Adopt-a-Pet.com Launches Foster a Hurricane Pet to Provide Emergency Pet Foster Homes for Families Displaced by Hurricane Harvey

North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website responds to
critical need for temporary companion animal housing in wake of Harvey
natural disaster in order to help keep pets and their families together

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#FosteraHurricanePet–Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption
website, announced today the launch of Foster a Hurricane Pet (www.fosterahurricanepet.org),
the only peer-to-peer online platform to help displaced people find
local citizens who can provide temporary foster homes for pets until
they can be welcomed back home. Working closely with Houston SPCA, the
city’s first and largest animal shelter, Adopt-a-Pet.com has launched
this free online service to find safe havens for the many thousands of
pets whose displaced owners are temporarily not able to care for them in
this devastating crisis.

Using Foster
a Hurricane Pet, pet owners in need of temporary care for their
animals can quickly and easily use a computer or smart phone to post
their pet, while animal lovers in Texas and Louisiana are encouraged to
help by choosing a pet to foster until the pet can return home. “This
specially designed tool will connect neighbors to neighbors, ultimately
giving displaced pet owners peace of mind knowing that their animals are
safe while they get back on their feet,” said Patricia Mercer, president
of Houston SPCA. “We expect thousands of animals to come to the Houston
SPCA as a result of this catastrophic disaster, and we will see an
urgent need for short-term and long-term foster homes in our
communities.”

Natural disasters, like Hurricane Harvey, pose a serious threat for
people and pets alike in the impacted areas. Many families are forced to
flee without their beloved pets, certain evacuation centers do not allow
pets, and for some people it may be weeks or months before they are able
to secure stable, pet-friendly housing. A system for temporary care for
pets during crisis situations and reuniting them with their families
afterward is essential. “Having been on the ground facilitating animal
rescue efforts following Hurricane Katrina, I know first-hand how a
platform like Foster a Hurricane Pet could have changed the outcome for
so many animal companions and the families just needing to get back on
their feet,” said Dr. Pia Salk, psychologist with expertise on the
human-animal bond and spokesperson for Adopt-a-Pet.com. “Foster a
Hurricane Pet focuses on keeping pets close to their families and out of
already overcrowded animal shelters – both of which are crucial to
combating feelings of helplessness and making a reunion possible,” she
went on to say. “Recovering from such a stressful event requires
minimizing further losses and maximizing access to support and
unconditional love. Animal companions are natural healers in such
situations. Having them safe and nearby is a win for the whole
community.”

“The Petco Foundation is dedicated to lifesaving every day and for
animals in crisis situations like Hurricane Harvey. We are proud to,
once again, fund the development of innovative technology that will
directly impact the lives of pets in need,” said Susanne Kogut,
Executive Director of the Petco Foundation. “Through partnerships like
the one we have with Adopt-a-Pet.com, for finding pet foster homes, and
with Finding Rover, for reuniting displaced pets with their owners,
innovative and desperately needed technology can be brought to life at
record speed – enabling more animals to be saved,” she said.

Only people local to the areas affected by the storm are being asked to
open their homes to foster a pet. Pet lovers in the rest of the country
who want to help are encouraged to visit Adopt-a-Pet.com or
Petfinder.com and adopt a pet from their local shelter to make room for
homeless pets being moved out of the hurricane-effected areas. Those who
can’t adopt but still want to lend support can make a tax-deductible
donation that will entirely be used to cover the costs of foster care
for Hurricane Harvey-impacted pets.

To learn more about Foster a Hurricane Pet, visit www.fosterahurricanepet.org.

About Adopt-a-Pet.com

Adopt-a-Pet.com
is North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website, helping over
17,000 animal shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, pet rescue groups, and
pet adoption agencies advertise their purebred and mixed breed pets for
free to millions of adopters each month. Sponsored by the pet lovers at
Purina, the Petco Foundation, Petco, and Bayer Animal Health LLC,
Adopt-a-Pet.com helps homeless dogs, cats, and even rabbits and other
animals go from alone to adopted.

About Houston SPCA

The mission of the Houston SPCA is to promote commitment to and
respect for all animals and to free them from suffering, abuse and
exploitation. For more than 92 years, the Houston SPCA has been an open
door, a safe haven and defender for all animals. For more information,
call (713) 869-SPCA (7722) or visit,www.HoustonSPCA.org.
Please connect with us on Facebook,
Twitter
and YouTube.

About the Petco Foundation

The Petco Foundation believes that every animal deserves to live its
best life. Since 1999, they’ve invested more than $200 million in
lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With thousands of
animal welfare partners across the county, they inspire and empower
communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical
care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service
and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through
the Think Adoption First program, they partner with Petco stores and
animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet
adoptions. So far, they’ve helped more than 5.3 million pets find their
new loving families, and they’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to
learn more about how you can get involved.

Contacts

Adopt-a-Pet.com
Dana Puglisi, 323-696-0082
Dana@adoptapet.com