BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland SPCA has received a $20,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to support Baltimore-area pet parents economically impacted by the pandemic.
Many families with pets are struggling to afford health care and food for their animals. That leads some to determine they have no option but to surrender their beloved pets to shelters.
With this grant, the MD SPCA will provide free vaccine clinics to help people keep their dogs and cats. Three clinics have been held already. In September, the MD SCPA provided exams, vaccines, heartworm tests, ear cleaning, and nail trimming to 180 pets from 98 families. Each family also received a bag of food for their pets. In October, the MD SPCA will visit under-resourced neighborhoods to help pet parents who lack transportation.
The MD SPCA will also provide pet food assistance through its Kibble Connection food pantry under this grant. Since March, the food pantry has helped 2,000 people and 5,000 pets. PetSmart Charities’ support will ensure this work continues.
“The Maryland SPCA’s mission is to improve pets’ and people’s lives. There’s no better way to do this than helping families keep their pets during hard times,” said Katie Flory, community relations director at the MD SPCA. “The clinics and food assistance made possible by this grant will enable families to meet their pets’ needs.”
“For more than a decade, PetSmart Charities has partnered with the Maryland SPCA to serve as a vital resource for Baltimore pets and their people,” said Kelly Balthazor, regional relationship manager at the national charity. “This work ensures pets receive nutrition and essential care, especially during the uncertainty of the pandemic.”
Since 1994, through its partnership with nearly 4,000 humane societies, SPCAs, and pet rescues across North America, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 9.3 million pets to find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 1,600 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $430 million to improve access to veterinary care, to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets, and to help preserve families through initiatives like this with the MD SPCA.
