WHO WE ARE
ABOUT US
We’re proud to celebrate over 30 years of being the leading funder of animal welfare in communities across North America. Since 1994, we’ve granted over $600 million to change-making organizations that help transform the lives of pets and those who love them.
OUR MISSION
We make the world a better place for pets by investing in community partners that advocate and care for the well-being of pets and all who love them.
OUR VISION
A world where communities unite in support of pets together with their families.
OUR PROGRAMS
SUPPORTING PETS & PEOPLE
We support pets & their families through programs that make veterinary care more accessible, help battle pet hunger and provide disaster response.
CONNECTING PETS & PEOPLE
Whether it’s through our in-store adoption centers, National Adoption Week, or a search tool on our website, we help pets in need find loving families to call their own.
message from OUR president
DEAR FRIEND,
2024 was a full and meaningful year at PetSmart Charities. Together with our partners, we focused on adoptions, expanding access to veterinary care, alleviating pet hunger, and providing disaster relief support. These efforts were more important than ever.
We know you’ll find inspiration from key accomplishments shared in this report. Without you, there would be no stories about pups like Chewy to celebrate. His family says he’s so much more than a pet. His unconditional love helps them to cope.
Pets and people need each other most when times are tough. In the wake of natural disasters, your generosity enabled more than $1 million in grants to help local animal welfare organizations with repairs, pet food, medical care and shelter. Because of you, sweet Dudette and so many others like her received the rehabilitation and recovery they needed.
This year will also be remembered for crossing a significant milestone – the 11 millionth in-store adoption! Sweet Sammy’s new dad had always preferred small dogs. But her big love and warm snuggles won him over at an adoption event in the City of Brotherly Love.
PetSmart Charities put that kind of love into action in many ways all year long. When people experience hunger, their pets do, too. During our 2nd annual Pet Hunger Awareness Day®, our team donated much-needed pet food to partner food banks across the country. And, celebrating another milestone, the 350 millionth pet meal was delivered – thanks to your support and programs with our trusted partners at Meals on Wheels America, Feeding America and others. We can impact so many more when we join forces!
In 2023, PetSmart Charities made a significant commitment of $100 million to support more affordable veterinary care options for the 50 million pets going without. We’re proud to share that much progress has been made as our grantees expand and launch low-cost veterinary clinics and pilot innovative solutions. We especially enjoyed celebrating the opening of Emancipet’s Dental and Surgical Center in Austin, poised to serve 7,000 local pets annually. There is so much more; please stop by our social channels and enjoy inspiring stories about how your dollars made a difference.
On behalf of our team, I want to thank you for joining our mission For Pets. For People. For Good.
With gratitude,
Aimee Gilbreath, MBA President, PetSmart Charities
THE board of Directors
Thank you to our Board of Directors for their tireless commitment to care for pets and the families who love them.
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS & OBSERVER
Aimee Gilbreath President
Janet Henry Secretary
Stephanie Jensen Treasurer
Neal Litvack Chair, Director
Alan Schnaid Vice Chair, Director
Lisa Rojas Bacus Director
Elliott Francis Director
Monica Hubbard Director
Ben Jacobs Director
Debo Mukherjee Director
Dr. Phil Nelson Director
Cherise Ordlock Director
Mike Schultheis* Director
Manjit Singh Director
Dr. Mark Stetter* Director
Dr. Kwane Stewart Director
J.K. Symancyk* Director
Dawn Willoughby Director
Gary Shullaw Board Observer
IMPACT across the country
NATIONWIDE IMPACT
From disaster relief to adoptions and addressing pet hunger, these hearts show the nationwide impact of our grants thanks to your support. Together, they tell the story of hope, healing, and stronger communities for pets and families across the country.
EXPANDING ACCESS
As part of our 5-year, $100 million commitment to expand low-cost care and remove barriers to veterinary services, we have provided grant funding to 58 clinics and organizations. These hearts represent the grantees providing access to veterinary care for pets and families across the country.
