The PEDIGREE Foundation announces the 2024 Grant Cycle

$1 Million in annual grants will be awarded to animal shelters and rescues working toward ending pet homelessness

FRANKLIN, Tenn., March 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Throughout USthere are more than 8.2 million homeless dogs and 2.3 million of them are in shelters waiting to find loving homes, according to ‘State of Pet Homelessness Project.’ In an effort to alleviate overcrowding, capacity challenges and ultimately encourage dog adoption, PEDIGREE Foundation announced the opening of its annual giving cycle, which will donate to shelters and rescue organizations across the country $1 million in providing funding to support nursing, behavioral, and transportation programs.

Since its inception in 2008, PEDIGREE Foundation has awarded more than $12 million in grants and help more than 800,000 dogs through its grant program to increase dog adoptions and help end pet homelessness. In 2023 alone, 3.2 million dogs entered animal shelters and rescue organizations nationwide, according to the Shelter Animals Count’s 2023 Annual Report and PEDIGREE Foundation helping 76,000 dogs worldwide US and Canada. This year’s applications are open from now until Sunday, April 14, 2024and can be submitted here.

“There is an ongoing critical need for dog adoption across the board North America. Shelters are at capacity and while pet intakes remain constant, shelters are not seeing the same or higher movement in adoptions,” said Deb Fair, Executive Director of PEDIGREE Foundation. “Our annual grant program allows us to serve shelters and rescue organizations that desperately need help. We are excited to provide resources that will help get more dogs through foster, behavior and transport programs.”

PEDIGREE Foundation will award several program categories for its 2024 annual grants, helping increase adoption rates throughout the animal welfare community:

• Nursing programs which temporarily moves dogs to loving homes while they await adoption, with foster parents to care for and advocate for them.
• Behavioral programs which helps with socialization, training and stress relief, so that dogs can move beyond behaviors that may prevent them from being adopted into loving families. Data from ‘State of Pet Homelessness Project‘ also revealed that nearly 1 in 4 dog owners in the US are thinking of getting their pet back in the next 12 months and 1 in 5 of them cite behavioral problems as the reason. These programs can help dogs who need a little extra training find new, loving families.
• Transportation programs which supports organizations in relocating dogs from overpopulated areas to areas where they are more likely to be adopted.

The 2024 PEDIGREE Foundation The grants program includes two types of grants that shelters and rescues can currently apply for.

Annual Grants – awarded in the fall

• DOGS RULE.™ Grants ($100,000) – This two-year grant ($50,000 each year) will be awarded to fund new, creative and innovative initiatives that not only benefit their own organizations, but can also serve as best practice models for other shelters and rescues to help increase the dog adoption rate.
• Program Development Grants ($10,000 – $15,000) – These grants will support activities that expand the operational capacity of shelters or rescues to improve dog adoption rates. This includes expansion of existing programs or new programs.

Aside from this, Disaster Grants are available year-round to address natural disasters, puppy mill seizures or hoarding situations. A separate application process can be found here.

Organizations interested in applying for the 2024 grant are invited to join a webinar at Tuesday, March 5 in 11:00 AM CST where the representatives come from PEDIGREE Foundation will explain the grant cycle and share tips on how to write a successful submission. All applicants must have current 501(c)(3) tax designation status with shelters or rescues operating in US to submit an application. Government and municipal shelters with the “Friends of 501(c)(3) designation are also eligible. You can register for the webinar here and registrants can access the recording at PEDIGREEFoundation.org after March 5.

To learn more about PEDIGREE Foundation or donate to help find permanent homes for dogs in need, please visit PEDIGREEFoundation.org and follow PEDIGREE Foundation on social media (Facebook and Instagram).

About PEDIGREE Foundation
We believe every dog ​​deserves a loving, forever home. PEDIGREE Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to help end pet homelessness. Nearly 3.1 million dogs end up in shelters and rescues each year, and nearly half never find a home. The foundation was established in 2008 by Mars Petcare, makes PEDIGREE® food for dogs, to help increase dog adoption rates. We’ve awarded over 6,200 grants and counting $12 million in US shelters and rescues that help dogs in need. Since the launch of our Canadian grant program in 2022, we have given $200k CAD to local shelters and rescues in need throughout Canadaas well as the $20k CAD on Disaster Relief. In PEDIGREE Foundation, we strive towards a day when all dogs are safe, secure, cared for, well fed and loved. See how you can help at PedigreeFoundation.org.

About Mars Petcare
Part of Mars, Incorporateda family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, its 85,000 Associates in 50+ countries inMars Petcareis dedicated to one goal: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of nearly 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of pets around the world – including the PEDIGREE brands^®WHISKS^®, ROYAL CANIN^®, CHECKING™, GREENS™, SHEBA^®CESAR^®, IAMS™ andEUKANUBA™ as well asWaltham Petcare Science Institutewith advanced research in pet nutrition and health for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading provider of veterinary health through an international network of more than 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD™,BLUEPEARL™,VCA™,Linnaeus,AnyCureand Antech. We are also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs and cats, the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive of innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we have the privilege of flexibility to fight for what we believe in – and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

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SOURCE PEDIGREE Foundation