Tag Archives: PetSmart

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PetSmart implements a comprehensive action plan to provide pets with an even safer and more enjoyable experience in its grooming salons

PHOENIX, 2018-Feb-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart, North America’s leading pet specialty retailer, has always been committed to the health and well-being of all pets. That’s why the company is implementing a comprehensive action plan to provide pets with an even safer and more enjoyable experience in its grooming salons. This plan, outlined below, goes into effect today.

Independent task force to review training curriculum
PetSmart is recruiting a team of recognized independent industry experts, accomplished master groomers and accredited veterinarians and pet behaviorists that will undertake a detailed review of PetSmart’s current training and grooming safety standards. This team will provide an unbiased report of its findings and recommendations on any potential areas for improvement.

Salon Open Houses
Beginning this year, PetSmart will host Open Houses in all grooming salons for pet parents to meet their local groomers, discuss their pet’s specific needs, tour their local salon and have all their questions answered. These Open Houses will include informative sessions with an overview of safety and training standards, grooming tips and procedures and – importantly – a review of PetSmart’s recently enhanced assessments of pets brought in for grooming, designed to ensure a safer grooming experience.

Enhanced salon monitoring 
PetSmart will begin the installation of cameras in all grooming salons to provide reassurance to pet parents that their pets will receive the best possible care from the highly skilled grooming staff. Video will be used to assist in ongoing associate education, provide additional oversight and ensure that the quality of service meets PetSmart’s strict standards. Installation plans are underway.

Higher safety standards
The actions above augment new, higher safety standards PetSmart implemented on February 2, 2018. The company now solely offers specialized care for English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers and Boston Terriers (and any dog mixed with one of these breeds). These specific breeds are more likely to experience respiratory challenges, particularly in stressful environments, and for some dogs, this includes places like a grooming salon. PetSmart’s higher safety standards for these breeds include:

  • An uninterrupted “Express” service provided by a dedicated grooming professional, limiting the amount of time a pet spends in the salon. When the groom is complete, the pet is returned to the pet parent immediately, so pet parents are now asked to stay in or near the store during their pet’s appointment.
  • The use of harness-style methods, instead of a traditional lead such as those commonly used in the grooming industry, due to the breathing challenges these breeds often have in response to stress.

Additionally, all PetSmart groomers now perform a broader safety assessment of every pet at check-in. They closely observe pets for any combination of the following: lethargy, excessive panting, excessive drooling, trembling or shaking, redness in eyes, and resistance to entering the salon or kennel area. If a pet exhibits any two of these behaviors, PetSmart will not perform the service at that time. Pet parents are welcome to stay in the store with their pet to see if the behaviors pass within 15 minutes. If not, groomers will work with the pet parent to reschedule the appointment or recommend a veterinarian who can perform the service.

A summary of these higher safety standards, an overview of PetSmart’s Grooming Academy, tips for pet parents to consider before having their pet groomed, a video tour of a grooming salon, and a behind-the-scenes video of its grooming curriculum are available on PetSmart’s website.

“PetSmart has set the highest safety standards in the industry and we are always looking to improve,” said Gregg Scanlon, senior vice president of Store Operations and Services. “We recognize the responsibility we have every time a pet parent chooses PetSmart, and we want to live up to our promise of being their trusted partner every day. That’s why we’re taking action – to help create an even better experience for pets in our care and to give pet parents the peace of mind they deserve.”

PetSmart Academy-trained stylists complete 800 or more hours of hands-on instruction and safety certification, working with at least 200 dogs of all breeds and sizes. All stylists complete annual safety re-certification and participate in quarterly grooming safety training sessions.

In 2015, PetSmart played an active role in shaping and advocating for the adoption of care standards for all pet groomers in the industry. More information about this effort, as well as the proposed standards, can be found here:

https://pijac.org/press/professional-pet-groomers-stylists-alliance-release-shared-standards-care-pet-grooming

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook:www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram:@PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter:@PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube:www.YouTube.com/PetSmart 
PetSmart homepage: http://www.petsmart.com/

PetSmart, Inc.
Michelle Friedman, 623-587-2177
Vice President of Corporate Communications

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PETSMART® And PETSMART Charities® to host National Adoption Weekend, Feb. 16 – 18

Add Some Love to Your Home by Adopting a Shelter Pet; Save a Life and Change Your Own

PHOENIX, 2018-Feb-14 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart, PetSmart Charities and thousands of animal welfare partners across the U.S. and Canada will have lots of love in store this February. From February 16 – 18, adorable, adoptable pets will be featured in nearly all PetSmart’s 1,600 plus stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico for the first National Adoption Weekend of 2018. PetSmart Charities and its adoption partners hope to find forever homes for more than 25,000 pets during the event.

“Watching a family fall in love with the perfect pet is one of the most heart-warming things you’ll see,” says David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., and president of PetSmart Charities. “And while adopters are most certainly saving and enhancing the lives of shelter pets, the human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial relationship. Recent research shows that pets bring their fair share of benefits to the lives of their new pet parents, too.”

A 2017 survey commissioned by PetSmart Charities and conducted by Wakefield Research found ninety-three percent of pet parents said they had experienced at least one health benefit from their pet. The benefits range from increased physical activity and weight loss to improved mood and decreased stress. The same survey showed when respondents were asked who would be more helpful to them when facing a difficult time in their lives, their pet or a therapist, seventy-nine percent of respondents selected their pet.

The Simatos family in North Michigan would most certainly agree. In January 2018, they adopted a dog named Sophie from the Humane Society of West Michigan, which is one of PetSmart Charities’ adoption partners. Sophie was unique in that she was the first dog the local Humane Society had seen with a cleft lip and palate. While some may have thought her cleft lip and palate would make Sophie harder to adopt, to Alicia Simatos and her young family, it only made her more perfect.

“As soon as we saw Sophie, we instantly fell in love with her. We have a young son, MJ, who was born with a cleft lip and palate…just like Sophie. From Sophie’s gentle disposition and their shared experience, we knew that she and our son would be kindred spirits. We can’t express the amount of comfort and unconditional love she has brought to our lives, and how much confidence she has given our son,” said Simatos. “Sophie reminds us all of what love truly means.”

Sophie’s ability to bring smiles to just about everyone she meets has earned her a new position as the office therapy dog at the Cleft Lip & Palate Foundation of Smiles in Michigan.

Bring Love Home this National Adoption Weekend
Shelter pets of all ages, types and sizes will be looking for love and hoping to find their forever home at PetSmart Charities’ February National Adoption Weekend. From February 16 – 18, more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations will bring adoptable pets into nearly all of PetSmart’s 1,600-plus stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico with the goal of finding homes for more than 25,000 pets during the weekend adoption event.

Looking for A Different Way to Show Your Love of Pets?
Every PetSmart store will be collecting pet food donations at the check-out that will be provided to local shelters and PetSmart Charities’ adoption partners following National Adoption Weekend. So even if you’re not ready to adopt a pet, you can still help a pet in need.

National Adoption Weekend Details:
Date: Friday, February 16 – Sunday, February 18, 2018
Time: Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. local time
Location: Nearly every PetSmart store across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
Visit www.petsmart.com to find a store near you.

A Free Gift for Those Who Adopt:
Regardless of which type of pet you choose to adopt, or where you adopted, PetSmart offers a free Adoption Kit* that provides important content that helps to integrate a new pet into the family. Click here for more information about PetSmart’s Free Adoption Kit. *Adoption papers are required.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart donated a meal to pets in need and beat its goal of 60 million meals with more than 63 million meals generated through this leading philanthropic program. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
PetSmart homepage: http://www.petsmart.com/

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store and Distribution Center opportunities.

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

About PetSmart Charities® of Canada:
PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date.  PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada and is independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca.

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCanada
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

SOURCE: PetSmart

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PetSmart launches its Valentine’s Day Pet Collection

National Retail Federation Indicates Eight Percent Increase in Consumer Spending for Valentine’s Day, Including on Pets

PHOENIX, 2018-Feb-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — To celebrate the month of love, PetSmart, the leading pet specialty retailer in North America, is launching its Valentine’s Day Pet Collection with a wide variety of items for pet parents to celebrate and show their pet love on Feb. 14.

Last week the National Retail Foundation released its 2018 Valentine’s Day spending report, citing total spending up eight percent this year and expected to reach $19.6 billion compared to $18.2 billion in 2017. This year’s survey also found consumers plan to spend an average of $5.50 per pet, totaling $751 million.

The Valentine’s Day Collection is available at 1,600-plus PetSmart stores and PetSmart.com with fun, festive items to gift to pets and pet lovers alike.

Refresh Your Pet’s Wardrobe with Festive Apparel & Accessories – Kicking off the collection are adorable pink and red tutu dresses featuring tulle skirts and fun slogans like “Awesome” and “I’m So Fancy,” as well as headbands adorned with pink and red dimensional flower treatments. Additional apparel items for dogs and cats include pink and red tees featuring “Happy Always Looks Good” and “Little and Fabulous.” The ED Ellen DeGeneres Collection, exclusively available at PetSmart, also features items for Valentine’s Day including love-themed dog collars, leashes, a pocket “Love” dog tee and the “Love” pillow dog bed.

Gift a Festive New Toy – Pets love toys, and the plush “conversational hearts” with squeakers and messages like “I Woof You” and “You Make My Tail Wag” make a great gift. Additional heart-warming plush squeaker toys like the bumble bee, monkey, rabbit and frog feature loveable messages like “Bee Mine,” “I’m Bananas 4 U” and “U Make my Heart Jump.”

Treat Your Pet –The “Funny Valentine’s Collection” offers sweet treats for your sweet pet with an assortment of apple cinnamon flavored dog cookies – a delicious way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The treat assortment includes the Love Letter, Heart Paw, Heart and Cupid’s Love cookies.

Deck Out Their Habitat – Aquarium ornaments are an easy way to freshen up a fish tank, while also adding a pop of festive seasonal décor to your home. This year, PetSmart has Valentine’s Day ornaments for our friends with fins including the dolphin couple, octaheart and kissing fish items.

Attend a PetSmart Party
In 2018, PetSmart is launching its PetSmart Party program with fun in-store events for pet parents, pets and kids alike. The “For the Love of Pets” Valentine’s Day Party is on Saturday, Feb. 10, 12-3 p.m. (local time), at stores across the U.S. and Canada. PetSmart will offer giveaways like the Love Pawprint Keepsake, Rachael Ray™ Nutrish treat samples and 50 percent off any treat or toy. In addition, PetSmart PetsHotels are offering a Doggie Day Camp Sweetheart Playdate on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (local time), with a free doggie ice cream sundae and a digital keepsake photo*.

Showing Love
February is the month of love, but PetSmart and nonprofit partner PetSmart Charities continue to show their love of pets every day through a range of initiatives. Together, the two organizations saved more than 565,000 pets in 2017 through its in-store adoption program, and generated more than 63 million pet food meals through its 2017 Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program, where for every bag of dog or cat food purchased, it donated a meal to a pet in need. In 2017 PetSmart Charities donated $38 million to animal welfare organizations and other charities dedicated to pets in need across the U.S. and Canada.

*All giveaways available while supplies last.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart donated a meal to pets in need and beat its goal of 60 million meals with more than 63 million meals generated through this leading philanthropic program. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
PetSmart homepage: http://www.petsmart.com/

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store and Distribution Center opportunities.

PetSmart Contact:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-6211
vhock@golin.com

PetSmart 24-Hour Media Line: 623-587-2177

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart announces creation of the Healthy Pet Advisory Council to advance pet nutrition, health and wellness

PHOENIX, 2018-Jan-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — To address the rapidly evolving area of pet nutrition, PetSmart, Inc. announced today (Jan. 25, 2018) it has formed the Healthy Pet Advisory Council, a community of experts that will support PetSmart’s efforts to lead the pet retail industry in pet nutrition, health and wellness. The council will focus on three key areas: research, innovation and education.

“At PetSmart, we love pets, and we want them to lead happy and healthy lives,” said Paul Hunt, PetSmart’s senior vice president of sourcing and product development. “The goal of the council is to advance the health and wellness of pets across North America through pet nutrition research and innovation. This research will help enhance PetSmart’s proprietary pet food formulations and educate pet parents in line with advances in pet nutritional science.”

“We sought out some of the most innovative thought leaders in this area, including veterinarians, researchers and nutritionists to join our effort, and we look forward to providing new options for pets and pet parents in the future,” Hunt continued.

Initial appointments to the council include:

  • Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, Ph.D., associate professor, Section Chief of Clinical Nutrition at Cornell University;
  • Kelly Swanson, Ph.D., professor of Comparative Animal Nutrition in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
  • Tony Buffington, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN (emeritus), clinical professor, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and emeritus professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University;
  • Randy Johnson, Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition;
  • And PetSmart consultants and associates who are experts in their fields of veterinary medicine, nutrition, research, regulations and food safety

The council will explore new ingredients and manufacturing technology to improve pet food formulations that provide optimal nutrition for pets. The council’s key findings will be applied to PetSmart’s proprietary pet food brands, including Authority®, Simply Nourish™, Grreat Choice® and Dentley’s®. Education efforts will focus on PetSmart retail associates and pet parents to enhance their knowledge on crucial topics such as nutrition and ingredient functionality. The council will launch an informative public website to aid in its education efforts to help pet parents better understand and navigate the best nutritional choices to meet the needs and lifestyle of their pets.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

Contacts: 
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® line of food and treats for pets launches at PetSmart

Entrance of this Popular Brand into the Pet Specialty Retail Channel Expands Product Accessibility in 1,450-Plus Convenient PetSmart Retail Locations; PetSmart Expects to Have the Widest Assortment of Rachael Ray Nutrish by Mid-Year

PHOENIX and PITTSBURGH, 2018-Jan-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart and Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, manufacturer of the Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® line of food and treats for pets, announced today the launch of Nutrish at PetSmart.com and all of PetSmart’s 1,450-plus stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

PetSmart said it expects to offer the widest selection of the Rachael Ray Nutrish products among brick and mortar retailers by mid-year.

