Changing Lives: One Paw at a Time

At PetSmart, we believe in the power of giving back to our communities because we love pets and the people who love them. We're making a difference every day through impactful programs, passionate associates, and unwavering support for pets and families. From the incredible work of PetSmart Charities to our dedicated associates’ volunteer efforts, here’s how we’re coming together to create meaningful change—one paw at a time.

How PetSmart Gives Back

PetSmart Charities

Every 40 seconds, a pet finds a loving home through adoption at a PetSmart store. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities has become North America's leading funder of animal welfare, granting over $500 million to organizations that transform lives. Through partnerships with over 2,000 shelters and rescues, we've helped 11 million pets find families and provided critical support to keep pets and their people together.

• Connecting People and Pets: With adoption centers in nearly 1,700 stores, we provide safe spaces for pets to meet their forever families. In 2023, PetSmart Charities invested more than $18M to help 370,417 pets find loving homes. We also offer free training sessions for dogs adopted at PetSmart to ensure they thrive in their new homes.

  
  

• Supporting Families in Need: Through partnerships with Feeding America and Meals on Wheels, PetSmart Charities is addressing pet food insecurity. We also launched Pet Hunger Awareness Day in 2023 to increase awareness of the issue with the general public. In addition, through a partnership with the American Red Cross, we are focused on providing disaster relief for pets and their families. In 2023 alone, PetSmart Charities granted: 

  -              10.9M pounds of pet food donated to support food insecurity programs

  -              $750K+ donated to support emergency disaster relief

• Expanding Access to Veterinary Care: In 2023, PetSmart Charities pledged a $100 million investment to eliminate barriers to veterinary care, ensuring all pets can thrive regardless of geographic or financial challenges.

Meet Sammy (formerly known as Goofball 🤪)! PetSmart’s 11 millionth adoption!

National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 to recognize volunteer service's impact and volunteers' power in our communities. At PetSmart, we're proud to have activated our associates for the first time to celebrate this memorable week!  Between April 22-26, over 200 of our associates across Phoenix, Canada Home Office, and Only Natural Pet showed up in service to 17 different non-profit organizations, donating over 500 hours of volunteer time.

With a focus on Happy and Healthy Pets, Empowered People, and Responsible Stewardship, our associates supported causes related to pet and human health and well-being, food insecurity, housing and homelessness, education and literacy, workforce development, and protecting the planet.

We empower our associates to give back in the communities we serve through our paid volunteer time benefit, helping them to support the causes they care about most. In 2023 alone, PetSmart associates donated more than $500,000 in value of volunteerism in communities across the U.S. and Canada!

United Together, we made a meaningful difference in our communities and for pets and the people who love them, all while strengthening our bond as a PetSmart team. {volunteer 2024 associate photo collage}

Annual Be the Difference Campaign

PetSmart’s two-week Be the Difference campaign inspires our more than 55,000 associates to come together each year to give their time and treasure. The campaign truly embodies our values of being United Together and having a Passion for Pets and People.

This year, our associates raised an impressive $1.8 million to support the impactful work of the PetSmart Associate Assistance Foundation (PAAF), PetSmart Charities, and United Way chapters across the country.

In addition to providing financial support, we expanded our volunteer efforts across our offices and Distribution Centers, building partnerships with six additional United Way chapters. Together, our associates:

• Assembled over 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies for local schools.

• Donated books to complete three classroom libraries.

• Packed 2,000 hygiene kits for those experiencing homelessness.

• Crafted more than 1,000 enrichment toys and treats for pets at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.

These incredible achievements showcase the power of teamwork and generosity. Our associates’ dedication proves that change starts with you—together, we’re making a real difference in the lives of pets, people, and communities.

We know that every act of kindness, every hour volunteered, and every dollar donated creates ripples of positive change through #LifeAtPetSmart and beyond. Together, through PetSmart Charities and programs like National Volunteer Week and our Be the Difference campaign, we’re not just supporting pets and their people—we’re building stronger communities, fostering hope, and bringing our values to life every single day.

Whether helping a family keep their beloved pet, providing relief to communities in crisis, or celebrating our 11 millionth adoption, every effort matters. And as we look to the future, we remain committed to making an even more significant impact—one paw, one person, and one moment at a time.

Thank you to our associates, volunteers, and partners for embodying what it means to be United Together and driven by a Passion for Pets and People. Together, we’re changing lives—and the future has never looked brighter. 🐾 ❤️