Petco Foundation Invests in Kids and Canines’ Life-Changing Work to transform the lives of at-risk children, one dog at a time.
Investment of $5,000 will extend efforts to help pets and people in the Tampa area live their best lives
Kids and Canines in Tampa today announced it has been awarded a $5,000 grant investment from the Petco Foundation to support its mission to transform the lives of at-risk children, one dog at a time.
Kids and Canines is a nonprofit organization that takes one rescued dog and one disadvantaged child and brings them together with a purpose. Kids and Canines teaches at-risk youth how to train dogs, which helps the teen gain important life skills such as responsibility, teamwork, confidence and job skills that will help them later in life.
This grant was made possible through the Petco Foundation’s annual Helping Heroes fundraising campaign, in partnership with Natural Balance Pet Foods. Each October during the campaign, Petco customers are invited to donate online and in Petco stores across the country to support the life-changing work of service, therapy and working animals.
The Petco Foundation investment will pay the complete cost for one dog to go through the entire training process. This includes medical costs, food, training tools, treats and other costs associated with the training process.
“ We are honored to receive this grant from the Petco Foundation,” said Kelly Hodges, Executive Director of Kids and Canines. “This generous donation will benefit dozens of kids who will participate in the training of this one dog.“
For more information about Kids and Canines or the Petco Foundation, visit www.kidsandcanines.org or www.petcofoundation.org. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or by using the hashtag #HelpingHeroes.
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Kids and Canines
At Kids and Canines, we believe that all children, and especially the disadvantaged youth in our programs, can become high achievers in their own unique way and overcome challenges through care and support. Our goal is to empower kids by teaching them important life skills while receiving the therapeutic value of caring for and training a dog that will go on to serve others.
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 $200 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.