“Before we launched Nutrish 10 years ago, consumers were hard pressed to find a super premium brand of pet food that was convenient, affordable, healthy and enjoyable for their pets,” said Steve Joyce, Vice President of Marketing for Ainsworth Pet Nutrition. “We’re excited to partner with PetSmart to make Nutrish even more accessible to pet parents throughout its more than 1,450 store locations across the country.”

Joyce went on to explain that a portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray FoundationTM, which helps animals in need. Through Dec. 31, 2017, more than $23.5 million has been donated to animal charities and other organizations that do good for animals.

“What we find most rewarding about this partnership is that by making Nutrish more accessible to pet parents, we’ll be able to help even more animals in need – a cause that is close to our hearts and at the center of everything we do,” Joyce concluded.

The assortment just arrived at PetSmart stores and can be found in the front, center aisle upon entering stores. The line includes about 70 products across dog and cat food in dry and wet formulas, as well as dog treats. The varieties in the PetSmart offering include Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK™ Ultra Premium Food for dogs featuring nutrient-dense recipes to satisfy dogs’ instinctual cravings; Zero Grain Recipes for dogs and cats, which feature real meat as the first ingredient and never contain grains, glutens, corn, wheat, soy or fillers; and the brand’s full line of real meat treats for dogs, including flavors like Turkey Bacon, Sausage Bites and Meatball Morsels.

“We are thrilled to be the selected pet specialty retail partner to help expand this popular pet food brand,” said Joshua Kanter, PetSmart’s Executive Vice President of Marketing and Customer Experience. “We are focused on serving pet parents and helping pets in need, and new partners like Ainsworth and its Rachael Ray Nutrish brand help us to deliver the widest assortment of high-quality products to our customers – including products that give back.”

Every Nutrish pet food recipe is natural, made with simple, wholesome ingredients plus essential nutrients, and never contains any artificial preservatives, flavors or poultry by-product meal.
The pet food collection featured at PetSmart is outlined below.
Dry dog and cat food:

  • Nutrish – made with real meat as the first ingredient and no poultry by-product meal
  • Zero Grain – offering zero grains, glutens or fillers

Dry dog food and treats:

  • Peak – formulas with 30 percent high-quality protein and nutrient-dense ingredients
  • Dish – made with whole ingredients one can actually see such as peas, carrots and slow-roasted chicken
  • Just 6® – limited ingredient recipe with six simple ingredients plus nutrients
  • Nutrish dog treats – tasty real meat treats and longer-lasting chews for dogs inspired by Rachael Ray’s recipes

Wet dog and cat food:

  • Nutrish – made with real meat or fish as the number one protein and no corn, wheat or soy

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart donated a meal to pets in need and beat its goal of 60 million meals with more than 63 million meals generated through this leading philanthropic program. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
PetSmart homepage: http://www.petsmart.com/

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store and Distribution Center opportunities.

About The Rachael Ray FoundationTM and Nutrish®
In 2008, Rachael Ray partnered with nutrition experts from Ainsworth Pet Nutrition® to develop a line of super premium recipes for pets called Rachael Ray Nutrish. Every Nutrish pet food recipe is natural, made with simple, wholesome ingredients and added vitamins and minerals, and never contains any artificial preservatives, flavors, or poultry by-product meal. Available at grocery, mass, online and now pet specialty retailer, PetSmart, nationwide, the line also features real meat-first varieties and recipes for pets with ingredient sensitivities. A portion of proceeds from each sale is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation, which helps animals in need. Through Dec. 2017, more than $23.5 million has been donated to animal charities and other organizations that do good for animals. The funds are used for food, medical supplies, treatments and more. So, not only are Nutrish products great for your pet, they’re great for countless other animals, as well.

PetSmart Contact:
Sarah Huether
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2521
shuether@golin.com
PetSmart 24-Hour Media Line: 623-587-2177

Ainsworth/Rachael Ray Nutrish Contact:
Samantha Bridger
814-724-7710 X4065
724-272-2757

SOURCE: PetSmart

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PetSmart launches New Puppy Collection

PHOENIX, 2018-Jan-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — Many families welcomed a new puppy into their homes this past holiday season, and PetSmart is celebrating these new arrivals with a New Puppy Collection featuring a range of items from puppy toys and teethers to apparel, accessories, beds and bowls inspired by baby trends. Also borrowing from a popular trend among new parents of babies, PetSmart is sharing puppy shower ideas for new pet parents to host a “Sip & See” party to invite friends to come “sip” refreshments and “see” their new puppy.

Key items in the New Puppy Collection include tug toys with teether rings, cuddly blanket materials in pink and blue featuring unicorns, lions, pigs and giraffes, as well as classic hooded towels for bath time, Prince and Princess bowls, and “throne” beds with royal crown icons and coordinating blankets. Apparel and accessory items include slogan tees like “Little Prince,” “Little Princess” and “Hear Me Roar,” as well as a tutu skirt and dress and crown headband accessories so the pups can hold court. Harnesses and collars come in pink and blue and are dressed up with bow ties and crowns. The treats collection aligns with the Prince and Princess theme with adorable pink and blue iced crown cut-out cookie treats with the word “Spoiled” scrolled in white icing.

New puppy essentials include crates; ID tags; a wide assortment of puppy pet food options; training, reward and dental treats; puppy pads; cleaners and odor removers; calming solutions; as well as at-home grooming products like puppy wipes, among additional new puppy supplies. The full collection is available at https://www.petsmart.com/featured-shops/new-pet/puppy/.

New Puppy “Sip & See” Party Tips

Timing: A puppy shower or other party to celebrate your new puppy is recommended after the puppy gets his or her first vaccinations, which is about 12-18 weeks. Puppies that are three to four months old are the perfect age to start socializing with other people and pets. Structure the event as an open house, where people and their furry friends can come and go as they please across a three-to-four-hour time period.

Guests: To help socialize the new puppy, invite a mix of adults, kids and dogs. If possible, try to time when guests with dogs will be arriving and work to limit pet guests to no more than two at a time. Keep an eye out to make sure your puppy is not overwhelmed.

Invitation: Send a fun dog-themed invitation to set the tone for the “Sip & See” puppy shower. For example, invitations could include printed dog bones with a pink or blue ribbon along with playful text such as “Sit. Stay. Join us for a Sip & See paw-ty for our new puppy!” Specify the party rules such as don’t bring your pet if he/she is aggressive or not housebroken and please attend with your pet on a leash. Have everyone, especially guests bringing pets, RSVP so you can coordinate their attendance.

Food & Drink: Offer delicious pet-themed food for humans. Ideas include making “Puppy Chow” from a cereal snack mix, cookies in the shape of dog bones, popcorn labeled as “pupcorn,” or a chili dog bar where people can dress their own hotdogs. Snacks can be served in dog bowls, and a specialty “Salty Dog” drink can be served for adults along with non-alcoholic “Puppy Punch.” For the dogs attending the party, make sure there are plenty of water bowls in convenient places so they have fresh water, and have puppy treats on a separate table away from the human fare.

Activities: While everyone takes turns holding and playing with the new puppy, you can have face painting for kids to transform them into puppies themselves, complete with a puppy nose and whiskers. The party can also include a fun game of puppy Bingo, a dog-themed movie playing in the background or dog-themed music like “Who Let the Dogs Out?” With the pet guests, you may want to organize a few group “potty breaks” outdoors.

Decorations & Party Favors: This can be a casual event, which allows you and your guests to give attention to the center-of-it-all: the new puppy. Consider making human and dog cookie treats for “Doggy Bag” party favors that say “Thanks for Pupping In.” You can also place sticker dog prints on the floor inside the house leading to the backyard where guests can take their pets outside, or draw paw prints on the sidewalk with chalk leading guests into the “Sip & See” puppy shower.

Gifts: Check out new puppy gift ideas for “Sip & See” puppy shower events at the PetSmart New Puppy Look Book Gift Guide and shop the full collection at https://www.petsmart.com/featured-shops/new-pet/puppy/sip-and-see/.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart donated a meal to pets in need and beat its goal of 60 million meals with more than 63 million meals generated through this leading philanthropic program. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
PetSmart homepage: http://www.petsmart.com/

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

PetSmart 24-Hour Media Line: 623-587-2177

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart’s Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program exceeded its goal with more than 63 million meals generated

Together with its Shoppers, PetSmart’s Philanthropic Effort has Generated Nearly 6,800 Tons of Pet Food; 3,684 Tons Already Donated to Thousands of Destinations; Remaining 3,000-Plus Tons to be Delivered Across More than 150 Truckloads in 2018

PHOENIX, AZ, 2018-Jan-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart announced today that it has wrapped up its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program where the retailer donated a meal to a pet in need for every bag of dog or cat food purchased between March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017. The program beat its goal of 60 million meals* with more than 63 million meals generated. The Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program is the largest philanthropic initiative in PetSmart’s 30-year history and is among the largest pet food donation efforts the industry has seen.

“We are so pleased that, together with our shoppers who bought dog and cat food bags at our stores and PetSmart.com, we’ve not only met, but exceeded our goal of donating 60 million meals,” said Joshua Kanter, PetSmart’s executive vice president of marketing and customer experience. “To date we’ve distributed about 35 million meals to help feed hungry pets in need, and we expect to deliver the remaining 29 million to pet shelters and rescues, as well human food banks, pantries and meal programs across the U.S. and Canada in the first half of 2018.”

The delivery of such a large-scale volume of donated food presented significant logistical challenges for PetSmart. In collaboration with nonprofit partner, PetSmart Charities, who is teaming up with nonprofits GreaterGood.org’s Rescue Bank and Feeding America®, the donated pet food has been, and will continue to be, efficiently distributed to thousands of destinations to help feed hungry pets in need across the U.S. and Canada.

Pet food is a rare offering at food banks and pantries, and pet families in need often feed scarce human food to their pets. A unique aspect of the program is that it provides pet food to human food banks, pantries and meal programs so that families in need can secure food for every member of the family, including their dogs and cats.

To date, PetSmart and its partners have delivered 35 million meals – about 3,684 tons – of pet food via 188 semi trucks to pets in need across the U.S. and Canada. The remaining more than 3,000 tons of pet food will be delivered in 2018 totaling more than 63 million meals, nearly 6,800 tons, across about 340 truckloads.

As a point of reference, using a standard six-inch pet food bowl, more than 63 million meals lined up beside each other would span from New York City to Los Angeles and back again – covering 6,000 miles. The nearly 6,800 tons of pet food is about the same weight as 959 elephants and could fill 2.5 Olympic-sized pools.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
PetSmart homepage: www.PetSmart.com

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ended 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support:  Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization.  To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

About PetSmart Charities™ of Canada 
PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date.  PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada, and a registered Canadian charity independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca.

About Rescue Bank 
Rescue Bank, a Signature Program of GreaterGood.org, operates on the national food bank model to community-based animal welfare groups that typically lack access to resources. Rescue Bank recognizes that these smaller, less-visible groups represent a substantial portion of America’s animal rescue resource.

Rescue Bank works with name-brand suppliers to deliver donated pet food for both the ongoing needs of more than 1,900 animal welfare organizations and the immediate needs of communities after disasters such as hurricanes, floods and fires. Since establishing its national network in 2011, Rescue Bank has delivered over 200 million meals of nutritious, wholesome pet food.
For more information visit http://rescuebank.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/RescueBank.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE: PetSmart®

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com
or
PetSmart Media Line: 623-587-2177

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PetSmart offers tips for pet health and wellness in 2018

New Year’s Health Resolutions Not Just for People, but Pets Too

PHOENIX, AZ, 2018-Jan-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — The start of a new year means new beginnings, resolutions and goals. As people everywhere make to-do lists to help enrich and better their lives, these lists should include our pets too, says Lisa Darling, DVM, on-staff veterinarian for services at PetSmart.

“With general health and wellness top-of-mind this time of year, we should also add our pets into the equation for 2018 goals and New Year’s resolutions,” said Dr. Darling. “Weight is a key indicator of health, and considering that 50 percent of pets in the U.S. are classified as overweight, there is no better time for pet parents to evaluate their pet’s diet, exercise and activities.”

PetSmart has launched its New Year, New You Pet Collection to provide pet parents with a variety of products to help pets meet health and wellness goals, including active toys, weight management dog and cat food formulas, healthy natural treats, oral health and at-home grooming tools, in addition to harnesses, collars, leashes and winter outdoor apparel. You can view the entire collection on www.PetSmart.com/NewYearNewYou.

To start you and your pet’s New Year off right, PetSmart’s Dr. Darling shares 10 tips for pet health and wellness in 2018:

#1. Check Your Pet’s Food. Pets at varying ages have different nutrient requirements, so consider assessing your pet’s food and adjust accordingly. For example, if your dog is overweight, certain weight management pet food formulas can help a pet lose weight, along with exercise. Consult your veterinarian on any changes to your pet’s food, and always accurately measure your pet’s food vs. eyeballing.

#2. Stop all Table Scraps. We might think we are “treating” our pet when we give them human food from our plates, but we are likely doing more harm than good. Research natural, healthy pet treats, like the Only Natural Pet® Freeze-Dried Chicken Bites, and get an on-trend treat jar for your kitchen or mudroom like this ceramic pet treat jar from ED Ellen DeGeneres. Make treating your pets a healthy activity.

#3. Start a New Activity. With so many pet-friendly venues and activities, it’s easier than ever to incorporate your pet into a new activity like a hike, Doga (dog yoga) or paddle boarding. Research pet-friendly meet-up groups for ideas and events in your area. Whatever activity you choose, try to do it on a regular schedule in the New Year. It’s a great way to bond, get out of the house and reap the benefits of physical activity.

#4. Get Some New Toys. Freshen up your pet’s toy collection with new items that stimulate their brain or promote activities like fetch. Studies show mental stimulation can likely help reduce cognitive deterioration in aging animals. Items like the Trixie Chess Game Toy or this amphibious fetch toy are a great way to get your dog moving. For cats, this Whisker City Catnip Cyclone or Peek-a-Prize Toy Box are great options too.

