millions of families and the pets they’ve adopted,” said award-winning actress Jamie Chung. “My dog, Ewok, is adopted and he’s been the best addition to my family.”

Over the past 20 years, Petfinder has harnessed the power of the internet to help facilitate more than 25 million pet adoptions through its extensive network of more than 13,000 shelter and rescue organizations. At any given time, there are more than 250,000 adoptable pets featured on Petfinder.

“My family and I have adopted and fostered more pets through the years than I can count,” said Tony La Russa, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame manager and co-founder of the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Walnut Creek, California. “I strongly support Petfinder’s goal to find forever homes for adoptable pets and to encourage people to consider pet adoption. By simply watching the #MetOnPetfinder celebration video, you can help Petfinder continue to support shelters and rescues that care for adoptable pets around the country.”