TEWKSBURY, Mass., Feb. 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wellness® Natural Pet Food and the WellPet Foundation today announced a $1.7 million in-kind donation of Wellness pet food to PetSmart Charities for distribution to five shelters in Arizona and Indiana serving pets in need. The Wellness pet food donation represents the largest-ever volume donation received by PetSmart Charities, and the single-largest donation by the WellPet Foundation, and will help thousands of dogs and cats in need.
The shelters, all adoption partners of PetSmart Charities, and include Heartland Small Animal Rescue in South Bend, Indiana, and, in Arizona, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Pima County Animal Care in Tucson, Maricopa County Animal Care in Phoenix and Pinal County Animal Care in Casa Grande.
"Thousands of homeless pets will benefit because of our partnership with WellPet," said Jan Wilkins, executive director, PetSmart Charities. "WellPet's generous $1.7 million Wellness pet food donation will make it possible for many of our animal welfare partners to not only feed homeless pets, but use the money they would have spent on food to make life better in other ways, too, for the pets in their care."
Wellness and the WellPet Foundation have a long history of helping animals in communities across the country. "Helping pets in need is part of the Wellness 'All Ways Well' brand promise, which includes extending the nutritional benefits of Wellness natural pet food to all pets," said Chanda Leary Coutu, Senior Communications Manager for WellPet. "We're sincerely honored to have the opportunity to join PetSmart Charities in supporting the wellbeing of dogs and cats at these shelters.
About WellPet
WellPet is home to the family of premium pet food brands including Wellness®, Old Mother Hubbard®, Eagle Pack® and Holistic Select®. For more than 100 years, WellPet has delivered on the promise of doing whatever it takes to make the healthiest natural products for the pets that depends on us. Today, our team of animal lovers, nutritionists and vets at WellPet are committed to carrying forth our strong heritage, continuing to find new ways to bring innovation, nutritional excellence and product quality to our family of natural brands, always putting pet health first.
About The WellPet Foundation®: Responsibility, Passion, and Commitment
At WellPet, we are committed to giving back to the world we share with our pets. Through the WellPet Foundation, we support organizations and activities that promote the power of natural nutrition and the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles.
About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, separate from PetSmart, Inc.
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Steve Pawlowski 623-516-3920, PetSmart Charities Sarah Pariseau 617-585-5770 WellPet