#5. Teach a New Trick. Similar to toys, teaching pets a new trick can also be stimulating. Sign up for pet training courses like PetSmart’s Trick Training, where dogs can learn fun and playful tricks such as crawling, taking a bow, high fiving and rolling over. Additionally, for those that want to get involved in their community with their dog, PetSmart’s Dog Therapy Training prepares pet parents and their dogs for Therapy Dog evaluation, which is conducted by third parties dedicated to registering therapy pets. Once officially registered, a therapy dog and pet parent can work together to give back in their community by delivering emotional support at hospitals, schools, community centers and other local programs.

#6. Make a Play Date. Get social in the New Year! Consider setting up a pet play date with a friend and their pet at a nearby park. Doggie Day Camp is a great way to socialize pets and meet new pet parents as well. Assess your dog’s willingness to mix with other dogs before heading to a play date. If your dog is tolerant of other dogs, has good recall skills and focuses on you when you engage him or her, you and your pup are likely ready for social settings.

#7. Groom Your Pet. It is recommended to professionally groom your pet every four to six weeks. Between salon appointments, use at-home grooming tools such as a cat or dog-specific tooth brush and specially formulated tooth paste, a nice rubber brush to help de-shed and invigorate the skin and coat, ear cleaner and cotton balls to gently cleanse the ears, and wipes for cleaning around the face, mouth and eyes.

#8. Check Vaccinations. Make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations. In 2017 there was a resurgence and spread of many infectious diseases across the U.S. Many of these diseases are preventable through vaccinations, including Canine Influenza, Leptospirosis (which can be transmitted to people) and Lyme. The cost of prevention is far less than the cost of the treatment, and helps to keep pets healthy and free from disease.

#10. Make 2018 Stress-Free. Eliminating or reducing stress in a pet’s life can be an important focus to enhanced health and wellness. There are many calming products that help reduce stress and assist pets in coping with routine and non-routine activities. PetSmart offers a number of calming solutions such as the Thundershirt, which calms dogs with consistent pressure on their body like a soothing hug; collars and diffusers that release pheromones similar to what female dogs release when nursing their new puppies; as well as Licks Zenand other chews with natural supplements that deliver calming effects.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
PetSmart homepage: www.PetSmart.com

SOURCE: PetSmart®

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com
PetSmart 24-Hour Media Line: 623-587-2177

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PetSmart opens The Groomery by PetSmart™ in the DC Ranch Community of Scottsdale

PHOENIX, 2017-Dec-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart today (Dec. 14, 2017) announced it has launched The Groomery by PetSmart™ (The Groomery), the retailer’s innovative new store concept focusing exclusively on pet grooming services, in the DC Ranch Community of Scottsdale. This is the first stand-alone grooming salon in the company’s hometown and the third of its kind with the first two salons opening in October in New York City’s Upper West Side and Oak Park, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.

PetSmart is introducing The Groomery as pet care spending continues to increase. According to the American Pet Products Association, in 2016 Americans spent nearly $5.8 billion on pet services, a segment growing faster than any other in the pet category.

Each location, including The Groomery in Scottsdale (20945 N. Pima Rd. Ste. 107, Scottsdale, AZ 85255), features a salon-style modern design in a boutique-sized space of about 1,800 to 2,500 square feet, much smaller than a traditional PetSmart store.

“When taking your pet to be groomed, proximity to the home is a key factor for convenience and to help reduce a pet’s anxiety,” said Joanna Zucker, vice president of Services, PetSmart. “We know a significant portion of our grooming business comes from people living within close proximity to a PetSmart store, so we created The Groomery store design to help us get closer to where pet parents and their pets are living, especially in urban and suburban markets like Scottsdale.”

The Groomery features classic dog and cat grooming services, such as baths, haircuts, nail trims and grinds, teeth brushings, paw maintenance, flea and tick treatments, and the de-shedding Furminator service. The Groomery also offers pampering “Spaw” treatments featuring coconut and other scents, pet-specific deep moisture shampoos and conditioners from popular human brands such as CHI, as well as a self-service dog wash so pet parents can bond with and bathe their own pups, especially after a dusty trail hike in the mountains, a common activity in the Scottsdale area.

“We know our pet parents love their pets and want to give them the best of everything, and The Groomery fits nicely into that pet lifestyle,” said Zucker. “Pet grooming can enhance a pet’s overall health, and special services like scented baths and a good brushing can further enrich our connection with our pets. Let’s face it, a great smelling dog with a soft coat can be an even bigger magnet for hugs, nuzzles and ear scratches from every member of the family.”

Store details include:

  • Grooming Salon – The Groomery salons feature at least 10 wide, easy-to-maneuver tabletop spaces for the PetSmart grooming staff, all of whom are academy trained, and undergo 800 hours of certification training and a six-month apprenticeship. A bathing area with stainless steel tubs allows for washing the pups, while no-heat dryers safely dry them after a comforting hand-towel drying. Cat grooming is also available on certain weekdays. Please call ahead to book cat grooming.
  • Self-Service Dog Wash – The Groomery locations offer two or more self-service dog wash stations, a popular option within the grooming segment that gives pet parents an easy solution to bathe and bond with their pet, especially after a trail hike in the mountains. The washing stations feature state-of-the-art wall-mounted washing and drying equipment.
  • Merchandise – The lobby areas of The Groomery stores are stocked with high-end health and beauty pet essentials such as shampoos, brushes, collars, leashes and treats, including an expanded collection of at-home pet grooming supplies from popular human brands like CHI® and Burt’s Bees®, as well as pet brand Furminator® and Only Natural Pet® dog food.

Pet parents can easily book their pet’s appointment at The Groomery salons by visiting www.petsmart.com/thegroomery to locate their local Groomery. From there, they can book online, call the store directly or download the PetSmart mobile app to schedule an appointment.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Media Contact:

Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart opened 28 new stores in the U.S. and Canada during the third quarter of 2017

PHOENIX , 2017-Dec-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart, Inc. today (Dec. 14, 2017) announced it opened 28 new stores in the U.S. and Canada for the fiscal quarter ending Nov. 1, 2017. This adds to the 35 new stores opened in the first half of the fiscal year, bringing the year-to-date total to 63.

In support of its goal to be the most convenient provider of products and services for pet parents, PetSmart opened new stores during the third quarter in the following locations:

U.S. Locations

  • Baxter, Minn.
  • Cartersville, Ga.
  • Clovis, N.M.
  • Dublin, Cal.
  • El Paso, Tex.
  • Elk River, Minn.
  • Florence, Ala.
  • Forest Lake, Minn.
  • Gaylord, Mich.
  • Highlands Ranch, Col.
  • Hilton Head Island, S.C.
  • Hopkinsville, Ken.
  • Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Kissimmee, Fla.
  • Lawrence, Kan.
  • Nashville, Tenn.
  • New Caney, Tex.
  • New York City*
  • North Conway, N.H.
  • Oak Park, Ill.*
  • Pocatello, Ida.
  • Poplar Bluff, Mo.
  • Sacramento, Cal.
  • Westminster, Col.
  • Wooster, Ohio

Canada Locations

  • Ajax, Ont.
  • London, Ont.
  • Prince Albert, Sask.

“Continuing to expand our brick-and-mortar footprint is an important part of our strategy to be the most convenient, best-in-class pet retailer,” said Brian Amkraut, PetSmart’s executive vice president of store operations, services, supply chain and real estate. “In addition to our store growth, we continue to take steps to further enhance the customer experience. This quarter, for example, we launched The Groomery by PetSmart™ (The Groomery), our innovative new store concept focusing exclusively on pet grooming services.”

Following the close of the third quarter, PetSmart reached a significant milestone by opening its 1,600th store. The retailer now operates more than 1,600 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and 207 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17. 5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need. See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Contacts: 
PetSmart
Erin Gray
623-587-2177
egray@petsmart.com

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program achieves goal of generating 60 million meals to help feed hungry pets in need

Together with Shoppers, PetSmart’s Philanthropic Effort has Generated 6,384 Tons of Pet Food, Enough to Fill Nearly Two and One-Half Olympic-Sized Pools; 17 More Days Left in Program

PHOENIX, 2017-Dec-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart proudly announced today (Dec. 14, 2017) it has met its goal of generating 60 million meals – 6,384 tons – of pet food to help feed hungry pets in need across the U.S. and Canada through its historic Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program, where for every bag of dog or cat food purchased online or in its 1,600 stores through Dec. 31, 2017, the retailer will donate a meal to a pet in need.

As a point of reference, using a standard six-inch pet food bowl, 60 million meals lined up beside each other would span from New York City to Los Angeles and back again – covering more than 5,500 miles. The more than 6,000 tons of pet food is heavier than 800 elephants, or could fill nearly two and one-half Olympic-sized pools.

PetSmart launched the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal pet food donation program in celebration of its 30th anniversary and with more than 60 million meals generated under the initiative, it is the biggest philanthropic effort ever in its 30-year history.

“We are thrilled to achieve our program goal of 60 million meals for our Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program with several weeks still left in this historic campaign,” said Joshua Kanter, PetSmart’s executive vice president of marketing and customer experience. “This program is generating impactful results, having already delivered more than 3,600 tons of pet food across hundreds of cities in the U.S. and Canada to help pets in need at shelters, as well as to pets who are with families in need served by food banks, pantries and meal programs.”PetSmart will continue the donation of a pet food meal for every bag of dog or cat food purchased through Dec. 31, 2017. To get the 60-plus million meals of donated pet food to those that need it most, the retailer is working with nonprofit partner PetSmart Charities, which is teaming up with GreaterGood.org’s Rescue Bank program and Feeding America®, two renowned national nonprofit organizations to help feed hungry pets in need across the U.S., as well as animal welfare agencies in Canada. A unique aspect of the program is providing pet food to human food banks, pantries and meal programs, where pet food is a rare offering. Now families in need can secure food for every member of the family, including their dogs and cats.

To date, PetSmart and its partners have delivered more than 35 million meals – 3,684 tons of pet food – via 188 semi trucks to pets in need across the U.S. and Canada including a recent special delivery with Santa to the San Diego Humane Society and its PAWs program, which operates a pet food pantry to help pet families in need in the local area.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support:  Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization.  To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

About PetSmart Charities™ of Canada 
PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date.  PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada, and a registered Canadian charity independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca.

About Rescue Bank 
Rescue Bank, a Signature Program of GreaterGood.org, operates on the national food bank model to community-based animal welfare groups that typically lack access to resources. Rescue Bank recognizes that these smaller, less-visible groups represent a substantial portion of America’s animal rescue resource.

Rescue Bank works with name-brand suppliers to deliver donated pet food for both the ongoing needs of more than 1,900 animal welfare organizations and the immediate needs of communities after disasters such as hurricanes, floods and fires. Since establishing its national network in 2011, Rescue Bank has delivered over 200 million meals of nutritious, wholesome pet food.
For more information visit http://rescuebank.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/RescueBank.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line: 623-587-2177

Source: PetSmart Inc

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PetSmart opens its 1,600th store located in El Paso, Texas

PHOENIX, 2017-Dec-01 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart announced today (Nov. 29, 2017) it has reached a major milestone by opening its 1,600th store in its expanding store footprint across North America. The 1,600th store opened its doors last week and is located in El Paso, Texas, at 3790 Joe Battle Blvd. In addition, the leading pet specialty retailer announced the opening of its Casper, Wyo. store last month, marking PetSmart’s presence now in all 50 U.S. states.

The 1,600th PetSmart store in El Paso features nearly 18,000 square feet of space and includes a Pinnacle Pet Nutrition Shop, which is a new feature in all new PetSmart stores. The shops are about 550 square feet and offer 400-plus items across several brands, and an expanded collection of pet food products featuring high-protein, natural, grain-free, minimally processed and raw pet food. These pet food types are the fastest growing in the overall pet food category, and include brands such as Only Natural Pet®, a natural pet line that is protein-first, sustainably produced, American-manufactured pet food, as well as a line of supplements and other natural pet solutions.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with our associates and the community of El Paso, Texas,” said Brian Amkraut, executive vice president, store operations, services, supply chain and real estate, for PetSmart. “At a time when the retail world is dramatically changing and many retailers are closing stores, we are proud of our store expansion efforts. We continue to focus on meeting the needs of pets and pet parents alike, and a key element of that strategy includes expanding our brick-and-mortar footprint to be the most convenient, best-in-class retailer.”

Pet parents will find a comprehensive line of pet supply products at the new El Paso store, as well as services such as pet training, adoption services, and a full-service grooming salon where dogs and cats receive hands-on care from stylists dedicated to making pets look and feel their best.* All PetSmart groomers are academy trained and safety certified, with PetSmart’s grooming graduates completing more than 800 hours of hands-on instruction, including grooming 200 dogs under supervision.

To celebrate this milestone, PetSmart is having a grand opening event this Sat., Dec. 2, starting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m. Local media and pet parents are encouraged to attend and bring their four-legged friends to join in the fun.
The first 100 shoppers to make a purchase will receive coupons worth $30, and all customers will receive free giveaways such as T-shirts, pet toys and free photos with their pets.**

What: PetSmart Grand Opening Celebration
When: Saturday, Dec. 2, 8:45 a.m.
Where: PetSmart
3790 Joe Battle Blvd
El Paso, TX 79938
*Services are subject to availability. See store for details.
**All grand opening giveaways available while supplies last.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.youtube.com/petsmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17. 5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need. See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold. The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Source: PetSmart, Inc.

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PetSmart offers pet parents four easy and impactful ways to help pets in need this holiday season

From Gifts that Give Back to Feeding Pets in Need, PetSmart and its Shoppers Will be Helping Pets in Need all Season Long

PHOENIX, 2017-Dec-01 — /EPR Retail News/ — With less than one month of shopping left before the holidays, millions of shoppers are on the hunt for the perfect gifts. With the season also reminding shoppers to consider giving back to the causes they are passionate about, PetSmart is sharing “Four Ways to Help” pets in need this holiday season, including gifts that are perfect for both people and pets.

“At PetSmart, we love pets and believe they make us better people. That’s why PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare across North America, is our cause of choice this holiday season and all year-round,” said Michelle Friedman, vice president of corporate communications, PetSmart. “We know our shoppers love pets just as much as we do, so this holiday season we’re offering pet parents four easy and impactful ways to help pets in need just by stopping by at one of PetSmart’s nearly 1,600 stores and PetSmart.com.”

