PetSmart Canada to help fund pet therapy program for kids

PetSmart has partnered with SickKids Foundation to assist with funding the pet therapy program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada. The program is designed to provide thousands of patients with access to canine comfort teams.

PetSmart Paws for Hope at SickKids kicked off yesterday with a commitment of $500,000 over the next five years. In addition to the pet therapy program, funds will support the Possibilities Fund which helps support the most urgent needs of the hospital as they arise. This is the first sponsorship of its kind for PetSmart in Canada.

“Pets comfort us when we need them the most. Through PetSmart Paws for Hope at SickKids, we have the opportunity to help more patients experience the supportive power of pets,” said John DeFranco, president, PetSmart Canada. “We are proud to partner with SickKids to help fund their pet therapy program and look forward to watching this unique life-changing program grow.”

SickKids provide lifesaving care for more than 100.000 families across Canada each year. The PetSmart Paws for Hope program will create additional pet therapy teams in the hospital and allow for more daily visits from a therapy animal for each patient. Therapeutic dogs play a big part in helping patients by motivating them to perform their physiotherapy and comforting them by reducing stress and anxieties.

This funding has also helped to achieve a pet reading program where patients read to therapy dogs while in the hospital. The program is currently in development and is believed to be the first undertaking of its kind.

“We appreciate the immense support that PetSmart is giving to our Pet Therapy program,” said Susan O’Dowd, vp, human resources, SickKids. “We’ve seen first-hand the unique capacity of pets to provide comfort and support and thanks to this sponsorship, this supportive power will have a significant impact on the many patients and families here at SickKids.”

Along with supporting the pet therapy program within the hospital, PetSmarthas also brought the power of pets to the SickKids signature family fundraising event, the Canaccord Genuity Great Camp Adventure Walk, which took place on September 27, 2014. This marked the first time ever that four-legged family members were welcome to join the festivities.