PetSmart Charities® has awarded $5 million in grant funding to 150 animal shelters across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The grants will help local animal welfare groups care for and prepare more pets for in-store adoptions and events such as PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week (March 24-30). People with room in their hearts and homes for a new pet are encouraged to stop by a local PetSmart store and find the ideal match.
Today, more than six million pets make their way to animal shelters and rescues each year. The Adoption Prep grantees use these funds to help meet the physical, medical and social needs of adoptable pets. Adoption partners that bring pets to in-store adoption events also receive financial rewards, another way in which PetSmart Charities supports shelters coping with limited resources.
To encourage adoptions, PetSmart is offering new pet parents who adopt a pet at a PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week event in March the opportunity to claim VIPP (Very Important Pet Parent) status, the highest tier and level of savings for PetSmart Treats Rewards® loyalty members. Once claimed, pet parents can take advantage of VIPP savings and benefits including:
- 40% more points per dollar spent that can be redeemed for future savings;
- 2X Treats Rewards points on two shopping trips of choice;
- 2X Treats Rewards points for donations to PetSmart Charities;
- A free VIPP holiday gift;
- Free shipping on select orders over $49, members-only in-store pricing, a free gift on their pet’s birthday or adoption “Gotcha Day,” and more.
Hill's Pet Nutrition has stepped up again in 2025 to support PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week events. Hill's serves as the feeding partner of PetSmart Charities, providing Hill’s Science Diet pet food to all the Adoption Centers in PetSmart stores across the U.S. These partnerships closely align with Hill's 23-year mission to support animal welfare through the Hill's Food, Shelter & Love program, which provides science-led nutrition to more than 1,000 shelters across North America. Hill's and PetSmart Charities share a commitment to helping pets find loving families and to strengthening the bond between pets and people.
"Animal shelters and rescues across the country are brimming with pets in need of people to love them," said Heidi Marston, director of pet placement at PetSmart Charities. “Adoption Prep grantees put those funds to great use to care for animals in need until they find loving homes. We’re thankful to PetSmart and Hill's for sharing our passion for pets in need, and for their continued support during National Adoption Week.”
“Together with PetSmart Charities, we proudly support initiatives that turn houses into homes for countless pets, strengthening the invaluable bond between pets and their families,” said Courtney Suthoff, director of shelter at Hill's Pet Nutrition. "At Hill's, our unwavering commitment to animal welfare and shelters is driven by the belief that our scientifically proven formulas empower pet parents to offer love that goes above and beyond. National Adoption Week is an ideal time to find a new bestie.”
PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week Details
During PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week, thousands of local shelters will bring adoptable pets including dogs, cats, kittens and puppies into nearly every PetSmart store across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Potential pet parents will have the chance to interact with the adoptable pets to find their ideal match. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to help educate potential adopters on the pets they are interested in and their care needs.
- Dates: March 24-30, 2025
- Locations: Nearly every one of PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Visit petsmart.com to find the closest store.
Those who aren't quite ready to expand their family can still make a big impact by donating funds to help pets in need at PetSmartCharities.org. They also can find their match when the time is right by visiting PetSmartCharities.org/adopt-a-pet for adoptable pets, adoption centers and events.
ABOUT PETSMART CHARITIES
PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 11 million pets across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada connect with loving homes. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. PetSmart Charities' grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter and disaster relief. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by 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 more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more, visit www.PetSmartCharities.org.
ABOUT HILL'S PET NUTRITION
Founded 75 years ago with an unwavering commitment to science-led pet nutrition, Hill's Pet Nutrition is on a mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Hill's is dedicated to pioneering research for dogs and cats using a scientific understanding of their specific needs. As a leading veterinarian-recommended pet food brand, knowledge is our first ingredient with 220+ veterinarians, PhD nutritionists and food scientists working to develop breakthrough innovations in pet health. Hill's Prescription Diet therapeutic nutrition plus our everyday wellness product line, Hill's Science Diet, are sold at vet clinics and pet specialty retailers worldwide. For more information about our products and nutritional philosophy, visit HillsPet.com.
ABOUT PETSMART
PetSmart is the leading pet retailer offering products, services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart's passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so together they can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities.
PetSmart operates nearly 1,700 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. We provide a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption.
PetSmart, PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada work with nearly 4,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated over 11 million adoptions, more than any other brick-and-mortar organization.
Media Contact:
mediarelations@petsmart.com