1. Buy Gifts that Give Back

When you purchase any item from PetSmart’s exclusive Holiday Philanthropic Collection, 10 percent of sales will be donated to PetSmart Charities. The line features seven commemorative Chance, Lucky & Friends plush toys perfect for kids and pets alike (they have squeakers!), as well as 12 pet-themed blankets with sayings like “I Wine, She Whines” and “Drinking Buddies,” great for cuddling up with pets during chilly winter nights. On Giving Tuesday, November 28, 100 percent of the sales from the entire plush toy line will be donated to PetSmart Charities. Gift cards are also popular holiday gifts, and PetSmart’s Chance and Lucky branded gift cards also give back 10 percent of the amount placed on them to PetSmart Charities. Last year’s Holiday Philanthropic Collection generated $585,000 for PetSmart Charities to help pets in need. Don’t need another plush toy at home? Consider purchasing and donating one instead. Every PetSmart store partners with a local charity in their community, and invites shoppers to purchase and donate a plush toy to their toy drive. Last year, more than one million plush toys were collected and delivered to pets and children in need in the local communities across North America.

2. Donate and Help PetSmart Charities Do Good

When PetSmart shoppers donate to help pets in need using the pin pads located at the registers in every store, 100 percent of the donations are given directly to PetSmart Charities. In turn, the leading funder of animal welfare effectively uses 90 cents of every dollar raised to fund its mission: to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. From funding adoption events at PetSmart stores to help keep pets and people together during challenging life circumstances, and making pet therapy programs possible at children’s hospitals and other facilities, donations to PetSmart Charities makes a difference in the lives of both pets and people. To receive a tax receipt for a donation, you can also choose to give online at www.petsmartcharities.org.

3. Buy a Bag, PetSmart Gives a Meal to a Pet in Need

Together, PetSmart, PetSmart Charities and PetSmart shoppers are making sure no pet goes hungry this holiday season. Every time pet parents buy a bag of dog or cat food at PetSmart (through Dec. 31, 2017), the retailer donates a meal to a pet in need. This historic Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program was launched March 1 in celebration of PetSmart’s 30th anniversary this year. To date, this philanthropic program has generated 55 million meals. PetSmart Charities is the program’s pet food distribution partner and has so far delivered 250-plus semi-truckloads of more than 35 million meals – 3,683 tons of pet food – to animal welfare agencies and food banks across 35 states in the U.S. and five provinces in Canada. Additional truckload deliveries will take place in 2018.

4. Adopt a Pet, Give Them a Forever Home

Thinking about adding a four-legged member to the family? Many do at the holiday season and it’s a very special gift for the entire family. Adorable, adoptable pets can be found at the PetSmart Charities Adoption Center in nearly every PetSmart store. Experts from PetSmart Charities say adopting a four-legged friend before the holidays could help ensure a more successful new pet transition and enrich holiday celebrations with the new family member. Plus, when you adopt a pet, not only will you be saving them from their stay in a shelter, you’ll be giving them the forever family they deserve. Two out of every 10 pets adopted in North America are facilitated at a PetSmart store. In fact, since beginning the in-store adoption program in 1994, PetSmart, PetSmart Charities and its 3,500 adoption partners have found forever homes for more than 7.6 million pets. From finding the perfect pet for your household, to providing expert advice and savings through PetSmart’s free Adoption Kit, PetSmart is here to help every step of the way when a family decides to bring a new pet home for the holidays.

“We’re immensely thankful to our corporate partner, PetSmart, and its generous shoppers for their unwavering support of PetSmart Charities,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D. and president of PetSmart Charities. “Together, this holiday season we’ll be enhancing the lives of shelter pets and the people who love and care for them through grants, pet food donations and helping pets to find the forever homes they so richly deserve.”

Since 1994, PetSmart Charities has granted more than $332 million to support animal welfare agencies and registered nonprofits who share their mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs that bring people and pets together.

For more information about PetSmart Charities, please visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

For more information about PetSmart, the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program and the holiday philanthropic collection of products, please click here. To learn more about the Four Ways to Help and the Holiday Philanthropic Collection, please visit PetSmart.com.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating more than $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

About PetSmart Charities® of Canada
PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date.  PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada and is independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line:
623-587-2177

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart to release Q3 2017 results on Monday, December 11, 2017

PHOENIX, AZ, 2017-Dec-01 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart, Inc. (the “Company”) plans to make its third quarter fiscal 2017 results available on the Company’s secure website on Monday, December 11, 2017. The Company will also hold an investor conference call to review its results for the third quarter fiscal 2017 on Tuesday, December 12, 2017. The results and call will be made available to lenders under the credit facilities, holders of the Company’s 7.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2023, the 5.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025, the 8.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 (collectively the “notes”), bona fide prospective investors of the notes, bona fide securities analysts and bona fide market makers.

The lenders under the credit facilities will receive details on how to access the call from the administrative agents for the respective credit facilities.

Holders of the notes, prospective investors, securities analysts and market makers that have not previously registered with the Company must contact the Company to preregister and certify eligibility in order to access the financial results and dial-in information for the conference call. To receive
information on how to pre‐register, parties should send an email to investorrelations@petsmart.com.
Requests for preregistration must be received by Friday, December 8, 2017.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives.

This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1-Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Contact:
PetSmart
Investor Relations
Kim Smith, Tom Melito
investorrelations@petsmart.com
623-587-2

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart shares reasons people may want to consider adopting a senior pet during National Adoption Weekend

  • Pets of all ages, types, sizes and personalities will be up for adoption during PetSmart Charities’
  • National Adoption Weekend, Nov. 10 – 12 in nearly every PetSmart store across North America.

PHOENIX, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — There is no question that puppies and kittens are super cute, but if you have ever brought one home, you know they can require a lot of time, attention and most of all, patience. Between midnight meowing and watching your favorite shoes turn into chew toys, there are countless reasons to consider the benefits of adopting a senior pet.

“Since November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month, we wanted to celebrate by teaming up with five of our in-store adoption partners to share a few reasons people may want to consider adopting a senior pet during National Adoption Weekend,” said Eran Cohen, Chief Customer Experience Officer at PetSmart.

1. Senior Pets are Often Overlooked
When looking for a pet, adopters usually turn their attention to puppies and kittens first. Although it may be unintentional, adult and senior pets are often overlooked due to the cuteness-factor of their younger counterparts. Senior pets have often lived with a family for many years and have trouble adapting to life in a shelter, so it’s important not to forget about them as they make really great pets! Karen Reichheld, Animal Care Manager at the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA. Adoption partner to the PetSmart in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada.

2. Senior Pets Can be Super Loving and Loyal

Due to their age, senior pets have had more life experience and may have had their share of broken   hearts and broken homes. When provided with a cozy and stable home environment, many senior pets are fiercely loyal and will love their new adopters unconditionally. Paula Stude, CEO and Executive Director of the Wild Cat Foundation. Adoption partner to the PetSmart stores in Lafayette, LA.

3. Adult Pets are Often Already Litter Trained/House Broken

Most senior pets come with training – they know not to climb up on curtains, steal your food, chew on your shoes, and most likely are already potty trained. Adult or senior pets can be super easy-going and may have a calmer disposition than kittens or puppies. Most love to snuggle and cuddle with their pet parents! Dawn Kavanaugh, CEO and President of All About Animals Rescue. Adoption partner to four PetSmart stores in the Phoenix metro area.

4. Old Dogs (and Other Pets!) Can Learn New Tricks

The adage that an old dog can’t learn new tricks simply isn’t true! Senior pets don’t ask for much and are often very easily trained. They might have to get acclimated to your household routine, but once they do, you may be surprised how easy they are to care for and how willing they are to learn from their new pet parents. Jackie Meyers, CEO/Executive Director of Peaceful Passings Senior Animal Rescue. Adoption partner to a PetSmart in Charlottesville, VA.

5. Senior Pets Need Second Chances

Every shelter pet is looking for their second chance at a forever home, but senior pets may need second chances even more than most. As senior pets are more likely to have pre-existing medical conditions or dental issues, they may need a little extra TLC, but the love they show you in return will be well worth it. In our experience, senior pets are even more loveable thanks to the lives they’ve lived and the experiences they’ve had. Angela McLaren, Executive Director, Prince George Humane Society. Adoption partner to the PetSmart store in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.

“At PetSmart Charities, our mission is to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets—and that includes pets that aren’t always top-of-mind for some adopters,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D. and President of PetSmart Charities. “For homes with very young children or families seeking a more calm and mature companion, adopting a senior pet may be a great way to go. But, the very best way you can find the pet that’s right for you is by visiting one of the thousands of adoption events taking place during PetSmart Charities’ National Adoption Weekend, and meeting the furry, friendly pets of all ages, types and sizes that are waiting to find their forever home and family.”

Pets of All Ages, Types and Sizes Deserve a Lifelong, Loving Home

Pets of all ages, types and sizes will be looking to find their forever home at PetSmart Charities’ November National Adoption Weekend. From Nov. 10 – 12, more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations will bring adoptable pets into nearly all of PetSmart’s 1,500-plus stores in the U.S. and Canada with the goal of finding homes for more than 25,000 pets during this weekend adoption event.

Date:                     Friday, Nov. 10 – Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017
Time:                    Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (local times)
Location:             Nearly every PetSmart store across North America. Visit www.petsmart.com to find a store near you.

A Free Gift for Those Who Adopt:

Regardless of the age of the four-legged friend you or your family choose to adopt, or where you adopted from, PetSmart offers a free Adoption Kit* that provides important content that helps to integrate a new pet into the family. Click here for more information about PetSmart’s Free Adoption Kit. *Adoption papers required.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17. 5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need. See details at petsmart.com/giveameal.The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold. The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount.Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S., while four large animal welfare agencies will distribute it in Canada.

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support.Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

About PetSmart Charities® of Canada:

PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support.Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada and is independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCanada
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmart CharitiesInc

Source: Pet Smart Inc.

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PetSmart Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program reaches 50 million meals of pet food

  • So Far This Year, PetSmart Achieves More Than 80 Percent of its Goal to Donate 60 Million Meals
  • Thanks Shoppers for Participating and Buying Pet Food Bags

PHOENIX, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart announced today ( Nov. 1, 2017) that so far this year it has generated 50 million meals of pet food to be donated to pets in need across North America through its historic Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program, where for every bag of dog or cat food purchased online or in its 1,500-plus stores through Dec. 31, 2017, the retailer will donate a meal to a pet in need. Through this historic program, PetSmart expects to donate 60 million meals* to pets in need at hundreds of shelters and rescues across North America, as well as human food banks, pantries and meal programs, where pet food is a rare offering.

To get the massive amount of donated pet food to those that need it most, the retailer is working with nonprofit partner, PetSmart Charities, which is teaming up with GreaterGood.org’s Rescue Bank program and Feeding America®, two renowned national nonprofit organizations that will deliver the pet food to pets in need across the U.S., as well as animal welfare agencies in Canada.

To date, PetSmart and its partners have scheduled 227 semi truck deliveries to hundreds of points across North America totaling more than 35 million meals and 3,683 tons of pet food. PetSmart expects to meet its goal of 60 million meals generated by Dec. 31, 2017, and two additional truck delivery waves totaling 150 53-foot semi trucks are scheduled for the first half of next year.

As a point of reference, using a standard six-inch pet food bowl, 60 million meals lined up beside each other would span from New York City to Los Angeles and back again – covering more than 5,500 miles.  Sixty million meals equates to 6,384 tons, about the same weight as more than 800 elephants or 2,654 cars.

“This simple program has generated impactful results to help pets in need across North America,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “Thanks to our shoppers, so far this year, we have generated 50 million meals, attaining more than 80 percent of our goal. We are confident that over the next two months we’ll hit our goal of 60 million meals. While the program ends in stores and online Dec. 31, its impact will live on as we look forward to distributing the donated pet food well into 2018.”

PetSmart launched the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program in celebration of its 30th anniversary and with the expected 60 million meals donated under this program, it is the biggest philanthropic campaign in its 30-year history.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.  In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

*Ends 12/31/17. 5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need. See details at www.petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold. The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S., while four large animal welfare agencies will distribute it in Canada.

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

About PetSmart Charities™ of Canada

PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada, and a registered Canadian charity independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca.

About Rescue Bank

Rescue Bank, a Signature Program of GreaterGood.org, operates on the national food bank model to community-based animal welfare groups that typically lack access to resources. Rescue Bank recognizes that these smaller, less-visible groups represent a substantial portion of America’s animal rescue resource.

Rescue Bank works with name-brand suppliers to deliver donated pet food for both the ongoing needs of more than 1,900 animal welfare organizations and the immediate needs of communities after disasters such as hurricanes, floods and fires. Since establishing its national network in 2011, Rescue Bank has delivered over 200 million meals of nutritious, wholesome pet food.

For more information visit http://rescuebank.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/RescueBank.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.

Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate.

Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org,
find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line:
623-587-2177

Source: Pet Smart Inc.

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PetSmart opens the first The Groomery by PetSmart™ locations in New York City and Chicago

First Two Stand-Alone Salons in New York and Chicago Open This Week with Scottsdale, Ariz., and Two To-Be-Announced Locations to Open in the Coming Months

PHOENIX, 2017-Oct-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart announced today (Oct. 25, 2017 ) the opening of The Groomery by PetSmart™ (The Groomery), an innovative store concept focused exclusively on pet grooming services, with an expected five locations opening in the coming months. This week, the first of The Groomery stores are opening in New York City’s Upper West Side and Oak Park, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. Additional locations will open in Scottsdale, Ariz., with two more locations expected to be announced soon.

PetSmart is introducing The Groomery as pet care spending continues to increase. According to the American Pet Products Association, in 2016 Americans spent nearly $5.8 billion on pet services, a segment growing faster than any other in the pet category.

Each location features a salon-style modern design in a boutique-sized space of about 1,800 to 2,500 square feet of space, much smaller than a traditional PetSmart store.

