Petstock Foundation donates $106,000 to grassroots charities

Despite donations down across the country, animal lovers rally to support pets and people in need.

The Petstock Foundation has raised $106,000 for grassroots charities across Australia, exceeding its fundraising target, through generous donations collected in June at Petstock stores as part of the Home Town Heroes initiative.

The annual Home Town Heroes campaign aims to raise awareness and financial support for grassroots partner organisations to help their local communities through the power of animals. The funds raised have been distributed to 53 charities nationwide, including Peggy’s Promise (NSW), Perth Rescue Angels (WA), Whisker Woods Sanctuary (ACT) and K.I.D.S Foundation (VIC).

The Petstock Foundation, the charity arm of the Petstock Group, works alongside many community charities with links back to our beloved pets. The Foundation would like to thank its customers and animal lovers across the country who generously donated to the Home Town Heroes initiative. The stores that raised the most money in Australia included Petstock South Fremantle (WA), Petstock Craigieburn (VIC) and Petstock Oxley (QLD), raising a combined $6,640 towards the campaign through customer in-store donations and purchase round-ups.

Operations Lead for the Petstock Foundation, Sherralea Cassidy, says, “With the support of our wonderful Petstock customers, we are proud to have raised over $100,000 to donate to 53 of the Petstock Foundation’s grassroots partner charities, which were selected by our stores due to their local links back in to the community. With charities across the board experiencing a demand for their services, coupled with seeing a decline in donations in today’s challenging climate, we are especially grateful that our customers have rallied with us to make a difference.

“Every dollar donated will make a significant difference to the lives of people who require the most support. Funds will go towards educational programs, safe shelter, companion animal management care, food, product, veterinary care and other community support.”

Petstock stores across the country were given the opportunity to individually select their very own local grassroots charity hero. This means that more of the money raised will have an impact that can be seen and felt locally, directly helping the people and pets in need. Since donating the funds, SA based charity, Safe Pets Safe Families has shared that the money has contributed to updating its facilities to improve its capacity to take care of its clients’ animals, and to create a visitor friendly space so owners can spend time with their pets. Thanks to donations from the Home Town Heroes initiative, Safe Pets Safe Families will also be able to enrich the pet environment with items including catios, toys, cat litter, rabbit hutches, reptile enclosures, portable dog loo, cleaning supplies and comfortable chairs for owners when they visit.

NSW based charity, Youth Up Front has shared the money has assisted with their canine assisted learning program, and VIC based Pets of the Homeless has been able to desex an additional 55 pets during July, conducting an extra Fix-A-Friend Desexing Day thanks to money raised by the Foundation.

The Home Town Heroes campaign is just one of the many fundraising initiatives from the Foundation. During September, the Petstock Foundation will be raising funds for animal-assisted therapy services through its campaign, The Big Hearts Project.

Where donations help

✓ 100% of funds raised by the Petstock Foundation and animal lovers through Petstock stores nationwide in June have been donated to Home Town Hero charity partners to enable them to create a better future for pets and people.

✓ Grassroots fundraising programs like the Home Town Heroes initiative has provided organisations more independence, creativity and the ability to effectively deliver greater services within the communities they represent.