ALASKA
HAWAII
PUERTO RICO
Access to Veterinary Care
When pets can’t access basic veterinary services, their families suffer too. Through our Access to Care grants, we’re helping communities overcome barriers—ensuring more pets can stay happy, healthy, and at home.
In California’s Central Coast, we met a senior pup named Milo and his loving owner at a Care 4 Paws mobile clinic stop in Oceano. The line stretched down the block, filled with families waiting for care they couldn’t otherwise afford or reach. With funding to test and refine this mobile approach, Care 4 Paws is bringing critical services directly to the neighborhoods that need them most.
ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE
In Texas, P.E.T.S. Clinic is expanding its reach thanks to this kind of support. This trusted community clinic, now equipped to serve more patients in more locations – removing both geographic and economic barriers to veterinary care and keeping pets with their people where they belong.
Together, these grants form a pipeline of innovation and expansion—helping local organizations scale solutions to create more access to affordable veterinary care. This is what progress looks like—and it’s made possible thanks to your support.
2024 ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE HIGHLIGHTS
$15 MILLION GRANTED 75 GRANTEES
SIX VETERINARY S CH OLARSHIP WINNERS
Veterinary Care Innovation
University of California, Davis (UC Davis) appointed Dr. Emily McCobb, DVM, MS, DACVAA as the inaugural PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair. Dr. McCobb brings her expertise to UC Davis to foster innovation of new models of accessible veterinary care across the U.S. with support from PetSmart Charities. Her expertise will help guide the future of veterinary care through solutions that breakthrough barriers to care.
Emancipet Clinic Opening – first low-cost veterinary dental and surgical center in Austin, Texas, marked a significant step in accessible pet healthcare. Supported by PetSmart Charities, the facility aims to perform up to 4,000 dental procedures and 3,600 soft tissue surgeries annually. Focusing on a single, high-demand service, such as dentistry, helps improve affordability for otherwise costly and critical procedures.
PETSMART CHARITIES
SCHOLARSHIP - Six future veterinarians were awarded a $25,000 scholarship to advance their education and further their commitment to strengthening the bond between pets and families. These outstanding students have shown exceptional
leadership in making veterinary care accessible to pets and people in need. By embodying our mission to serve communities that face challenges accessing veterinary care, they’re shaping the future of animal welfare.
IFRA DANAWALA Texas A&M University
JESUS HERNANDEZ Purdue University
SUMMER LARA Colorado State University
ANGELLO GUTIERREZ Ohio State University
ASHLEY STEELE Midwestern University
DESTINY SARNO North Carolina State University
Preventing Pet Hunger
In 2024, we celebrated our second annual Pet Hunger Awareness Day. What began as a call to action has become a movement—mobilizing communities, raising awareness, and fueling donations to help end pet hunger. During this year’s event, we met Chewy Santiago, a sweet pup, and his dad, a veteran experiencing housing insecurity. He shared that Chewy isn’t just a pet but his emotional anchor and family. Thanks to our efforts and partners on the ground, Chewy’s dad can access proper nourishment for his beloved pet, ensuring the safekeeping of this unbreakable bond.
That’s the power of partnership. Through our collaboration with Meals on Wheels America, we help deliver pet food alongside meals for homebound seniors—ensuring that no one has to choose between feeding themselves or their pets. In 2024 alone, our partnership supported deliveries to thousands of seniors nationwide resulting in hitting a major milestone of thirteen million pet meals delivered. And through our partnership with Feeding America, we donated over $11 million in pet food directly to food banks across the country—making sure proper nutrition is available for the whole family.
2024 PET HUNGER HIGHLIGHTS
$11 MILLION GRANTED 68 MILLION MEALS
MILLIONTH MEAL MILESTONE
Over $1 million in relief granted to 81 organizations that help pets and their families impacted by natural disasters.