“When taking your pet to be groomed, proximity to the home is a key factor for convenience and to help reduce a pet’s anxiety,” said Joanna Zucker, vice president of services, PetSmart. “We know that a significant portion of our grooming business comes from people living within close proximity to a PetSmart store. So, we created The Groomery store design to help us get closer to where pet parents and their pets are living, especially in urban markets. The Groomery offers a great solution when our traditional PetSmart store isn’t located nearby.”

The Groomery features classic pet grooming services, such as baths, brushes, haircuts, blow-outs, nail trims and grinds, teeth brushings, paw maintenance, flea & tick treatments and the de-shedding Furminator service. The Groomery also offers pampering “Spaw” treatments featuring coconut and other scents, pet-specific deep moisture shampoos and conditioners from popular human brand’s such as CHI, as well as a self-service dog wash so pet parents can bond and bathe their own pups.

“We know our pet parents love their pets and want to give them the best of everything, and The Groomery fits nicely into that pet lifestyle,” said Zucker. “Pet grooming can enhance a pet’s overall health, and special service like a scented bath and blow-outs can further enrich our connection with our pets. Let’s face it, a great smelling dog with a soft coat can be an even bigger magnet for hugs, nuzzles and ear scratches from every member of the family.”

Store details include:

  • Grooming Salon – The Groomery salons feature at least 10 wide, easy-to-maneuver tabletop spaces for the PetSmart grooming staff, all of whom are academy-trained, and undergo 800 hours of certification training and a six-month apprenticeship. A bathing area with stainless steel tubs allows for washing the pups, while no-heat dryers safely dry them after a comforting hand-towel drying.
  • Self-Service Dog Wash – The Groomery locations offer two or more self-service dog wash stations, a popular option within the grooming segment that gives pet parents an easy solution to bathe and bond with their pet, especially after a day at the park. The washing stations feature wall-mounted washing and drying equipment, and an array of complimentary shampoos and conditioners that address a range of needs from de-shedding to skin sensitivities.
  • Merchandise – The lobby area of The Groomery stores are stocked with high-end health and beauty pet essentials such as shampoos, brushes, collars, leashes and treats, including an expanded collection of at-home pet grooming supplies from popular human brands like CHI® and Burt’s Bees®, as well as pet brand Furminator®.

Location details:

The Groomery – Oak Park
Address: 106 N. Maple Ave., Oak Park, Ill.
Opening: Oct. 23

The Groomery – Manhattan
Address: 670 Columbus Ave. (between 92nd and 93rdStreets), New York City
Opening: Oct. 25

The Groomery – DC Ranch Community/Scottsdale

Address: 20945 N. Pima Road, Suite B-107, Scottsdale, Ariz
Opening: Dec.

Pet parents can easily book their pet’s appointment at The Groomery salons by visiting petsmart.com/thegroomery to locate their local Groomery. From there, they can book online, call the store directly or download the PetSmart mobile app to schedule an appointment.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S., while four large animal welfare agencies will distribute it in Canada.

Contacts:
Danielle Bickelmann
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2503
dbickelmann@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line

Source: PetSmart, Inc.

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PetSmart launches its 2017 Fall and Halloween Collections

Retailer Celebrates One of its Busiest Seasons with Halloween Costumes, Fall Varsity Line Toys, Treats, In-Store Events and More

PHOENIX, AZ, 2017-Sep-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tomorrow (Sept. 22, 2017) officially marks the first day of Autumn, and to help usher in the season of ghosts and goblins and pumpkin spice-everything, PetSmart, the leading pet specialty retailer in North America, is launching its 2017 Fall and Halloween Collections. This year, pet parents will find hundreds of new, on-trend seasonal apparel and accessory items, Halloween costumes, beds, toys and treats to help pet parents celebrate this festive season with their pets. The collection is now available in all 1,500-plus PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Canada and online at petsmart.com and petsmart.ca.

“We know it’s important each season to offer an exciting assortment of products for a range of pet lifestyles. We see our collections for Fall and Halloween as an invitation to all pet parents to celebrate Autumn with all their family members – including our pets,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart.

ED Ellen DeGeneres Varsity Collection

With high schools and colleges across the country now back at school, PetSmart has launched the ED Ellen DeGeneres Varsity Collection that embodies the collegiate and youthful spirit synonymous with campus pride and school sports.

Pup Meets Preppy – The Maroon Ruffle Hoodie Dress, with its college crest and plaid ruffles, is the ultimate Varsity apparel for the preppy girl pup. Bandana collars, a PetSmart top-seller, are also included in the Varsity Collection with the Navy and Gold Two-Pack Bandana Collar set will turn heads for both its style and spirit.  Bow-Tie Collars adorned with preppy stripes in blue and navy and pink and gray color combinations ensure pets stay on-trend. Meanwhile, the Maroon Love Comfort Harness and Megaphone Embroidered Dressincorporate pleats indicative of cheerleading skirts.

“L” Stands for Love – With crisp fall weather around the corner, the change in seasons presents an ideal opportunity to freshen up pups’ everyday gear like beds and collars. The Varsity Collection includes two smart-looking beds to provide endless comfort and versatility. The navy and gold Love Hut Pet Bed, lined and padded with furry plush, was inspired by a traditional letterman’s jacket, complete with a bold varsity applique “L” — for love, of course. The velvety Varsity Cuddler Bed gives a nod to school spirit      with an iconic megaphone embroidered with the “L” as well.

Halloween Costumes to Fright and Delight

From food-inspired to superheroes and whimsical characters to classic costume favorites, PetSmart is all about fun for all pets this Halloween.

Food and Beverage Inspired – Taking a cue from rising trends on social media and creative DIY-ers, PetSmart presents a Food and Beverage costume collection sure to garner more than a few chuckles and admirers this Halloween. The Coffee Cup Dog Costume, complete with a soft “lid” hat, will make pups the cutest cup of Joe on the block. Wasabi anyone? Sushi fans will get a kick out of the Sushi Dog Costume. What pairs better with the Hot Dog Costume than a costume made to look      like a Can of Beer? For multi-dog families,      these costumes together can make for fun social media posts.

Superheroes to the Rescue – Superheroes are always a fan-favorite and PetSmart delivers this Halloween season. With the Marvel™ Thor Dog Costumeand Spiderman costumes, kids can bring their favorite superhero sidekicks with them to trick or treat.

Whimsical Enchantment – PetSmart offers a variety of costumes for pets to indulge their whimsical side like Rapunzel (complete with braids), a colorful Caterpillar and Dinosaur. The Halloween Butterfly Dog Wings are an ideal option for dogs who prefer not to sport a full costume as the colorful wings easily slip on and off.

Beloved Classics – Last year’s list of top costumes for pets published by the National Retail Federation included the pumpkin, bee and devil, all of which are returning to PetSmart stores this fall.

Spirited accessories like the “Happy Halloween” Glow-in-the-Dark Bandana, Witch Dog Hat and hilarious Cat Ears make excellent alternatives to full costumes. Tees like “I’m here for the Boos” and the orange spider “Happy Halloween” tee, are ideal for commemorating Halloween all season long. Made of lightweight fabric, these dog-friendly tees are easy to slip on and off and provide optimum comfort on crisp fall days.

Small animals like dwarf hamsters and guinea pigs can be dressed up in costumes like a pirate or unicorn. Fish tanks will look extra spirited with spooky ornaments like the glow in the dark Top Fin® Floating Zombie Head or the Pumpkin Cave.

Halloween Toys and Décor

From Oct. 1 – 31, pet parents can receive a free toy box with any $20 pet toy purchase in-store.* Fill it with Halloween favorites like Plush Pumpkins, Peanuts® Snoopy and rope toys and new additions with candy corn and monster themes. Candy corn, a classic fall treat, is      depicted in this year’s toys like the Halloween Flattie Candy Corn and Halloween 5 Knot Rope Toy. Candy      corn can also be found on the Candy Corn Bow Tie Collar and on the “Sweet as Candy” dress.

Monsters are synonymous with Halloween, and PetSmart’s take on ghouls, goblins and monsters has a playful tone. The Monster Flattie Toy, with a silly expression and purple fur, is filled with crinkle material dogs love. Plush toys like the Zombie and Mummy have squeakers to encourage playtime. Cats will have plenty of spooky toys to choose from like teasers and toys made of plush material and colorful feathers. The Halloween Wicker Mummy Cat Toy is equally creepy and cute.

Infuse a little pet-inspired Halloween fun into your home décor this season with new pet beds and bowls. Available only at PetSmart, the Cat Hut and Pumpkin Hut pet beds are machine washable and feature an enclosure with a soft, cozy removable pillow.

“Creepy Cookies,” Pumpkin Spice Treats and More

Humans are all about pumpkin spice and so is PetSmart! Seasonal flavors like pumpkin and cinnamon are standouts in this year’s treat collection which includes pumpkin spice rawhide chews and pumpkin flavored stuffed bones. New this year are Pumpkin Spice Flavor GREENIES®. These limited-edition dental treats fight plaque and tarter, while providing dogs with delicious seasonal flavors.

Other seasonal favorites include apple cinnamon-flavored “creepy cookies” in a variety of festive shapes like skulls and bones. Also new this year is the grain-free Wellness® Soft Wellbites Halloween Pumpkin Treats and Ghost Grub dog biscuits from Bocce’s Bakery, as well as pumpkin and sweet potato flavored Chilling Chew Treats.

Attending a Halloween party? Bring your hostess a Creepy Cookies Gift Pack of frosted apple cinnamon cookies for the dogs in her life.

Game Day Essentials

PetSmart offers pet parents lots of ways to tailgate with pets this football season. This year’s Sunday Funday Collection includes licensed jerseys, hoodies, collars, leashes and toys regionally available in-store and with the full collection, starring every professional team, online at petsmart.com.

Can’t settle on which team to outfit your best friend in? Team-neutral football bandanas provide an easy way to celebrate without choosing a side. Bandana collars, a PetSmart top seller, include sayings like, “Sunday Funday,” “Fantasy Football Legend” and “Rufferee.”

Upcoming In-Store Family & Pet Events

Tailgating Event
Sept. 23
12 – 2 p.m. – local time
Bring pups and your team spirit to one of our hottest in-store events of the season. Your pup can enjoy free treat samples and free chalking of favorite collegiate and professional team’s colors or a football Pet Expressions Pet Paint stencil application. Pets who come dressed in their team’s favorite colors can also receive a $5 off coupon for their next pet sports apparel purchase. 2

Doggie Day Camp Howl O’ Ween Event
Oct. 26
All-day
Halloween is taking over PetSmart Doggie Day Camps with an all-day Halloween party. In addition to fun, games and toys, campers will receive a free pumpkin KONG treat and free Halloween digital keepsake photo. Space is limited, reserve your spot on petsmart.com.3

Halloween Photo Event with PetSmart’s Chance
Oct. 21 and 28
12 – 3 p.m. – local time
Dress your pet in their Halloween best for an exclusive photo-op with PetSmart’s Chance! This in-store event is fun for the whole family. In addition to photos with Chance, pets and pet parents can receive a free pet collar safety light, Halloween safety tips and exclusive Halloween treat and apparel coupons.4

Social Media Contest #SpookyTails

Show off your pet in costume! Oct. 13-29, submit a photo of your pet dressed for the Halloween season using the hashtag #SpookyTails! Fans will decide the winner out of 5 chosen finalists, who will be announced on Halloween and will receive some great prizes including a hand-picked selection of spooky toys. Visit PetSmart’s Facebook page on October 13 for more details and the official rules5.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest  specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 20176.  In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook:www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube:www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store and Distribution Center opportunities.

*With PetPerks® membership. Toys not included. Free Top Paw® toy box offer valid 10/1/17-10/31/17 with purchase of any dog and cat toys of $20 or more, transaction total prior to taxes and after all other discounts applied. Discount of free item applied at register upon checkout. Limit 1 free item per customer, per transaction. Can mix & match any combination of toys valued at $20. While supplies last. In-store only. See store associate for details. Value of toy box $9.99.

2 At participating PetSmart stores.  While supplies last. Pet age, health and vaccinations requirements apply. Subject to availability. Excludes NFL, NCAA & MLB licensed Pet Expressions. Chalking and stenciling not available in SC, Boulder, CO & select cities in CA. See coupon for details.

3 Doggie Day Camp is available at select PetSmart store locations. Pet age, health and vaccinations requirements apply. Space is limited. Treats available while supplies last.

4 At participating PetSmart stores. While supplies last.

5 No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States (and the District of Columbia), who are 18 years old (or the age of majority under applicable law). The Contest begins at 12:00:00 a.m. ET on 10/13/17 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on 10/29/17 (“Entry Period”) and will include one round of Public Voting one round of Judging. Entrants may enter with a photo via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. First place and four runner-ups will be awarded prizes. Visit PetSmart’s Facebook page during the Entry Period for additional details and official rules

6 Ends 12/31/17. 5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need. See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold. The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Contacts:
Danielle Bickelmann
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2503
dbickelmann@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line:
623-587-2177

SOURCE: PetSmart

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PetSmart and Adventure Cats partner on curated line of products suited for the adventurous pet cat

AdventureCats.org Co-founded by Laura Moss as Resource for Adventurous Pet Parents Highlighting Cats Who Hike, Camp, Canoe, Sail and Kayak

PHOENIX, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — With the recent launch of AdventureCats.org’s book, Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest (Workman Publishing Company, 2017), PetSmart announced today (Sept. 20, 2017) a collaboration featuring a curated line of products well suited for this adventurous pet lifestyle, as well as social campaign with full site takeovers and book giveaways.

Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest offers readers an array of jaw-dropping photographs, inspiring stories of real-world cats that camp, hike and participate in watersports, along with the how-tos a cat owner needs to expand their adventures with their cat beyond the indoors or the backyard. Laura Moss, co-founder of AdventureCats.org, wrote the new Adventure Cats bookas the ideal guide for safely introducing an indoor cat to the great outdoors, including leash training, what to pack, managing wildlife encounters, as well as tips for less adventurous cats with backyard adventures, “catios” and indoor adventurous activities.

