Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department receives funding from PetSmart Charities® to help shelter animals in foster homes

Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services) today announced that it received a $10,000 Emergency Relief Grant from  PetSmart Charities, to purchase supplies and materials for shelter pets placed with foster families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our community has been amazing in responding to the needs of our shelter pets during the COVID 19 crisis. We’ve added many new foster volunteers who are opening their hearts and homes to our furry friends by giving them a place to stay for the past couple months,” said Animal Services Director Alex Muñoz. “The pandemic has had economic effects for many and PetSmart Charities’ support is helping us to equip foster families with the supplies they need to care for our shelter pets.” 

More than 350 Animal Services’ dogs and cats are being cared for by foster families.  Through the generosity of PetSmart Charities, Animal Services is able to continue to provide food, toys, beds, litter, leashes, collars and other essential items to ensure our shelter pets have what they need while they are staying with their temporary families. 

“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 Johnny Jenkins, associate relationship manager at the national charity. “We are proud to support Miami Animal Services’ work that continues to serve as an invaluable resource for Miami’s pet foster families, especially during the uncertainty of this pandemic.”

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 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 positively impact communities, to help preserve families, to improve access to veterinary care and to connect people and pets through initiatives like this with Animal Services.

About Miami-Dade Animal Services Department

Every year Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services) provides care and refuge for 28,000 to 30,000 lost and abandoned dogs and cats. Every day, Animal Services staff works diligently to find life-long homes for these abandoned animals by facilitating onsite adoptions, hosting off-site adoptions at events and locations throughout the community, and working collaboratively with rescue organizations, volunteers and adoption partners. For more information, call 311 or visit www.miamidade.gov/animals.  Follow Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department on social media @AdoptMiamiPets.

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 500,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to nonprofits aligned with its mission. 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 more than $429 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.

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