Hurricane Relief
When severe flooding and hurricanes devastated parts of the South and Midwest, PetSmart Charities jumped into action. Thanks to our partnership with American Red Cross, 71 animals in communities devasted by Hurricane Helene were able to co-shelter with their families across five American Red Cross relief centers. Your generosity made it possible for us to grant over $604,000 for Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene response to local partners, and over $125,000 in truckloads of pet food.
California Wildfires
In California, raging wildfires forced families to evacuate with just minutes to spare. Our partners at the Community Animal Medicine Project (C.A.M.P.) are among the many amazing groups we supported through our disaster response grants. In turn, PetSmart Charities was able to grant over $500K of funding to support Southern California fire recovery efforts to more than 20 organizations.
“We cannot thank you enough for the generosity and swift turnaround of the grant received today in support of C.A.M.P.’s wildfire relief efforts thanks to you, we mobilized quickly and provided care directly to those who need it most during this horrific time in our beautiful city.”
- C.A.M.P.
Journey to 11 Million
“If I’ve had a rough day, I go home, and they’re so happy to see me. They just make everything better,” said Jon.
When Jon Pepper walked into his local PetSmart in Philadelphia, he hoped to meet a small dog to adopt into his family. Instead, he met Sammy—a spirited Pitbull mix whose brawny stature is no match for her larger-than-life personality. Sammy was available for adoption through PetSmart Charities’ adoption partner, ACCT Philly. Pepper knew Sammy was something special, “the star of the event,” as he put it. And she was. Sammy didn’t just win over Jon—she made history as the 11 millionth pet adopted through PetSmart Charities.
Now at home with Jon and his other dog, Heidi, Sammy is helping to heal hearts and bring joy to everyday life. “If I’ve had a rough day, I go home, and they’re so happy to see me. They just make everything better,” said Jon. This milestone adoption is a testament to the powerful bond between pets and people, and the life-changing impact of the collaboration between PetSmart Charities, PetSmart stores, and thousands of partner shelters and rescues across North America.
Saving Lives One Mile at a Time
...SHE REALIZED ADOPTION MIGHT NOT BE HER PATH—BUT SOMETHING BIGGER WAS.
Our Connecting Pets and People team is boots-onthe-ground across the country, meeting with adoption partners and visiting PetSmart stores to strengthen local rescue and shelter collaborations and to boost in-store adoptions. Their presence in the community helps build meaningful connections that make a positive impact for pets in need. While traveling, the team also fosters pets—because they know how important it is to give animals a break from the shelter. Even one night in a home environment can reduce stress, boost adoptability, and give pets a chance to shine. Many of the pets our team members fostered have been adopted during their care.
Fosters are also integral in helping shelters learn more about the pets in their care and even identify personality traits that would otherwise go unnoticed. Take Ruffles, for example. When Adoptions Manager Kerri met her in an Abilene, TX shelter, she realized adoption might not be her path—but something bigger was. After spending time with her, she saw her drive, athleticism and passion for fetch and knew she was destined for more. After outreach and many calls, Ruffles was accepted into the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation and has since graduated. She is now assigned to a Task Force with her handler in Northern California.
2024 ADOPTION HIGHLIGHTS
378,384 PETS ADOPTED
$14 MILLION IN ADOPTION PREP GRANTS & ADOPTION REWARDS
2,400 ADOPTION PARTNERS & GRANTEES
40,000 PETS TRANSPORTED
2024 BREAKDOWN
OVER 90 CENTS OF EVERY $1 GOES DIRECTLY TO HELP PETS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM
Each year, PetSmart helps provide critical support to advance the mission at PetSmart Charities. From hosting pet adoptions at PetSmart’s nearly 1,700 stores to collecting donations from customers at the register and online, our friends at PetSmart stand by their mission to help everyone experience more joy with pets. 100 percent of those donations are passed directly on to PetSmart Charities to support pet adoptions, alleviate pet hunger, integrate pets into disaster response efforts, and promote access to veterinary care.
Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, PetSmart has never sold cats or dogs. Instead, local shelter partners were invited to bring adoptable pets into stores to promote adoptions. That’s how PetSmart
Charities was created—and together, we have since facilitated more than 11 million pet adoptions. In addition, PetSmart Charities helps bring to life the ways in which PetSmart celebrates pets and the people that love them. To highlight our shared passion to support pets and people in need, customers are invited to extend their support through PetSmart’s Treats Rewards loyalty program. Throughout 2024, PetSmart Treats Rewards members donated more than 171 million loyalty points to PetSmart Charities. Additionally, PetSmart grew its popular Chance & Friends collection to include Halloween offerings alongside its winter holiday collection. For every purchase of a Chance & Friends plush toy, funds were donated to PetSmart Charities, totaling over $2.9 million.
PETSMART FUNDRAISING PROGRAMS
PetSmart associates are the heart of our fundraising efforts, raising millions in donations at checkout each year. Their impact goes far beyond the register — from leading in-store campaigns to volunteering and donating from their own paychecks. Their dedication fuels our mission—and we’re deeply grateful for their unwavering support.
associates championed two in-store fundraising campaigns in 2024. Their support helped build accessible veterinary care and alleviate pet hunger.
The PetSmart Treats Rewards loyalty program offers members 2X points for every $1 dollar donated at checkout. Several times a year, members are also invited to donate points to PetSmart Charities, which in 2024 was more than $300,000 across the United States and Puerto Rico.
PetSmart
A percentage of sales from Chance & Friends plush toy collections are donated to PetSmart Charities.
CHANCE & FRIENDS
PETSMART LOYALTY TEAM
facilitating adoptions combating pet hunger
Hill’s Pet Nutrition and PetSmart Charities formed a strategic partnership to support pet adoption and welfare across North America. As the official feeding sponsor of PetSmart Charities, Hill’s supplies Science Diet pet food to all in-store Adoption Centers, ensuring that adoptable pets receive high-quality nutrition while awaiting their loving homes. Together, Hill’s and PetSmart Charities aim to strengthen the bond between pets and people, facilitating successful adoptions and offering science-led nutrition that supports long, healthy lives.
Alphia, one of North America’s largest pet food co-manufacturers, partners with PetSmart Charities to combat pet hunger and support families facing food insecurity. In honor of Pet Hunger Awareness Day, Alphia’s generous donation of $50,000, amplified our mission to provide nutritious meals to pets in need. This collaboration contributes to PetSmart Charities’ broader initiative, which has delivered over 350 million pet meals through partnerships with Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America, ensuring that pets remain with the families who love them, even during challenging times.
How You Can Help
Thank you for helping change lives—for pets and for all who love them. Your support makes a real difference, from helping families stay together to making sure more pets find loving homes.
We can’t do this without YOU. Every donation, every engagement, every act of kindness adds up. When you donate, you help expand programs that keep pets healthy and happy. When you spread the word or support adoption, you help grow a community that believes pets make the world a better place.
There’s no single way to make an impact—but every way matters. Whether you give, advocate, foster, or simply care—you’re part of a movement that’s creating a better future For Pets. For People. For Good.
make a bigger impact
become a champion for good
As a Champion for Good, your monthly donation plays a vital role in supporting families through pet adoption, creating access to affordable veterinary care, combating pet food insecurity, and assisting families who have experienced a natural disaster. Join us and make a monthly contribution for those in need.
become a planned estate contributor
Remembering PetSmart Charities in your final wishes is a lasting way to change the lives of pets and people who love them. Whether through an outright gift in your will/bequest or by designating us as the beneficiary of your life insurance or retirement account, you will help make the world a better place for pets and their families for generations to come.
become a corporate partner
As a corporate partner, your contributions lead the change for good. Your support not only helps homeless pets find loving families it also ensures that families stay together with their pets even during life’s toughest moments.
