San Diego, January 24, 2019 – The Petco Foundation and Spay-Neuter Action Project (SNAP) on behalf of Friends of SNAP, are asking pet adopters to join them in creating the World’s Largest Valentine to shelter pets and the people who care for them.
Participants who submit a photo or video valentine at petcofoundation.org/love from January 15 to February 13 will be eligible to win exciting daily prizes, and will give SNAP the chance to earn a $1,000 daily grant award. At the end of the submission period, if SNAP receives the most valentines, it will be eligible for $10,000 in lifesaving funds and 1,000 pounds of WholeHearted dog or cat food.
“Current and past adopters are personally invited to share their photos or videos to let the world know how much their companion animals mean to them, and how they have changed their lives for the better,” said Carla Bartolacci, Friends of SNAP Lead Volunteer. Thank you to those who have adopted through Friends of SNAP and please be sure to share your buddy by February 13!
Friends of SNAP (FOS) is a self-funded entity that rescues and rehomes primarily chihuahuas and chihuahua blends from local shelters, many at-risk of being euthanized because they are overbred and there are not enough homes to go around. Spaying and neutering can humanely reduce the birth-rate of unwanted litters. Some of the rescues pulled from shelters have minor ailments that can be easily treated by SNAPs highly-qualified medical team or have not been spayed or neutered – a requirement for reputable foster care through the FOS network. Donations made to FOS through SNAP as fiscal agent, go toward the rescues’ health care on SNAPs Neuter Scooter surgical bus.
On February 14, the Petco Foundation will deliver the final Valentine mosaic to more than 4,000 animal welfare organizations containing heartfelt thank you messages from supporters across the country. Representatives from the Petco Foundation will also be visiting some shelters in person with a special valentine delivery.
For more information about the Spay-Neuter Action Project, visit www.snap-sandiego.org. To learn more about the Petco Foundation and the virtual valentine, visit petcofoundation.org/love and use the hashtag #ShelterValentine.
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About SNAP
SNAP became a registered non-profit in 1996. It is recognized as the first organization in San Diego county to implement programs to reduce the number of companion animals killed annually in the shelter system. SNAP remains the only affordable spay/neuter provider since 2003, to bring a “veterinary office” directly into communities struggling with chronic pet overpopulation. We have fixed over 60,000 cats and dogs to date, contributing to a decrease in euthanasia rates, as recently reported by the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services: “The decline in euthanasia is explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted, an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners (social media, microchipping) and the increase in SNAP’s spay-neuter programs (making spay and neuter available to the thousands of local pet owners those who could not afford to do so otherwise).”
About the Petco Foundation
At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, we’ve invested more than $230 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we’ve helped more than 5.5 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.