May 16, 2023— Asheville, NC– Asheville Humane Society (AHS) has received a grant from PetSmart Charities®  in the amount of $120,000 to address challenges in accessing veterinary care in Emma and the Greater Deaverview/Deaverview Apartment Communities.

Rising costs combined with geographical and cultural barriers have left many communities out of the veterinary care system altogether. This grant program supports innovative and culturally relevant veterinary programs.

Early in 2023, PetSmart Charities, the top funder of animal welfare in the US, announced a $100 million commitment over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care. One of these visionary new grant programs focuses on historically excluded communities, many of which lack access to food, housing, transportation, education and veterinary services. Latino communities were selected to comprise the first cohort of grantee emphasis.

“Asheville Humane is committed to fostering healthier, happier lives for pets, regardless of what language their owner speaks,” says Adam Cotton, director of community solutions, the community outreach department of AHS. “With this generous grant from PetSmart Charities, we will be able to increase accessibility to affordable veterinary services to specifically assist Latino pet owners in these two neighborhoods, taking significant steps toward ensuring that all pets in our county have access to the essential care they need.”

“Most people today consider pets family, yet 50 million pets in the US struggle to access even basic preventative care such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations and annual exams,” said Kate Atema, director of community grants and initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “While this issue affects families in nearly every community, those who have been historically excluded from human social services are most in need of pet services, too. We’re proud to support this innovative approach that meets the unique needs identified by those living in the communities themselves.”

About Asheville Humane Society

Since 1984, Asheville Humane Society has been dedicated to ensuring every animal has the quality of life they deserve – a life worth living. Now, we go beyond our walls to help create a more humane community for pets and the people who love them.

Asheville Humane Society is a local, independent nonprofit not affiliated with the Humane Society of the United States.

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps up to 400,000 pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter and disaster response. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart® stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Media Contact:

Sarah Stapleton

Asheville Humane Society Digital Marketing Manager

sstapleton@ashevillehumane.org

719-645-0977

 24-Hour PetSmart Charities

Media Line:  623-587-2177