Grant money will be used to help AHS increase access to affordable veterinary care in Saint Paul
A lack of affordable pet wellness, training, and education programs is one of the most common reasons pets are surrendered to local shelters. Due to financial costs and other barriers, under-resourced communities often do not have access to basic veterinary care, which includes spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and dental treatment.
With a $250,000 grant from PetSmart Charities®, Animal Humane Society aims to support pets and pet parents in need of these services. In April 2018, we purchased a 10,000 square-foot building on University Avenue in Saint Paul, which will allow us to grow and serve even more animals and families who can’t afford basic veterinary care. The facility fills a vital need in an area with few pet resources.
We anticipate this new clinic will perform 9,500 low cost spay/neuter surgeries, wellness, medical, dental, and specialty services per year.
“While many people think of AHS as a place to adopt a pet, it's also in our mission to make sure our community has the resources it needs to take care of those animals once they're in a home. No owner wants their pets to suffer because they can’t afford veterinary care. This is a much needed resource in an area where people are underserved and have few options. We want to change that,” said Janelle Dixon, AHS President & CEO.
“Animal Humane Society is leading the charge in a collaborative effort to remove the barriers to affordable pet care throughout the Twin Cities,” said Lindsay Del Chiaro, Director of Community Relations and Programs at PetSmart Charities. “By partnering with organizations that serve both pets and pet parents, this initiative improves the overall health and wellness of the community by providing preventative care that decreases the overall cost of care for a serious illness or emergency. We're thrilled to support this work.”
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 find loving homes through its in-store adoption program in over 1,650 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $400 million to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets, to help preserve families and to improve access to veterinary care.
The new Veterinary Center in Saint Paul will begin providing affordable services later this year. If you're seeking low-cost veterinary care now, our Golden Valley clinic is accepting surgical appointment and walk-in visits. Learn more.
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 nearly 600,000 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 nearly $400 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 16 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.