PetSmart Bird Adoption-Only Program

08-24-2007, 05:32 PM

PetSmart | Press Room | News Release

From PetSmart's Corporate Press Room:

Quote:

PetSmart Bird Adoption-Only Program Takes Flight in Minneapolis Store
Twin Cities-based bird rescue organization to facilitate groundbreaking in-store adoption program

Phoenix—August 23, 2007—Rainbow, a Bronze-wing Pionus and many of his feathered, homeless friends at Minnesota's largest shelter for homeless birds have a lot more to sing about with the opening of PetSmart's first in-store adoption-only center for companion birds.

PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM), North America's largest pet specialty retailer, and Stillwater-based Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Service (MAARS), Minnesota's largest bird shelter, adoption and education organization, have launched a groundbreaking bird adoption partnership in the St. Louis Park store. Instead of selling companion birds, the store will only provide birds for adoption in what is considered to be the first arrangement of this kind in the pet specialty retail industry.

Funded by PetSmart Charities with a $54,000 grant and occupying about 90 square feet of donated retail space, MAARS will operate a fully-staffed adoption center within the PetSmart store during regular business hours to find permanent loving homes for homeless companion birds. Prospective pet parents will be screened and educated by agency representatives on proper bird care to prevent unnecessary abandonment, neglect, abuse and surrender.

PetSmart and MAARS will host an Adoption Information Celebration Saturday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the St. Louis Park PetSmart. MAARS staff and PetSmart associates will be available to answer questions, counsel prospective adopters and assist customers with appropriate choices from the wide selection of bird-related products. The store is located at 5640 Cedar Lake Road on the Southwest corner of Highway 100 & Interstate 394.

Birds of many sizes and species have been individually selected for adoption through the partnership program including Finches, Lovebirds, Cockatiels, Budgerigars (Parakeets), Doves, Quaker (Monk) Parrots (Parakeets) and other small parrot species. Consistent with PetSmart's Vet Assured program, birds available for adoption through MAARS undergo a precautionary 30-day quarantine, have been thoroughly examined by an attending veterinarian and are tested for infectious disease. Pet Parents also will find a supply of bird cages, food and accessories in the store.

“We are pleased PetSmart is taking a leadership role in addressing the needs of displaced captive birds, which have been relinquished or abandoned, and deserve loving homes capable of the commitment that living with a bird requires”, said Eileen McCarthy, CEO of MAARS. “We are honored to be part of this groundbreaking test program.” MAARS will continue to have adoptable birds available at its St. Louis Park shelter.

“We are extremely proud to be partnering with MAARS, which is one of the premiere bird shelter and adoption organizations in the country. MAARS has a great capability to provide healthy, adoptable pets and serve as an educational resource for prospective pet parents. With them, we will make great strides in our efforts to save lives of homeless pets,” said Julie Schmaltz, PetSmart adoption operations manager.

All adoption agencies who partner with PetSmart receive 100 percent of the adoption proceeds and PetSmart Charities pays an additional $5, $10, or $15 grant to each partner agency for every animal adopted in a PetSmart store. In partnership with PetSmart Charities and adoption agencies nationwide, PetSmart earlier this year adopted out its 3 millionth pet.

More information about bird adoptions and fees can be found at Untitled Document. For information about the PetSmart adoption program, visit PetSmart Charities.

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company operates more than 928 pet stores in the United States and Canada, a growing number of in-store PetsHotel cat and dog boarding facilities, and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (PetSmart - Pet supplies and pet products for healthier, happier pets ). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers complete pet training, pet grooming, pet boarding, doggie day camp and pet adoption services. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization, has donated more than $52 million to animal welfare programs and, through its in-store pet adoption programs, has saved the lives of more than 3 million pets.

The MAARS mission is to promote the welfare and protection of captive parrots and other birds through quality captive bird care, placement, advocacy and public education. Based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MAARS was founded in July 1999 to assist displaced captive birds by providing shelter, veterinary medical care, behavioral rehabilitation and placement. As a pioneer and leader in its field, MAARS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and the busiest parrot welfare organization in the country. Since opening its doors, MAARS has improved the lives of countless captive birds because of its professional, internationally recognized public education, outreach and advocacy programs.

Media Contact: Jessica Douglas PetSmart
Media Line (623) 587-2177

Eileen McCarthy Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services, Inc.
(612) 850-6797

08-24-2007, 05:50 PM

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“We are pleased PetSmart is taking a leadership role in addressing the needs of displaced captive birds, which have been relinquished or abandoned, and deserve loving homes capable of the commitment that living with a bird requires”

This is excellent news! Let's hope this catches on. IMO, the second chance birds need all the helping hands they can get. I was so glad to see that MAARS will be overseeing the adoptions and education. MAARS has an excellent Policies, Procedures & Protocol in place so I am sure when they screen a prospective new family these birds will be going to excellent homes.

08-24-2007, 06:18 PM

It is a hopeful development, as you say Karen, let's hope this catches on. This is just the sort of positive program that should be getting pitched to corporations of this sort. Naturally, their motives are not altogether "altruistic", and for them to continue and expand something like this, they will want to see success, and part of that means they have to get positive input from the public about the program. Not to say that pressure shouldn't be applied as well, but they should also be recognized when they do something right.

08-24-2007, 06:25 PM

I know the lady who has been helping to move this along, this has been in the works for a while, and is a trial to see how it goes. If it goes well than all the petsmarts will follow suit with local parrot rescues.

08-24-2007, 06:37 PM

Hmm...I guess I'll be going there tomorrow, assuming I can get either dh or a friend to go with me. I am no fan of MAARS, so it's probably better that I not go alone.
Thanks for posting the info!

wendy

08-24-2007, 06:56 PM

May I ask why you are not a fan of MAARS? Just curious that's all. The lady I know, I know from online and she is great. But I know nothing about MARRS it self.

08-24-2007, 07:14 PM

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Originally Posted by kimba

May I ask why you are not a fan of MAARS? Just curious that's all. The lady I know, I know from online and she is great. But I know nothing about MARRS it self.

I'll PM you with info. I don't think "bashing" them here is the best idea...

w.

08-25-2007, 03:56 AM

I worked for PetSmart a few years back for about 5 years and although I don't agree that stores like this should be selling the larger parrots I must say that in their defense PetSmart Charities is an upstanding charity. Unlike some others that I will not name 100% of all donations collected through their various fund drives goes to the charities. what ever it may be. So I think this is a good thing not only are they recognizing the need but doing their part to help.