The PetSmart-Adventure Cats collaboration will also include two one-day “takeovers” of the PetSmart Instagram account by Adventure Cats, where cats will be featured hiking, camping and sailing, among other outdoor activities. Please see Instagram and Instagram stories @PetSmart for the first takeover today.

“I’m an animal writer and active hiker, and I kept coming across more and more people who were leash walking their cats and bringing them along for adventures – whether it was in the backyard or out on the trail,” said Moss, author of Adventure Cats. “I thought that spotlighting these felines would be a great way to challenge negative stereotypes we have about cats being lazy and aloof animals. I’m thrilled to team up with PetSmart to show cat owners new ways they can engage with their pets both indoors and out.”

More than a third of all U.S. households own a cat, and nearly half of all Americans participate in outdoor recreation activities each year, according to the Outdoor Foundation. The Adventure Cats lifestyle aims to merge the two.

“At PetSmart, we love pets and know they make us better people. We want pets and pet parents to enjoy all of life’s cherished moments together and for some that may mean a hike or a canoe trip!” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “Working with Adventure Cats creates an opportunity to foster an even closer bond between pet parents and their cats, whether they’re hiking, paddling or simply relaxing together at a campground.”

To help cats travel, play and relax with maximum enjoyment and ease, PetSmart has curated a special collection of products, including the following:

Hike, Camp, Canoe, Fish and Sail

  • Whisker City Reflective Cat Leash
  • Grreat Choice Cat Harness
  • Top Paw Life Jacket
  • Wacky Paws Pet Backpack Carrier
  • Top Paw Travel Water Bottle
  • Top Paw Travel Bowl
  • TagWorks Sport Collection Gold Fish Pet ID Tag

Car Travel

  • Whisker City Flower Soft Sided Cat Carrier
  • Grreat Choice Microfiber Rear Seat Cover
  • Petmate 19” 2-Door Top Load Kennel

At the Campsite

  • Whisker City Interchangeable Tip Laser Cat Toy
  • Wild Salmon Bite Cat Treats
  • Whisker City Slicker Cat Brush
  • Seresto Flea & Tick Cat Collar
  • Whisker City Tearless Non-Rinse Waterless Cat Shampoo
  • GNC Pets Hypoallergenic Cat Wipes
  • Capstar 2-25 lb. Dog & Cat Flea Treatment
  • Kurgo First Aid Kit
  • ExquisiCat Naturals Disposable Litter Tray & Cat Litter
  • NATURE’S MIRACLE® Pre-Filled Crystal Disposable Cat Litter Pan

Indoor Adventures

  • WARE Cat Condo
  • Laser Cat Toy
  • Jackson Galaxy Air Prey Wand & Laser Cat Toy

See the full collection at www.petsmart.com/adventurecats.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel™ dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S., while four large animal welfare agencies will distribute it in Canada.

About Adventure Cats
Adventure Cats is a group of outdoorsy cat lovers who started AdventureCats.org as a resource for people looking for safe ways to explore the great outdoors with their feline friends. The organization also wants to challenge negative stereotypes about cats and the people who love them in order to increase shelter cat adoptions. The Adventure Cats book is available through AdventureCats.org as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and IndieBound.

Follow Adventure Cats on Instagram: instagram.com/adventurecatsorg
Follow Adventure Cats on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AdventureCatsorg
Follow Adventure Cats on Twitter: twitter.com/adventurecatorg
Follow Adventure Cats on Tumblr: adventurecatsorg.tumblr.com

Source: PetSmart, Inc.

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PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend, Sept. 15-17

Local animal welfare organizations to bring thousands of pets in need into PetSmart stores for National Adoption Weekend, Sept. 15-17

PHOENIX, AZ, 2017-Sep-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — This weekend, prospective pet parents are invited to adopt a four-legged family member during PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend at PetSmart’s 1,500-plus stores across North America. Local animal welfare organizations working to help pets in need in their communities will bring homeless pets — ranging from dogs and cats to birds and guinea pigs — into PetSmart stores, in hopes of finding them a lifelong, loving forever home.

The National Adoption Weekend events – held four times a year at PetSmart stores — are hosted in collaboration with PetSmart Charities’ more than 3,500 local animal welfare partners. While called PetSmart Charities National Adoption “Weekend,” the adoption efforts span the week with the majority of the pets adopted between Friday and Sunday when many stores host large parking lot tent-events with their local adoption partners to connect adoptable pets with potential forever families. PetSmart and PetSmart Charities said they expect as many as 20,000 pets to be adopted across the adoption event.

Pet adoption is an important part of PetSmart Charities’ mission to end pet homelessness and connect people and pets. By adopting a pet, pet parents are able to experience first-hand how a pet can enhance the quality of life for themselves and every family member.

“During our National Adoption Weekend and through the valued partnership with PetSmart and our more than 3,500 local adoption partners, we are able to connect displaced or homeless pets in need with families who are looking to open their hearts and homes to a new four-legged family member,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., president of PetSmart Charities. “By welcoming a pet into their home, pet parents will have the opportunity to experience the power of pets and the positive impact that they bring to every family member. The unconditional love and support that a pet can offer in a lifetime is truly remarkable and unlike any other.”

Adoptions also happen every day at PetSmart stores, where local community-based animal welfare partners are invited into stores to hold adoption events whenever needed. Two out of every 10 pet adoptions in North America are facilitated through PetSmart and PetSmart Charities’ in-store adoption programs. To date, these events have helped PetSmart and PetSmart Charities find forever families for more than 7.6 million pets since 1994.

National Adoption Weekend Details:
Date: Fri., Sept. 15 – Sun., Sept. 17, 2017
Time: Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: Nearly every PetSmart across North America. Visit www.petsmart.com or www.petsmart.ca to find a store near you.

PetSmart Offers a Free Gift to Those Who Adopt:

As a gift to those that adopt and save a life, regardless of whether the pet was adopted at PetSmart, at a shelter or even another pet stores, PetSmart offers a free Adoption Kit* that provides important content on how to integrate a new pet into the family and adds true value – more than $450 in free items and discounts on pet essentials and services. Included are coupons for a free bag of dog or cat food from Simply Nourish™, Authority® or Good Natured™, a complimentary private training session with an accredited trainer, a free Doggie Day Camp session and a free overnight boarding stay, as well as half-off on a grooming service. Also included are savings on all the essentials for a new pet including beds, crates, gates, brushes, feeding bowls, collars, leashes, toys and treats, as well as solutions like pet calming products and stain and odor remedies for any mishaps that may occur.
*Adoption papers required.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017**. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

**Ends 12/31/17. 5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need. See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold. The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S., while four large animal welfare agencies will distribute it in Canada.

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

Contacts:
PetSmart Media Line:
623-587-2177

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PetSmart to announce Q2 2017 results on September 6, 2017

PHOENIX, AZ, 2017-Aug-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart, Inc. (the “Company”) plans to make its second quarter fiscal 2017 results available on the Company’s secure website on Wednesday, September 6, 2017. The Company will also hold an investor conference call to review its results for the second quarter fiscal 2017 on Thursday, September 7, 2017. The results and call will be made available to lenders under the credit facilities, holders of the Company’s 7.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2023, the 5.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025, the 8.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 (collectively the “notes”), bona fide prospective investors of the notes, bona fide securities analysts and bona fide market makers.

The lenders under the credit facilities will receive details on how to access the call from the administrative agents for the respective credit facilities.

Holders of the notes, prospective investors, securities analysts and market makers that have not previously registered with the Company must contact the Company to pre-register and certify eligibility in order to access the financial results and dial-in information for the conference call. To receive information on how to pre‐register, parties should send an email to investorrelations@petsmart.com. Requests for pre-registration must be received by Friday, September 1, 2017.

About PetSmart® 
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and over 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.3 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, Chewy.com, PetFoodDirect.com, Pet360.com, petMD.com, PawCulture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals. On May 31, 2017, PetSmart, Inc. completed the acquisition of Chewy, Inc., the nation’s leading online retailer for pet products.

Contact :

PetSmart Investor Relations
Kim Smith, Tom Melito
investorrelations@petsmart.com
623-587-2025

Source: PetSmart, Inc

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PetSmart: first of four massive pet food donation arriving in 70 Cities through its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program

Thanks to Millions of PetSmart Shoppers Who Bought Bags of Pet Food this Year, 92 Semi Trucks are Arriving in 70 Cities Across 31 States and Three Canadian Provinces with 17 Million Meals to Feed Hungry Pets in Need

NEW YORK CITY and LOS ANGELES, 2017-Aug-16 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart announced today (Aug. 15, 2017) that the first of four massive pet food donation waves is underway thanks to its philanthropic Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program, where for every bag of dog or cat food purchased online or in its 1,500-plus stores through Dec. 31, 2017, the retailer will donate a meal to a pet in need. Through this historic program, PetSmart expects to donate 60 million meals* to pets in need at hundreds of shelters and rescues across North America, as well as human food banks, pantries and meal programs, where pet food is a rare offering.

To get the food to those in need, the retailer is working with nonprofit partner PetSmart Charities, which is teaming up with GreaterGood.org’s Rescue Bank program and Feeding America®, two renowned national nonprofit organizations, to deliver this massive pet food donation immediately to pets in need across the U.S., as well as animal welfare agencies in Canada.

Three 53-foot semi trucks will arrive in New York City, while three more semi trucks will roll in to Los Angeles today showcasing PetSmart’s coast-to-coast pet food donation. Over the next four weeks, a total of 92 semi truckloads will arrive in 70 cities in 31 states and three Canadian provinces carrying 17 million meals – more than 3.6 million pounds – to help feed hungry pets in need across North America.

PetSmart launched the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program in celebration of its 30th anniversary, and with the expected 60 million meals donated under this program, it is the biggest philanthropic campaign in its 30-year history. As a point of reference, using a standard six-inch pet food bowl, 60 million meals lined up beside each other would span from New York City to Los Angeles and back again – covering more than 5,500 miles.

“The Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program is simple. Shoppers can buy any bag of dog or cat food, any size, any brand, and we’ll donate a meal to a pet in need,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “Together we have already generated nearly 30 million meals and are confident we’ll hit our goal of 60 million meals. We’re just getting started with this first wave of truck deliveries, with three more massive semi truck deliveries planned into 2018.”

Expertly Distributing the Massive Amount of Pet Food to Hundreds of Locations
PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, will take on the distribution of the massive amount of pet food donated by PetSmart and is dedicated to quickly and efficiently getting the pet food to hungry pets in need across North America. Rescue Bank will help allocate the donated pet food to animal welfare organizations across the U.S., and Feeding America will disperse the donated pet food to food banks, food pantries and meal programs. In Canada, four large animal welfare organizations from across the country, some who partner with or operate their own local pet food banks, will distribute the donated pet food.

“When our partners at PetSmart shared this big idea to donate a meal for every bag of dog or cat food purchased, we were overwhelmed by the generosity and thrilled to take on the challenge of distributing such a large volume of pet food to help pets in need across North America,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., president of PetSmart Charities. “This program enables PetSmart Charities to continue our mission of helping homeless pets in need and connecting people and pets and keeping them connected. Supporting shelters and rescues is a big part of what we’ve done every day for more than two decades, and Buy a Bag, Give a Meal also allows us to help families in need by providing much-needed pet food, helping to keep pets with their families and out of shelters.”

During this first big pet food delivery wave now underway through Sept. 14, 92 semi trucks will deliver 17 million meals – more than 3.6 million pounds – to shelters, rescues and food banks across the U.S. and Canada. Three similarly sized truck deliveries are expected later this year and into 2018.

“We are pleased to team up with PetSmart Charities, which serves a major role in our Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program,” said Cohen. “PetSmart Charities is expertly getting the pet food to pets in need across North America. We are thankful to their team and their partners at Feeding America and Rescue Bank, for moving swiftly to effectively get the food to hungry pets that need it the most in hundreds of local markets across the continent.”

The pet food is made at PetSmart’s vendor partner American Nutrition Inc. (ANI) in Ogden, Utah, where semi trucks filled with 50 pallets each of donated pet food will roll out every weekday now through Sept. 14 for this delivery wave. Each weekday across the six weeks, trucks will leave ANI with more than 561,792 pet food meals on board totaling nearly 109,700 pounds.

The semi trucks loaded with the donated pet food will be arriving in cities across North America including New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Honolulu, Fargo, Houston, Phoenix, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, San Diego, Detroit, Austin and points in between. Click here for a list of cities and nonprofit partners that will receive the pet food donated during the Aug. and Sept. truck delivery wave from PetSmart’s Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at www.petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S., while four large animal welfare agencies will distribute it in Canada.

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support:  Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization.  To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

About PetSmart Charities™ of Canada
PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date.  PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada, and a registered Canadian charity independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca.

About Rescue Bank
Rescue Bank, a Signature Program of GreaterGood.org, operates on the national food bank model to community-based animal welfare groups that typically lack access to resources. Rescue Bank recognizes that these smaller, less-visible groups represent a substantial portion of America’s animal rescue resource.

Rescue Bank works with name-brand suppliers to deliver donated pet food for both the ongoing needs of more than 1,900 animal welfare organizations and the immediate needs of communities after disasters such as hurricanes, floods and fires. Since establishing its national network in 2011, Rescue Bank has delivered over 200 million meals of nutritious, wholesome pet food.

For more information visit http://rescuebank.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/RescueBank.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about th problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line:
623-587-2177

Source: PetSmart, Inc.

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PetSmart introduces its very first Back-to-School Collection

Retailer Celebrates Big with School-Themed Pet Gear, the Return of the Pets in the Classroom Program and In-Store Events for the Whole Family

PHOENIX, 2017-Aug-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — In many parts of the country, this month marks the start of school, which has families shopping for essentials like rulers, pencils, school shoes, clothes and more. Firm believers in celebrating life’s moments with pets, PetSmart, the leading pet specialty retailer in North America, aims to ensure pets enjoy the excitement of the season too with its very first Back-to-School Collection, available in all 1,500-plus PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Canada and online at petsmart.com and petsmart.ca.

