Canine Companions for Independence® & PetSmart® Partner to Provide Assistance Dogs to Injured Vetera

Updated

Canine Companions for Independence® & PetSmart® Partner to Provide Assistance Dogs to Injured Veterans

National Partnership to Support Canine Companions' Wounded Veterans Initiatives

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PetSmart® (NAS: PETM) and Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance dogs to people with disabilities to help with everyday tasks, are launching a national partnership to place more assistance dogs with U.S. veterans with physical disabilities. The goal of the partnership is to ensure more wounded veterans can live their lives to the fullest with the assistance of these amazing animals and to find volunteers to serve as "puppy raisers" for assistance dogs in training.


"We are delighted to announce this partnership with Canine Companions for Independence, which gives PetSmart the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the brave men and women who protect and defend our country," said Bruce Thorn, PetSmart's Senior Vice President of Store Operations and Services and Army combat veteran. "PetSmart is proud to combine our passion for animals with our duty to give back to our community."

The PetSmart partnership with Canine Companions for Independence will officially kick off on Saturday, May 11 with a free community event, PetSmart Salutes Independence, in PetSmart's hometown of Phoenix. Active duty military, veterans, their families and friends are invited for family entertainment and information on Canine Companions for Independence as well as other local and national organizations providing services to military and people with disabilities. Veterans whose lives have been improved through an assistance dog will share their stories as well as volunteers who have fostered "puppies in training."

"We are grateful to PetSmart for recognizing the importance of providing assistance dogs to veterans and are honored to be the beneficiary of the launch event in Phoenix as well as our ongoing national partnership," said Corey Hudson, Canine Companions' CEO. "The difference these loving animals can make, both physically and emotionally, for the veterans they serve is immeasurable."

For more information, go to cci.org.

About Canine Companions for Independence

Canine Companions for Independence is the largest non-profit provider of trained assistance dogs with five regional training centers across the country. Established in 1975, Canine Companions provides highly trained assistance dogs to children, adults and military veterans with disabilities, and is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. There is no charge for the dog, its training and on-going follow-up services. For more information, visit cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

About PetSmart

PetSmart, Inc. (NAS: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company employs approximately 52,000 associates and operates more than 1,278 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, over 196 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (http://www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day CampSM day care services and pet adoption services. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities®, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 5 million pets since 1994. PetSmart Charities, Inc. and PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc. ("PetSmart Charities") are independent, nonprofit organizations that save the lives of homeless pets and reduce shelter intake through spay/neuter efforts. In 2012, nearly 450,000 dogs and cats found homes through the organization's adoption centers in all PetSmart stores and by sponsoring community adoption events. PetSmart Charities is the leader in granting money to help pets in need, with more than $28 million given in 2012 throughout North America.



The Lavidge Company
Marcia Scott, 480-998-2600 ext. 569
mscott@lavidge.com
Greg Sexton, 480-998-2600 ext. 555
gsexton@lavidge.com
or
PetSmart Media Line
623-587-2177
pr@ssg.petsmart.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Arizona

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Canine Companions for Independence® & PetSmart® Partner to Provide Assistance Dogs to Injured Veterans originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Advertisement