SPCA of Texas Receives $15,000 Grant from PetSmart Charities® to Fund COVID-19 Response

(DALLAS, TX; McKINNEY, TX); May 13, 2020– The SPCA of Texas has received a $15,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to support the organization’s community response to the COVID-19 pandemic impact in North Texas.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many families to struggle more than ever before. As people are losing their income, employment and sense of stability, the SPCA of Texas is working to provide resources to pet owners to prevent them from making the tough decisions that come with financial hardships.

This grant enables the SPCA of Texas to continue to support pets in communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be used for supplies, equipment, staffing related to direct COVID-19 response, food, sheltering, transport, operations, administration and necessary medical treatment.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has been particularly difficult for citizens in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, especially members of underserved communities, who were already struggling before this crisis hit. Pets are such a comfort to their families, especially during times of isolation and fear, and for many they are also family members. The grant we received from PetSmart Charities is enabling us to keep people and their pets together during this crisis, providing pet owners with the critical resources they need to care for their pets,” said Karen Froehlich, President/CEO for the SPCA of Texas.

“As an organization dedicated to supporting pets and the people who love them, PetSmart Charities remains committed to the health and welfare of pets during this unprecedented time, and our hearts go out to those impacted by COVID-19,” said Jenny Aho, regional relationship manager at the national charity. “It’s our hope this funding will enable the SPCA of Texas to continue its work to support pet families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the uncertainty of this pandemic.”

Since the beginning of 2020, the SPCA of Texas has assisted 713 families with needs for their pet, including providing pet food, medical care, pet supplies and other financial support.Since 1994, through its partnership with nearly 4,000 humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues across North America, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 9.2 million pets to find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 1,650 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $430 million to improve access to veterinary care, to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets and to help preserve families through initiatives like this with the SPCA of Texas.

About the SPCA of Texas
The SPCA of Texas is the leading animal welfare organization in North Texas. Founded in 1938, the non-profit operates two shelters, three spay/neuter and wellness clinics, two mobile spay/neuter and wellness vehicles, one mobile adoptions vehicle and an emergency animal rescue center, all located in Dallas and Collin Counties, and maintains a team of animal cruelty investigators who respond to thousands of calls in North Texas counties. Moreover, the SPCA of Texas serves as an active resource center for an array of services that bring people and animals together to enrich each other’s lives. The SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the City of Dallas, State of Texas, federal government or any other national humane organization. The SPCA of Texas is dedicated to providing every animal exceptional care and a loving home. For more information, visit spca.org

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 600,000 shelter pets each year. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting almost $430 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 17 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.