“We know families enjoy including their pets in holidays, birthdays and celebrations and the excitement of the back-to-school season is no exception,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “We’ve seen great success with festive seasonal product collections and feel strongly pet parents will enjoy including their pets in the thrill of the first day of school, too. I mean, what pup wouldn’t enjoy a bright yellow school bus bed, big plush calculator or a squeaky carton of milk toy?”

Smart Toys – Just as children’s backpacks are stuffed with sharp new pencils, composition books and calculators, dogs’ toy bins can be filled with dog-friendly versions of these classic back-to-school supplies. Nothing says back to school more than a bespectacled worm flattie donning a graduation cap, while cute toys shaped like pencils and nerdy-face apples with crinkle fill provide hours of fun for pups. Iconic school essentials like vinyl cartons of milk and plush calculator complete with squeakers are sure to provide photo ops worthy of social media sharing.

Stylish Apparel – Ever consider including your dogs in the classic event — school picture day? This PetSmart collection has the goods to get pups photo-ready. The Top Paw® Denim Heart Dog Tee mirrors what can be found on the racks of children’s clothing stores. With its pink and white stripes and mock-stitching, it’s cute enough to challenge the kids in a “who wore it best” contest. Dapper dogs are sure to turn heads with the Denim and Plaid Tie Combo tee. Made of lightweight, breathable fabric, the tee easily slips on and off making it as comfortable as it is cute. Finally, the Ruffle Denim Dog Dress, complete with plaid pockets and subtle gray stripes is ideal for the preppy pup on the prowl.

Back-to-School Bedding – The start of the school year means early mornings with children boarding busses bound for school. At-home pups can wait for their human family members to arrive home in their very own School Bus Cuddler Bed. This bed features an easy step-in design, soft walls and dark grey chambray-like lining. Toss in an adorable rainbow pet pillow to create a playful, cozy space for pets.

Classroom Pets + Learning = Big Fun
PetSmart is proud to be a returning sponsor of the Pets in the Classroom Grant Program, which provides grants to pre-kindergarten through 9th grade teachers in both private and public schools to purchase and maintain small animals in the classroom. Having pets in the classroom not only provides excitement, they help teach students responsible, long-term pet care at an early age. Grants are now being accepted for the 2017-2018 school year. For more information on the Pets in the Classroom grant program, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org.

Education & Entertainment: Upcoming In-Store Family Events
Small Pets Show & Tell Event
Aug. 12
12-3 p.m. local time
Bring the kids to meet the specialty pets of PetSmart! Kids can visit any participating PetSmart store to take part in hands-on experience with the specialty pets of the store including fish, hamsters and reptiles. Kids can also make their own tank with aquarium sticker sheets, while learning about the basics of fish care.

Tailgating Event
Sept. 23
12 – 2 p.m. – local time
Bring pups and your team spirit to one of our hottest in-store events of the season. Your pup can enjoy free treat samples and free chalking of favorite collegiate and professional team’s colors or a football Pet Expressions* stencil application. Pets who come dressed in their team’s favorite colors can also receive a $5 off coupon for their next pet sports apparel purchase.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017**. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

* Excludes NFL, NCAA & MLB licensed Pet Expressions. Chalking and stenciling not available in SC, Boulder, CO & select cities in CA.
**Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Contacts:
Danielle Bickelmann
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2503
dbickelmann@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line:
623-587-2177

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart CEO and President Michael J. Massey to leave the company

Phoenix, AZ, 2017-Aug-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart, Inc. (“PetSmart” or the “Company”) today (Aug. 10, 2017 )announced that Michael J. Massey has decided to step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer, President and Board Member. The Board of Directors has accepted his resignation and Raymond Svider will serve as Executive Chairman to oversee the Company’s operations with the senior leadership team. The Board has initiated a search for Mr. Massey’s replacement.

Mr. Massey joined PetSmart as CEO when it went private in 2015 and has led the Company through a critical phase of strategic transformation creating strong growth and profitability.

“On behalf of the Board, we thank Michael for leading PetSmart through a period of transformation and growth, uniquely positioning the Company to lead in the growing pet industry and outperform in the specialty retail category,” said Raymond Svider, a Managing Partner at BC Partners. “Michael was instrumental in creating an efficient, customer-focused retail organization and developing the Company’s growth strategy. This includes the recent acquisition of Chewy, making PetSmart the leading brick and mortar and online retailer in the industry. We respect Michael’s decision and are grateful for his many achievements while CEO of PetSmart.”

Mr. Massey said, “It has been an honor to work in partnership with BC Partners and the incredibly talented PetSmart team. I am pleased that, in such a short time, we have achieved the operating goals we set out at the acquisition of PetSmart to create a highly profitable and fast growing retailer that leads both in brick and mortar and online, which is unique in retail. With the structural changes achieved, I believe PetSmart is well positioned for the future and will continue to be the trusted partner to pet parents and pets.”

About PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with nonprofits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Contact:
Teneo Strategy
Bethany Sherman
bethany.sherman@teneostrategy.com
212-220-8802

Source: PetSmart  Inc.

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ED Ellen DeGeneres pet lifestyle brand expands offering to include cat products; exclusively available at PetSmart

PHOENIX, 2017-Aug-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart, the leading pet specialty retailer in North America, and Ellen DeGeneres, passionate pet enthusiast and product design guru, announced today (Aug. 8, 2017) that they have expanded the ED Ellen DeGeneres pet lifestyle brand, which launched earlier this year with dog products, to now include products for cats. More than a dozen new items for cats, as well as several at-home grooming products with natural formulations, have been added to the expanding ED Ellen DeGeneres line.

This is Ellen’s first-ever pet lifestyle brand and is exclusively available at PetSmart. It is among the most comprehensive pet product collections done in collaboration with a celebrity in PetSmart’s 30-year history.
The expansion comes just months after the initial launch of the ED Ellen DeGeneres pet lifestyle brand, featuring products for dogs. The entire collection is exclusively available at 1,500-plus PetSmart stores across the North America and on PetSmart.com and PetSmart.ca.

“I am so happy to be launching my cat collection with PetSmart. I think you’ll love it if you like cats, have cats or just like toys that tickle,” said Ellen DeGeneres.

First-Ever Cat Collection Hits Stores, Online Now

Stuffed owl toys, cat scratchers featuring sisal and burlap detailing, and feathered teasers are part of the inaugural ED Ellen DeGeneres cat collection. Adhering to Ellen’s signature design aesthetic centered on classic detailing like dots and stripes with navy and red accents, the feline items feature key themes such as the signature scripted “love” detail, which is prominent across all ED products, from shoes to apparel and furniture and more.

In addition to time-tested cat favorites like playful balls and teasers, additional products in the collection include a toy bin with the phrase, “Take Life One Toy at a Time” and a gray cat bed with a basket-woven design and cozy plush lining.
The new cat products will be celebrated at CatCon, Aug. 12-13, in Pasadena, Calif., with the full collection showcased at PetSmart’s booth #223, as well as featured on social media that same weekend. PetSmart’s Facebook page will host an exciting Live Video at 11 a.m. PDT on Aug. 12 with influential cats – @nala_cat, @white_coffee_cat, and @hello_luna_rose. These popular cats have a combined 5.2 million followers on Instagram. Topics covered in the Facebook Live include Ellen’s new cat line, PetSmart’s Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program, and CatCon along with a real-time Q&A from fans. PetSmart will go live on @nala_cat’s Instagram page at 11:30 a.m. PDT covering similar topics.
“What began as a collection for dogs with toys, apparel and accessories, as well as home items like bowls, toy bins and beds, has expanded into a comprehensive assortment, including natural at-home pet grooming items, products for cats and capsule collections that are seasonally relevant like our forthcoming Varsity collection due in stores next month for fall,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer for PetSmart. “We recreated our top-selling ED dog ideas – like bandana collars, toy bins and beds, to appeal specifically to cats and their pet parents. These products represent Ellen’s distinct design aesthetic in a way even the most discerning cats and their pet parents will love.”

About ED Ellen DeGeneres

ED is Ellen DeGeneres’ American lifestyle brand inspired by her iconic style, values and personality. ED was launched in 2015 as a joint partnership with Ellen DeGeneres and Christopher Burch, CEO of Burch Creative Capital. With a passion for interior design, architecture and fashion, Ellen brings her unique vision to this beautifully designed, high-quality collection of women’s apparel, footwear, accessories, pet products as well as home furnishings and decor. The lifestyle brand is real, accessible and every product feels like a personal connection between Ellen and the consumers around the world.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line:
623-587-2177

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart opened 18 new stores in the U.S. and Canada in the first quarter of 2017

Phoenix, 2017-Jul-11 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart, Inc. today ( July 10, 2017 ) announced it has opened 18 new stores in the U.S. and Canada for the fiscal quarter ending May 1, 2017. The company opened 70 net new stores in 2016 and expects to open more than this number in fiscal year 2017. This continued expansion supports PetSmart’s commitment to be the most convenient, best-in-class retailer of products and services for pet parents.

New stores were opened in the first quarter in the following locations:

  • Auburn, Calif.
  • Bourne, Mass.
  • Burien, Wash.
  • College Station, Texas
  • Duluth, Minn.
  • East Aurora, N.Y.
  • Foley, Ala.
  • Hadley, Mass.
  • Hinesville, Ga.
  • Huntington Beach, Calif.
  • Lakeville, Minn.
  • Maple, Ontario
  • Mississauga, Ontario
  • North Augusta, S.C.
  • Reynoldsburg, Ohio
  • Roseville, Calif.
  • Spring, Texas
  • Tulsa, Okla.

“We continue to execute our real estate strategy to engage new customers and improve our competitive position,” said Brian Amkraut, executive vice president of real estate, strategy, store operations and services for PetSmart. “Our new stores capitalize on exciting trends in the pet industry, including new service offerings like Dog Therapy Training, while providing a unique in-store customer experience for pet parents. Expanding our retail footprint is a key component of PetSmart’s omnichannel strategy focused on convenience, including same-day and scheduled at-home delivery, as well as the popular buy online pick up in store option.”

PetSmart now operates 1,542 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as 205 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities.

In celebration of PetSmart’s 30th anniversary, it has launched the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program, where any and every bag of dog or cat food purchased in its stores and online through December 31, 2017, PetSmart will give a meal to a pet in need. With a goal of 60 million meals, the unprecedented program is the largest philanthropic initiative in PetSmart’s 30-year history.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, Pet360.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.

Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Contacts: 
PetSmart
Erin Gray
623-587-2177
egray@petsmart.com

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart Doggie-Human Ice Cream Truck is going coast-to-coast to celebrate National Ice Cream Day

First-Ever Ice Cream Truck with Treats for Pups and Their Parents Visits New York City Again and Expands to Seattle, Dallas and Toronto to Kick-Off Free Doggie Ice Cream Sundaes at all PetSmart PetsHotel® Locations on July 16

PHOENIX, 2017-Jul-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart launched the first-ever Doggie-Human Ice Cream Truck in New York City last year in celebration of National Ice Cream Day and this year is going coast-to-coast to bring more of these unique treat trucks to dogs and their pet parents. On July 12, one PetSmart-sponsored truck per city will visit parks in New York City, Seattle, Dallas and Toronto hosting free pop-up ice cream socials for dogs and their humans in celebration of National Ice Cream Day on Sunday, July 16, when additional free Doggie Ice Cream Sundaes will also be doled out to pets who visit any PetSmart PetsHotel locations.

Last year, PetSmart laid claim to the first-ever ice cream truck to serve up dog-friendly ice cream along with ice cream treats for humans. This ice cream truck rolled about the streets of New York City to celebrate National Ice Cream Day 2016, visiting dog parks and serving more than 1,000 ice cream treats in a single day.

“When we saw how fun and engaging theDoggie Ice Cream Truck was last year in New York City, we knew we wanted to expand this program coast-to-coast,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer for PetSmart. “We are excited to celebrate with pet parents again in New York City, and for the first time with those in Dallas, Seattle and Toronto on July 12. These events are a powerful way to gear up for the free Doggie Ice Cream Sundaes available at all PetsHotel locations across North America on National Ice Cream Day.”

In 1984, President Reagan declared National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday of July and the full month of July as National Ice Cream Month. National Ice Cream Day has been celebrated for decades, but more recently with pets. The dog-safe ice cream is vanilla flavored and non-dairy, as many dogs have challenges with lactose products. The sundaes are topped with dog biscuit sprinkles for a savory-sweet combination and a cool treat to beat the summertime heat in July.

“The dog ice cream sundaes offered every day at our PetsHotel locations are a great example of the wonderful hospitality we provide to our pet guests,” said Joanna Zucker, vice president of services for PetSmart. “In addition to the four pop-up ice cream socials, we will also be offering free Doggie Ice Cream Sundaes to dogs that visit any PetsHotel location on National Ice Cream Day, Sunday, July 16. While there, pet parents can tour our facility and see first-hand the exceptional pet services offered daily at PetSmart’s PetsHotels.”

Several local celebrity pets will be attending the various ice cream socials for meet-and-greets and photo ops. The following opportunities to celebrate and get a free ice cream treat for pups and their humans include:

Wednesday, July 12

New York City
Noon – 4 p.m. local time – Washington Square Park
@tinkerbellethedog (143K followers)
@ipartywithbrucewayne (57.9K followers)
@thedailywalter (83.3K followers) – Streaming Facebook Live with PetSmart at 1:00 p.m. ET

4:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. local time – Madison Square Park
@oscarfrenchienyc (166K followers)
@ipartywithbrucewayne (57.9K followers)
@puppynamedcharlie (56.4K followers)
@chloekardoggian (149K followers)
@mervinthechihuahua (69.1K followers)

Dallas
Noon – 8 p.m. local time – Klyde Warren Park
@nelsonthegoldendoodle (32.6K followers)

Seattle
Noon – 8 p.m. local time – Seattle Center – International Fountain
@buddhathepug (9K followers)

Toronto
Noon – 4 p.m. local time – Berczy Park
4:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Woodbine Park
@remsandshmends (51.1K followers)
@lildogbigcity (22.8k followers)

Sunday, July 16
Doggie Ice Cream Sundaes only (no human ice cream treats served) offered at all PetSmart PetsHotel locations across North America. Go to petsmart.com/store-locator/ to find a PetsHotel location.

