Jacksonville Humane Society’s Florida Leaders in Lifesaving Initiative Receives $900,000 Award From Petco Love to Save the Lives of Dogs and Cats in Florida Shelters
Jacksonville, Florida (October 1, 2021): The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) announced today a $900,000 investment from the newly named Petco Love to support their Florida Leaders in Lifesaving initiative. Florida Leaders in Lifesaving is a coalition of shelters throughout the state with a focused aim at decreasing the death of dogs and cats in shelters.
According to the most recent data, Florida is the 4th worst state in the nation when it comes to saving the lives of shelter pets. Florida Leaders in Lifesaving is a program that provides a combination of mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on learning to animal welfare organizations located in Florida with the aim of moving Florida to a lifesaving state. The $900,000 investment from Petco Love will support this program.
Petco Love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since their founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, they’ve empowered organizations with $300 million invested to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And, they’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations, like JHS, nationwide.
“Petco Love announces an investment in the Jacksonville Humane Society’s Florida Leaders in Lifesaving program and hundreds of other organizations as part of our commitment to creating a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love.
“Petco Love’s generosity for this statewide initiative deeply appreciated by not just the Jacksonville Humane Society, but families across Florida,” said Denise Deisler JHS CEO. “This gift has taken lifesaving to the next level for dogs and cats in Florida. We are thankful for their continued partnership.”
Petco Love’s generosity has also helped launch a monthly transport of kittens, cats, and dogs who are at risk of euthanasia in Florida shelters to lifesaving communities outside of Florida. Moving these animals to safer spaces also allows larger counties in Florida to support their smaller neighbors who do not have access to the same amenities.
Florida Leaders provides mentorship and learning opportunities to animal welfare organizations in Florida. This includes the basics of day-to-day shelter operations, to spay/neuter, communications, adoptions, pet retention, and others that support lifesaving efforts. Learning happens at the Jacksonville Humane Society, at member organization locations, or virtually.
Florida Leaders held a summit in September of 2021 that included leaders from 65 organizations throughout Florida. Most recently, JHS hosted the Humane Society of Sarasota County for training about improving their volunteer program and hosted a webinar that helped other shelters launch a short-term foster program similar to JHS’ successful “Silent Night”.
Membership in Florida Leaders in Lifesaving is available for any animal welfare organization in the state of Florida, including clinics, that operate a brick and mortar building. There is no cost to join. To learn more about Florida Leaders in Lifesaving, please visit floridaleadersinlifesaving.org.
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About the Jacksonville Humane Society
The Jacksonville Humane Society provides care, comfort, and compassion to animals in need while engaging the hearts, hands, and minds of our community to bring about an end to the killing of abandoned and orphaned shelter animals. More information about the Jacksonville Humane Society is available at www.jaxhumane.org.
About Petco Love (Formerly Petco Foundation)
Petco Love is a nonprofit changing lives by making communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we’ve empowered animal welfare organizations by investing $300 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Today, our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Visit petcolove.org or follow at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to be part of the lifesaving work we’re leading every day.