The greatest part about being an animal lover is that together we have one thing in common: a commitment to helping save the lives of homeless pets. For many of us, even if it means donating a few dollars here and there, these contributions still go great lengths.

Fortunately, the Petco Foundation never misses a beat and the Petco brand strives to help save homeless animals in need.

Over the past couple years Barking Beast has had the privilege of attending many Petco Foundation campaign ceremonies from their annual Petco Hope Gala where they raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for homeless animals in our everyday community.

And this fall, once again Petco has selflessly recommitted themselves with a new campaign called the Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign designed to benefit the nation’s most dedicated non-profit animal welfare organizations! The campaign will award money to deserving non-profit groups and share these groups’ success stories to help raise awareness about bringing animals from shelters into loving homes.

Qualified animal welfare groups can submit stories, photos and videos of their best animal success stories for a chance to win up to $100,000 toward saving more animal lives. The winning animal welfare group will be announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December. Applications can be submitted online at http://www.petcofoundation.org. All entries must be submitted by Nov. 22, 2013.

Animal welfare groups across the country do incredible work all year long, and we need your help getting the word out about the Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign to local groups in your community.

We hope you will join Barking Beast in sharing this amazing opportunity with your friends and animals lovers in the San Diego community. Together we can recognize, award, and honor those who selflessly work hard and make a difference everyday in saving the innocent lives of homeless animals in our every growing community.

For more information on the Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign or to submit your non-profit grant application, visit http://www.petco.com/holidaywishes OR Contact: Lisa Stark, 858-453-7845 x2558, lisa.stark@petco.com

PRESS RELEASE about Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes Grant

The Petco Foundation and ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ Kick Off New Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign. $250,000 in grants made available to save animal lives; winning animal-welfare group to receive $100,000 grand prize in December.

San Diego (Oct. 30, 2013) – On Monday’s episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the Petco Foundation joined Ellen and her natural pet food company Halo, Purely for Pets, to announce a new grant campaign designed to make holiday wishes come true for some of the nation’s most dedicated non-profit animal-welfare organizations. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will announce the winning animal-welfare group – who will earn a $100,000 grand prize grant to support their work to save animals – in December.

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is encouraging qualified animal-welfare groups to submit details (stories, photos, videos, etc.) surrounding their best animal success stories for a chance to win up to a $100,000 Petco Foundation grant toward saving more lives this holiday season. Second and third place winners will earn $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, with grants from $5,000 to $10,000 going to 10 runner-up organizations. All entries must be submitted by Nov. 22, 2013.

“Halo and the Petco Foundation are teaming up together. We want to help all of the pet shelters that help animals and do good every year. The Petco Foundation wants to award deserving animal shelters,” said talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Ellen and Halo on this exciting campaign to recognize and support the groups and individuals who work tirelessly all year long to care for and find homes for animals in need,” said Petco Foundation Executive Director Susanne Kogut. “By sharing some of their stories through this campaign, we hope to raise awareness and increase the number of animals spending this holiday season where they belong – in loving homes with the care and support they deserve.”

The Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign is open to all animal welfare organizations dedicated to finding homes for animals in need this holiday season, including governmental animal services and shelters, as well as private non-profit organizations, large and small. Applications can be submitted online http://www.petcofoundation.org and require just one complete success story, including photos, and basic organizational information to be eligible. The winning animal-welfare group will be announced in December.

About Petco and the Petco Foundation
Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that focuses on nurturing the powerful relationship between people and pets. We do this by providing the products, services, advice and experiences that keep pets physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,250 stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico, including more than 80 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop; nine Pooch Hotel destinations for pet daycare, boarding and spa services; and petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has raised more than $115 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 350,000 animals every year.

About Halo, Purely for Pets
For over 25 years, Halo, Purely for Pets® has created holistic pet products of uncompromising quality. Halo believes nutrition is the single most important factor in the quality of a pet’s life. Ellen — a long time Halo customer – became part-owner in 2008. Halo’s natural dog food, natural cat food, treats, supplements and grooming products are available at PETCO, Unleashed by Petco, and other fine pet specialty and natural food stores. Learn more http://www.halopets.com.