The Petco Foundation is donating more than $2.5 million to train and place former shelter dogs to support veterans with physical or emotional disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “Many veterans have shared their stories with us about how their service and support canines have changed or saved their lives,” said Susanne Kogut, Petco Foundation president. “We are honored to provide the vital support necessary to ensure more veterans are able to receive a trained canine companion to help them through the challenges they face when they return home to civilian life.” The foundation’s largest investment will be a $2 million commitment to K9s for Warriors, the country’s largest provider of service dogs for American veterans. The donation is being made through the foundation's annual Helping Heroes campaign. “This donation will be the cornerstone of our national expansion and will be the difference in our ability to carry out our mission of rescuing dogs and training them to be life saving service dogs for disabled American veterans,” said Rory Diamond, CEO of K9s For Warriors. The Petco Foundation concluded its 2018 Helping Heroes campaign in partnership with Merrick Pet Care last month. Since 2009, the annual campaign has helped provide more than $14 million to support working, service, and therapy animals across the country.
