PetSmart and PetSmart Charities Adopt Out 22,834 Pets during National Adoption Weekend

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This past weekend, tens of thousands of pet-loving North Americans visited PetSmart stores for PetSmart Charities’s November National Adoption Weekend. A grand total of 22,834 pets found their forever homes, making this event the most successful November National Adoption Weekend event since PetSmart began its in-store adoption program in the early 1990s.

The record-setting adoption numbers could be due to pet parents heeding the advice from experts like Steve Kaufman, Center of Excellence manager – Adoptions at PetSmart Charities.

“We’re thrilled to see that pet parents are thinking ahead and adopting a new furry family member before the holidays in lieu of putting a pet under the tree,” Kaufman said. “This will give families more time to transition a new pet into their home and will enable pet parents to include their new pet in cherished holiday celebrations like photos, gatherings and gift openings.”

Thanks to a year of unprecedented adoption success, PetSmart and PetSmart Charities recently celebrated saving the lives of 7 million pets. The lucky 7 millionth adopted pet is Daisy, a fox terrier-foxhound mix puppy who was adopted out of a PetSmart store in Staten Island, New York, by the McKenzie family.

“At PetSmart Charities, our mission is to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., president of PetSmart Charities and PetSmart Charities of Canada. “By working closely with PetSmart stores and our dedicated animal welfare partners, we’re able to host National Adoption Weekends four times each year. It’s awe-inspiring to see that, in a matter of days, we’re able to help tens of thousands of adoptable pets find the forever homes and families they deserve.”

PetSmart, The Adopt Spot™, is where people save pets and pets save people.  The retailer is a leading source for pet adoption across North America, having helped to adopt more than 7 million pets since 1994 –more than any other brick-and-mortar establishment. PetSmart continues to grow its adoption leadership with its recent acquisition of AllPaws.com, a leading online pet adoption platform.

PetSmart’s Adoption Kit

As a gift to those who saved a life through adoption (no matter where they choose to adopt their pet*), PetSmart offers its free Adoption Kit which provides important content on how to integrate a pet into the family while offering true value—with more than $450 in real savings—to the adoption parent. Included are coupons for a free bag of dog or cat food from Simply Nourish, Authority or Good Natured, a free veterinarian visit, a complimentary private training session with an accredited trainer, a free Doggie Day Camp session and a free overnight boarding stay, as well as half-off on a grooming service. Also included are savings on all the essentials for a new pet including beds, crates, gates, brushes, feeding bowls, collars, leashes, toys and treats, as well as solutions like pet calming products and stain and odor remedies for any mishaps that may occur. *Adoption paperwork is required.

While often referred to as PetSmart Charities National Adoption “Weekend,” the adoption efforts span the entire week with the majority of the pets (approximately 90 percent) being adopted between Friday and Sunday. The next PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend will be held on February 17-19, 2017.