Annual grants will help increase adoption rates for the 39,000 dogs in shelters across Canada.
PEDIGREE Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2024 grant programs, awarding funding to 10 animal shelters in Canada and 36 in the U.S. The grants aim to assist shelters and rescue organizations in increasing dog adoption rates and providing care for homeless dogs.
In Canada, the foundation is providing $100,000 CAD in funding to 10 shelters, supporting care for more than 5,400 dogs in need. This comes at a time when approximately 39,000 dogs are in shelters or rescues across Canada, according to the State of Pet Homelessness Index.
“This year we are seeing the length of stay continue to increase for many dogs in shelters across the country,” said Lisa Campbell, president of the board of directors for PEDIGREE Foundation. “Our grants fund critical programs like fostering, behavioral training, transport, and safety net initiatives that help reduce the length of stay and increase adoption overall, allowing shelters and rescues to create the program changes needed to help more homeless dogs in their communities.”
Since its founding in 2008, PEDIGREE Foundation has awarded over $14 million in grants, helping nearly 900,000 dogs across North America.
The 10 Canadian shelters receiving grants are:
These organizations were selected based on their needs and their efforts to promote responsible dog ownership and increase adoption rates.
The 2024 grant cycle emphasizes support for programs that help more dogs find permanent homes. These include:
“This grant will help us greatly in terms of our mission of keeping people and pets together,” said Kathryn Ladano, senior development officer at The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth. “It will support programs such as Pet Pantry, Veterinary Outreach and dog training scholarships, which will reduce the incidence of dogs being returned to our centers due to behavioral issues.”
In 2023, PEDIGREE Foundation supported 4,832 dogs in Canada with $120,000 CAD in grants, including funding for disaster relief efforts. This year’s grants continue the foundation’s commitment to addressing the needs of homeless dogs and increasing adoption rates across North America.
According to Petfood Industry’s Top Pet Food companies, Pedigree is owned by Mars, Inc. Mars Petcare’s annual revenue in 2023 reached US$20 billion. Mars Petcare is one of the top pet food companies. Its nearly 50 pet food brands include several billion-dollar brands.
Adapted from a press release.
