At PetSmart Charities, we know how pervasive pet homelessness is. Millions of pets are abandoned, surrendered, or neglected each year. That’s why it’s so important to support animal rescues that make a difference.
In Connecticut, Pack Leaders Rescue was selected to receive a PetSmart Charities grant. According to Tori Cateni, executive director of Pack Leaders Rescue, the grant will empower them to do more good work.
“Our mission is to save the lives of dogs and cats, both locally and from the South, that have been abandoned, abused, or neglected,” she says. “We prepare them for a forever home through the three branches of our organization.”
Will Travel for Pets in Need
What sets Pack Leader Rescue apart from other organizations is their willingness and ability to travel across state lines to help pets in need.
“Our transport service and behavioral training program allow us to rescue, evaluate, and rehabilitate animals, and we place these animals into forever homes through our rescue program,” says Cateni.
With the support of companies like PetSmart, Pack Leaders Rescue was able to add a transport vehicle to its resources.
“We have saved over 500 more animals this year alone with the new transport vehicle and donations,” says Cateni. “We have been able to travel to Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee almost weekly.”
Expanding Efforts to Save More Lives
The grant will be used to expand their efforts further south.
“We are looking to create another transport RV vehicle to go to Georgia and Florida to save animals weekly from Kill Shelters,” says Cateni.
The hurricane season placed a huge burden on the rescue. They took in 37 cats from Myrtle Beach before the hurricane hit. They all needed veterinary care, but there was no time to get to them all before the hurricane made landfall. Instead, they were brought north and vetted in Connecticut. Thanks to the transport vehicles, those cats will go to their forever homes.
“We have been so blessed to partner with Petsmart,” says Cateni.
