PetSmart gives $450K to Children's Health

PetSmart is teaming up with Children’s Health to help fund its pet therapy program, which will provide thousands of patients with access to canine comfort teams.

PetSmart Paws for Hope at Children’s Health is starting off with a commitment of$425,000 from PetSmart over five years.

“At PetSmart, we know the power of pets and their ability to help kids heal,” said David Lenhardt, president and CEO of PetSmart. “Partnerships, like this one with Children’s Health, make a world of difference to those in the hospital. I look forward to watching this program grow as it continues to positively impact even more lives.”

Support from PetSmart will allow Children’s Health to grow its volunteer canine therapy program from only three hours each week to a professionally staffed, full-time program. The funding has already enabled the addition of two new full-time facility dogs, Van and Blair, and the training of 18 new pet therapy volunteers.

“Our pet therapy teams play a very special role here at Children’s Health. The impact the volunteers and therapy dogs make when they walk into a patient’s room is truly remarkable,” said Dr. Kern Wildenthal, president of Children’s Medical Center Foundation. “Interacting with a therapy animal bestows positive physical and mental benefits to patients. We are very grateful to PetSmart for its support, and for its recognition of this vital program that comforts so many of our young patients, families, guests and staff."

This is the sixth national partnership of its kind between PetSmart and a hospital pet therapy program. Existing programs include Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Orlando Health, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, SickKids Hospital Toronto and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

In 2012, PetSmart teamed up with Phoenix Children's Hospital to sponsor its first animal-assisted therapy program, PetSmart Paws Can Heal. The initial launch was such a success that PetSmart expanded the program to hospitals throughout the country with the creation of the PetSmart Paws for Hope in 2014. The program creates additional pet therapy teams in hospitals and allows for more daily visits from a therapy animal for each patient.

Additionally, the program provides support for the patients and their families. PetSmart plans to expand this program into at least three new hospitals across the country every year, with Hospital Auxilio Mutuo in Puerto Rico and Seattle Children’s Hospital kicking off later this year.