All times above are local times; all ice cream treats, while supplies last.

PetSmart is encouraging pet parents to share photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram of their pets enjoying National Ice Cream day using #nationalicecreamday and tagging PetSmart.

About PetsHotel Services

About 50 percent of the U.S. population lives within 30 minutes of a PetSmart PetsHotel. Whether pets need to stay for an extended period in the overnight accommodations or just need a fun-filled day of supervised play at the Doggie Day Camp, PetSmart PetsHotels offer a variety of services, great hospitality and amenities to create a get-a-way as unique as your pet:

  • Expert Care: Safety-certified, pet-loving staff with 24/7 onsite care and on-call veterinarian.
  • The Private Suite: What better way to show your best friend how special he or she is than to upgrade to a Private Suite? It’s spacious, private and furnished with a comfy bed called a Poochy Cot and a TV tuned to pet-centric movies.
  • PetSmart Doggie Day Camp: Pets exercise and socialize with other dogs in a dedicated indoor play area full of toys, while pet parents are at work or out of the house for the day. Flexible drop-off and pick-up times and Doggie Valet make it convenient for parents’ schedules. Doggie Day Camp goers can participate in monthly parties with free ice cream sundaes and fun themes.
  • Individual Playtime: Your pup can receive personal attention and one-on-one fun with a Pet Care Specialist.
  • Unlimited Relief Walks.
  • Treat Time with Doggie Ice Cream Sundaes: Includes dog-safe vanilla soft serve ice cream with crunchy biscuit toppings for pets to cool down on hot summer days.
  • Easy Add-Ons: Let pet parents customize their stay with playtime, snacks and salon services.
  • Easy Booking Options: Book your pet’s stay by phone, online or through the PetSmart app.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, Pet360.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.

Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Source: PetSmart, Inc.

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Make your pet’s birthday special with PetSmart’s first-ever Birthday Collection

Dog Party Author, DIY Expert, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Gives Additional Entertaining Tips for a Great Pup Gathering

PHOENIX, Ariz., 2017-Jul-03 — /EPR Retail News/ — According to the 2016 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, nearly 30 percent of pet parents buy their dogs birthday gifts. PetSmart is here to serve pet parents across North America with the launch of its first-ever Birthday Collection, an assortment of festive toys, treats, apparel and accessories available year-round to celebrate birthdays and “Gotcha Days” – the day a pet was adopted.

The collection is available at all the 1,500-plus PetSmart stores across North America and PetSmart.com at the Birthday Shop, with items starting at just $4. Included in the festive line are puppy party hats, an “It’s My Birthday” bandana, “Happy Birthday to Me” and “Woof it Up! It’s My Birthday!” tees, plush and vinyl squeaker toys featuring colorful cupcakes, a birthday cake complete with candles and gift boxes, as well as a range of treats like the “Happy Birthday” frosted bone cookie, Birthday Cake Bites, the Pup-Pie Dog Treat, and the Molly’s Barkery at-home decorating kit with biscuits, icing and sprinkles.

“The PetSmart Birthday Collection features a range of items to make birthday or Gotcha Day celebrations even more festive and fun with our pets,” said Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, DIY expert and author of Dog Parties: Entertaining Your Party Animals. “I love the colorful and fun items in the collection.  Whether you are looking for a great gift for a pet, a treat for a four-legged friend or for ways to enhance your next pet party, PetSmart has it all!”

Schlegel Whitman also offered these practical and celebratory tips to throw the perfect dog birthday bash:

Invitations:

  • Create a fun dog-themed invitation to set the tone for the party. Consider a headline like “Calling All Party Animals” or “Please Join the Pawty.” Use graphical treatments like paw prints, dog bones or dogs donning party hats. Set expectations in your invite with “please join us with your dog on his/her favorite leash.”

Keeping it Friendly:

  • Limit your dog guests to 10-12 for small breed and a max of eight for larger breed dogs.
  • Invite guests you know, including dogs with whom your pup has socialized, so it’s not a first-time meeting at the party.

The Space:

  • Contain the doggie space with a fenced in area. Consider using inexpensive, easy-to-install white picket fencing to create the dedicated pup birthday space.

Play Fun Games:

  • Musical Sit is like Musical Chairs. Use hula hoops in lieu of chairs laid out in your backyard and play Elvis’ famed hit, Hound Dog. When the music stops, pet parent and dog must be in the hoop with the dog sitting, which also reinforces the sit command. As the rounds continue, a hula hoop is removed each time until there is one remaining pup – the winner of the game.
  • Trick for Treat: Set up a dog treat table with 3-4 different types of treats and have each pet parent show off their dog’s skills from sitting to more elaborate tricks like dancing.

Food/Beverage:

  • Create a shareable pupsicle. Take a large pail and fill with water and some low-sodium chicken broth. Place colorful toy items from the PetSmart Birthday Collection and freeze in layers. Tip the large pupsicle out onto a low-standing silver platter and place it on the ground. This will offer a tidier option for puppy hydration than bowls of water and lots of fun as the dogs together lick their way to festive birthday-themed toys.
  • Serve up this sharable Pup-Pie Cake complete with birthday candles and a group sing-along of Happy Birthday To You!
  • Offer delicious pet-themed food for humans – like bone shaped tea sandwiches or chili dogs and a specialty drink like the Salty Dog.
  • Keep the doggie and human fare separated. Today’s dog treats look so delicious, it’s hard to tell them apart!

Décor:

  • Create dog-themed décor like flower vases trimmed with bone-shaped doggie biscuits using a colorful ribbon to affix the biscuits to the vase or create a gift table swagged with a DIY pennant streamer featuring dog faces. Simply cut craft paper ears and tongues, use a marker to make eyes and a nose, add pipe cleaner whiskers and attach them to a classic pennant, transforming the triangles into doggie faces.
  • Set up a “photo booth” area with hats, apparel, bandanas, toys and more from the PetSmart Birthday Collection. Use a large picture frame with “Pup’s First Birthday” using colorful Styrofoam letters as an old-fashioned frame-up for the solo or duo-dog photos. This is also the perfect spot to shoot a fun social-worthy group photo of all the doggie guests in their festive birthday party hats with the birthday dog front and center.
  • Create a take-home Doggie Bag with festive items from the PetSmart Birthday Collection like the Squeaker Cupcake Toy, Happy Birthday Cookie and Birthday Hat. Keep the Doggie Bags by the door for guests to take as they depart the party.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, Pet360.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.

Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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PetSmart announces Summer of Fun Collection

PHOENIX, 2017-Jun-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — On this first day of summer, PetSmart announced today (June 21, 2017) its Summer of Fun Collection to help pet parents celebrate the fun of the season with their pets, whether it’s the upcoming July 4th holiday, backyard BBQs, picnics by the lake, days at the beach or just relaxing and enjoying the dog days of summer.

The Summer of Fun Collection includes apparel, accessories, toys and home décor items like beds with classic summertime themes like red, white and blue Americana, Backyard BBQ and Cabana-beach, among others. The collection is available now at all PetSmart stores and petsmart.com with items starting at just under $4.

“We know pet parents want to enjoy all that summer has to offer with every member of their family, including their pets,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “Our design team thought about that when they created our Summer of Fun Collection with items like the Uncle Sam bungee toy, Pup Light beer can squeaker toy and festive stars and stripes collars. The collection has a range of items to celebrate the upcoming July 4th holiday and bring our best friends into the celebration of summer.”

Americana

The PetSmart design team was heavily inspired by the July 4th holiday when they put together this assortment, featuring more than 20 items including stars and stripes dresses and tees, bandana and traditional collars, beds and a special Uncle Sam headband complete with red, white and blue top hat and white beard that will turn your pet into an Instagram-worthy subject with hundreds of likes. Toys include plush versions of bald eagles, Uncle Sam and cans of Pup Light beer, as well as rope toys with stars and lots of vintage red and white jump rope – a nod to childhood days of summertime play.

Backyard BBQ

At the core of this collection is food and beverage themed items like plush, flattie and vinyl squeaker toys in the shape of cocktail glasses, beer mugs, and bottle-shaped squeaker toys called “Blue Cats Tripping,” “Bark’s Beer” and “Mountain Drool.” The food toys include classic foodstuffs like hot dogs, pizza wedges, french fries and cheeseburgers, as well as fruits of the season such as a lime wedge, pineapple and watermelon slice.

Cabana

The colorful Cabana toys include rope toys featuring striped flip flops, flamingo float rings for tug play, and a range of dogs donning sunglasses and festive swim gear in plush and flattie versions.

The Summer of Fun Collection is available now while supplies last and will be followed by PetSmart’s first-ever Back-to-School Collection due in stores this August.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, Pet360.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.

Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

Source: PetSmart  Inc.

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PetSmart delivers the first of nearly 90 initial semi-truck loads of pet food through its historic Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program

  • PetSmart Expects to Distribute more than 60 Million Meals and Reports Philanthropic Program Has Already Generated More Than 20 Million Meals to Date
  • PetSmart Charities Teams up with Feeding America® and Rescue Bank® to Distribute the Pet Food to  Rescues, Shelters and Food Banks in the U.S.

PHOENIX, Ariz., 2017-Jun-14 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart announced today (June 13, 2017) it has begun to deliver the first of nearly 90 initial semi-truck loads of pet food through its historic Buy a Bag, Give a Meal* program, where it is giving a meal to a pet in need for any and every bag of dog or cat food purchased through Dec. 31, 2017, in its more than 1,500 stores and online at PetSmart.com and PetSmart.ca. Through this philanthropic program, PetSmart said it expects to make pet food deliveries throughout the rest of 2017 and well into 2018 to distribute the expected 60 million-plus* meals to hundreds of locations across North America at local shelters and rescues, as well as to food banks and pantries where pet food is a rare offering.

Nonprofit partner PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, is the recipient of the significant pet food donation and is teaming up with GreaterGood.org’s Rescue Bank program and Feeding America. These renowned national nonprofit organizations are helping to effectively distribute the pet food directly to pets in need across the U.S.

The Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program was launched March 1, 2017. Since then, as shoppers buy pet food bags at PetSmart, the retailer donates a meal to a pet in need and has already generated more than 20 million meals to date. With the 60 million meal goal, the program is the largest philanthropic initiative in PetSmart’s 30-year history. As a point of reference, using a standard six-inch pet food bowl, 60 million meals would span from New York City to Los Angeles and back again – covering more than 5,500 miles.

Throughout the past two weeks, the first three of nearly 90 semi-trailer trucks loaded with the donated pet food were delivered to pets in need. The initial shipment included 750,000 meals of pet food split evenly between dog and cat food and was delivered to Feeding America affiliates, Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver, and Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona in Tucson. A third truck load was delivered to Rescue Bank facility, St. Paws, and adjacent shelter, National Mill Dog Rescue, in Peyton, Colo., a suburb of Colorado Springs.

The pet food meals are expected to be on the shelves of hundreds of food pantries across the Denver and Tucson metro areas, while also feeding hungry pets at rescues and shelters in the Colorado Springs region.

“We are thrilled to be getting these initial meals to pets in need across Colorado and the Southern Arizona area,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “We know pets in need are not only in shelters and rescues across North America, but also with their families who are served by food pantries and meal programs. We are pleased to work with PetSmart Charities and its partners, Feeding America and Rescue Bank, and very excited to reach pets in need in 67 additional cities across 28 states beginning in August.”

“When our partners at PetSmart shared this big idea to give back a meal for every bag purchased, we were overwhelmed by the generosity and thrilled to take on the challenge of distributing such a huge volume of pet food – an expected 60 million meals – to help pets in need across North America,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., president of PetSmart Charities. “Our organization is dedicated to helping pets in need like no other. We delivered more than $34 million in funding support directly to animal welfare organizations in 2016 alone and with this massive pet food donation with our partners, Rescue Bank and Feeding America, we look forward to the impact these meals will have on pets in need in cities across the U.S.”

PetSmart Charities™ of Canada is also partnering with four renowned animal welfare organizations in Canada to distribute the anticipated 3.6 million meals* to pets in need across the country. Canadian deliveries from the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program are expected to begin this fall.

To help PetSmart with the production of the massive amount of donated pet food, it is manufacturing the bulk of the donated pet food through its vendor partner, American Nutrition, Inc., a leading manufacturer of American-made pet food and treats. Rescue Bank distributes pet meals to its network of more than 1,900 shelter and rescue groups across the country. Pet food, especially cat food, is consistently the largest request Rescue Bank receives from its shelter and rescue partners. As well, the annual pet food budget for a shelter or rescue can be a significant line item, and the donated food can offset pet food costs and allow these nonprofit organizations to redirect the funds to help pets even more.

Feeding America is a network of 200 food banks that provides food and groceries through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs to more than 46 million Americans each year. According to Feeding America, one in seven Americans are served by its network of food banks and pantries. As well, as reported by the American Pet Products Association’s 2015-16 national pet owner survey, nearly 45 percent of the U.S. households have dogs and about 35 percent have cats as pets.

Eligible human services organizations in the U.S. that wish to be considered to receive pet food donations from PetSmart’s Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program are encouraged to connect with their local food bank using the food bank locator at www.feedingamerica.org. Animal welfare organizations are asked to apply online at www.RescueBank.org.
For more information on the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program, please visit PetSmart.com/giveameal or Petsmart.ca/giveameal in Canada.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, Pet360.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.

Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S.

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support:  Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization.  To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

About PetSmart Charities™ of Canada

PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date.  PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada, and a registered Canadian charity independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca

About Rescue Bank Rescue Bank, a Signature Program of GreaterGood.org, operates on the national food bank model to community-based animal welfare groups that typically lack access to resources. Rescue Bank recognizes that these smaller, less-visible groups represent a substantial portion of America’s animal rescue resource.

Rescue Bank works with name-brand suppliers to deliver donated pet food for both the ongoing needs of more than 1,900 animal welfare organizations and the immediate needs of communities after disasters such as hurricanes, floods and fires. Since establishing its national network in 2011, Rescue Bank has delivered over 200 million meals of nutritious, wholesome pet food.

For more information visit http://rescuebank.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/RescueBank.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Source: PetSmart, Inc.