The Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center received a $5,000 grant from the Petco Foundation's Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign and the top prize for People's Choice Award of $25,000. The grant and the award were given following a story Marilyn Wheaton submitted about Ginny, the dog she rescued in 2009. Once she adopted Ginny, Marilyn was inspired to choose a new career path in animal welfare, which led her from a volunteer with the then Montgomery County Animal Shelter to an employee at the now Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center.
"Marilyn and Ginny are just one example of many lives – both human and furry – that have been changed in a positive way thanks to the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center. I'm thankful the Petco Foundation sees value in their beautiful story," said Mary Biggs, member of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.
"When I first dreamed of the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center over 20 years ago, it was my hope that it would become a positive fixture in our community. A place that our citizens would rally to support and where collaboration would be a daily reality. It brings me great pride and joy to know that is exactly what has happened! Now, thanks to the money the Animal Care and Adoption Center is receiving from the Petco Foundation, we can continue to achieve our mission of education, community and adoption," said Biggs.
This year, the Petco Foundation announced 51 Holiday Wishes grant recipients from across the country for a total of $755,000 in grant awards to support the year-round lifesaving efforts of these animal welfare organizations. In addition, the Petco Foundation introduced the People's Choice Award, which allowed the public to vote for their favorite winning story and give the top five organizations the chance to receive additional grant funding from $5,000 to $25,000.
Once the voting began for the People's Choice Award, the Montgomery County community responded in a big way! So much so, that Marilyn and Ginny's story received the top People's Choice Award of $25,000!
"We know that winning the People's Choice Award would not have been possible had it not been for our community rallying to support us yet again," said Eileen Mahan, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center.
"We are looking forward to using the money from the Petco Foundation to further our mission of education, adoption, and community by expanding our surgical wing and purchasing supplies for the homeless pets in our care."
To read Marilyn and Ginny's story, visit www.petcofoundation.org/love-story/adopted-dog-inspires-college-student-to-work-in-animal-welfare.
About the Petco Foundation
At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, we've invested more than $230 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we've helped more than 5.5 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.