THE VAN IS ON IT’S WAY!!!

PWSPCA Awarded $154,565 PETCO Grant for New Multi-Purpose Mobile Pet Adoption Van

As a Board Member of The Prince William SPCA I am thrilled to announce that it is the recipient of a $154,565 PETCO Foundation Extraordinary Gift that will be used to purchase and maintain a 26’ Multi-purpose Mobile Pet Adoption Van. The grant proposal included the request for a custom-built van that primarily will be used to increase adoptions of pets at the Prince William County Animal Shelter. The van will also assist in relief efforts of companion animals in crisis and serve as a transport vehicle to a spay/neuter facility. The grant was submitted as a joint partnership between the Prince William SPCA and the Prince William County Animal Shelter. Prince William SPCA Board Members wrote the successful grant application that secured the funding for the van.

The PETCO Foundation was looking for proposals that were creative, increased connections with their local community and local PETCOs, employed innovation, and most importantly enhanced the lives of animals in alignment with the goals of the PETCO Foundation. In an e-mail to the PWSPCA confirming the award, Paul Jolly, Executive Director of the PETCO Foundation, stated, “Congratulations. The competition for funding was intense, but your request impressed us all.” “We are thrilled that the Prince William SPCA been chosen for this grant, which will bring animals out of the shelter and into the community to find potential adopters,” states Prince William SPCA President Melissa Korzuch. She adds, “We thank the PETCO Foundation for their generosity in providing us with this grant, which opens up so many opportunities for the shelter pets to gain exposure and ultimately find a home. It is a perfect example of how municipal shelters and nonprofits can work together to improve the lives of companion animals.

We look forward to welcoming this van as a mobile billboard promoting shelter pet adoption. This is fantastic news for our county, our citizens and our animals.” The van will have the capacity to hold approximately 26 animals, have roll doors that allow the animals to be viewed from the outside and have walk-in capability for potential adopters to meet the pets in the van. The grant covers the cost of the van plus five years of maintenance and administrative costs. Additional expenses after the first five years will be provided through fundraising efforts. Plans are underway to develop a schedule for weekly adoption shows and appearances at various community events, festivals and at PETCO stores in the Northern Virginia area. The Prince William SPCA estimates that the van will be delivered by November of 2011 and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be scheduled some time before the holidays.