Philanthropic program funds critical hub in
Dog Guides' new training facility and achieves milestone of over
51,000 fur-ever homes for homeless pets
MARKHAM,
ON, Dec. 4, 2024 /CNW/ - Pet Valu, the leading
Canadian specialty retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies,
proudly announced today that its Companions for
Change™ program had its most successful fundraising year since
inception, collecting more than $4.1
million in monetary and product donations to date in 2024
for Canadian animal rescues, shelters and charities. The
philanthropic program also helped find fur-ever homes for more than
4,600 homeless pets across Canada
this year.
"This was a tremendous fundraising year for the Companions for
Change program, a testament to the continued support from our
franchisees and corporate store teams, as well as the compassion
and generosity of devoted pet lovers across Canada," says Tanbir
Grover, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Pet Valu.
"Since 2010, the Companions for Change program has raised more than
$32 million and found fur-ever homes
for over 51,000 pets. We have been fortunate to see firsthand the
positive impact our program has on Canadian pet communities and
look forward to continuing our efforts next year."
The Companions for Change program is a longtime supporter of
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides ("Dog Guides"), and this
year, the Companions for Change program and Pet Valu together
pledged to contribute $500,000 to a
modern, purpose-built Puppy Training Room in Dog Guides' new
training centre in Oakville. The
room, which will host small group classes on grooming, puppy
fitness, confidence building, basic obedience and loose leash
walking, will serve as a critical hub in the new school, providing
the puppies with the best possible start before they enter formal
training. In addition to supporting the Puppy Training Room, the
Companions for Change program continues to sponsor Dog Guides'
largest annual fundraiser, the national Pet Valu Walk for Dog
Guides, and to provide Performatrin Ultra® and
Performatrin Prime® food and treats to all puppies and
dogs in training. In addition, in 2024 Pet Valu proudly
sponsored 20 additional Dog Guides teams that enable greater
independence for Canadians in need.
With the goal of making an impact, each year, Companions for
Change sponsorships help much-deserving animal organizations across
Canada achieve larger capital
projects. Since the sponsorships started in 2018, Pet Valu has
provided meaningful, capital investments to 14 Canadian animal
organizations, including the North
Bay and District Humane Society. A sponsorship in 2018
enabled North Bay and District
Humane Society to launch the North Bay Animal Rescue & Relief
Transport and a second sponsorship in 2023, supported the
construction of an adoption and wellness centre, establishing it as
the "Hub of the North" for animal services in Ontario. This year, Pet Valu provided a third
sponsorship which will allow the North Bay Animal Rescue &
Relief Transport to remain on the road for another five years.
"One hundred per cent of every dollar raised through the
Companions for Change program is distributed to pet organizations,
enabling us to help pets, locally, regionally and nationally every
year. Our support ranges from funding mobile spay and neutering
units and animal transport to constructing new shelters and
wellness facilities to providing much needed essentials to local
pets waiting for home," says Grover. "With hundreds of stores
across Canada, we are able to
impact the local communities in which we operate in a meaningful
way."
Donations raised through the Companions for Change program
originate from multiple fundraising initiatives hosted by Pet Valu
and its franchisees. These include Pet Appreciation Month in June
and Companions for Change month in October, during which devoted
pet lovers contribute by purchasing PAWS, making custom donations
and rounding up their purchases at checkout. This year, Pet Valu
had its most successful Pet Appreciation Month, raising more than
$2.2 million in monetary and product
donations for over 400 animal-related causes across
Canada. Pet Valu and its franchisees also provide additional
support by donating $1 per item on
the sale of select Performatrin® and Fresh 4
Life® products in October. With the season of giving
upon us, there are still ways to help pets in need. In stores now,
Pet Valu offers a "give-what-you-can" calendar with all proceeds
going towards the Companions for Change program or you can donate
products instore to our product donation bins for local pet
organizations.
To learn more, please visit: petvalu.ca/companionsforchange or
Companions for Change - YouTube.
About Pet Valu
Pet Valu is Canada's leading
retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies with over 800
corporate-owned or franchised locations across the country. For
more than 45 years, Pet Valu has earned the trust and loyalty of
pet parents by offering knowledgeable customer service, a premium
product offering and engaging in-store services. Through its
neighbourhood stores and digital platform, Pet Valu offers more
than 10,000 competitively-priced products, including a broad
assortment of premium, super premium, holistic and award-winning
proprietary brands. The Company is headquartered in Markham, Ontario and its shares trade on the
Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: PET). To learn more, please visit:
www.petvalu.ca.
SOURCE Pet Valu Canada Inc.