Tampa, Florida January 25, 2021 – Kids and Canines, a community non-profit, has been awarded a $5000 grant from the Petco Foundation to support its Teen Dog Training Program. The Teen Dog Training Program helps disadvantaged children develop needed social, life and job skills in a nurturing, learning environment.
The Kids and Canines’ mission is to change the life of at-risk youth through the use of a therapy dog. Kids and Canines gives children the tools to achieve more academically, socially and emotionally. The Teen Dog Training Program serves teens at three Department of Juvenile Justice residential facilities and those selected by their counselors and therapists at four public schools.
This grant was made possible through the Petco Foundation’s annual Helping Heroes fundraising campaign, in partnership with Natural Balance Pet Foods. 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 showcases how dogs can enrich our lives and provide services that make them heroes to the thousands of children who benefit from the interaction of dogs in the Kids and Canines programs. In keeping with the mission of Petco to save more pet lives, once trained by the teen students, are placed with families and individuals to work in support of their adoptee, whether in the way of a comfort, companion, therapy or as a service dog.
“We are so grateful for Petco’s continued support, it allowed us to expand services to help fourteen more teens at Memorial Middles School this year. These teens not only receive the wellbeing that comes from interacting with the dogs, they are participating in a weekly program that teaches them important life and job skills. Many of our graduates have shared they were able to find jobs because of what they learned in our programs” said Kelly Hodges, Executive Director at Kids and Canines.
For more information about Kids and Canines or the Petco Foundation, visit http://kidsandcanines.org/ or www.petcofoundation.org. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or by using the hashtag #HelpingHeroes.
About Kids and Canines
Kids and Canines’ mission is to serve disadvantaged youth by giving them the support, tools, and opportunities to empower themselves and improve their lives. For 23 years, we have provided well-respected and tested programs to thousands of children. These children have been identified as having special needs or are part of the juvenile corrections system.
We use trained dogs to help children achieve academically, socially, and in their pursuit of employment. The magic of the dog and child connection breaks down barriers, provides support, and creates an environment that allows teens to learn important life skills through firsthand experiences.
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.
Investments are made possible through the Petco Foundation’s annual Helping Heroes campaign, which supports shelter pets that dedicate their lives to saving and improving the lives of others. Since 2012, the Petco Foundation has invested more than $15 million to support the life-changing work of helping heroes.