Yancey Humane Society is set to receive a $12,000 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love during a special celebration at Petco, 962 Merrimon Ave., Asheville on June 23, 2022 at 11 A.M. in support of their lifesaving work for animals in Yancey County. The grant will help cover veterinary costs for pets of Yancey County residents living on low incomes.
Petco Love is a national nonprofit leading change for pets by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has invested $330 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And Petco Love helps find loving homes for pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations — like Yancey Humane Society — across North America, with 6.5 million pets adopted and counting.
“Our investment in Yancey Humane Society is part of more than $15M in investments recently announced by Petco Love to power local organizations across the country as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “Our local investments are only part of our strategy to empower animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us. We recently celebrated the one-year launch anniversary of Petco Love Lost, a national lost and found database that uses pet facial recognition technology to simplify the search for lost pets.”
“This generous grant from Petco Love will help some of our county’s most vulnerable residents care for their beloved pets and provide them with live saving veterinary treatments,” said Renee Tomberlin, YHS’s Executive Director.
Yancey Humane Society (YHS), also known as Yancey County Humane Society, was founded in 1984 and cares for some 2,000 animals a year. Its vision is for all companion animals to live free of cruelty and suffering in a community where their lives are valued by responsible guardians.
According to the U.S. Census, roughly one in five Yancey County residents lives below the federal poverty line. YHS regularly receives urgent requests for veterinary help for animals owned by county residents who are unable to afford to get their pets treated for serious injuries and illnesses, including broken bones, open wounds, mange, parvovirus and other life-threatening conditions, as well as routine procedures such as vaccines and spay/neuter surgeries.
With a dedicated fund to help cover the costs of needed veterinary care for animals owned by community members living on low incomes, YHS will be able to alleviate the suffering of many of these animals and ensure that residents are able to retain their pets in their homes and reap the benefits of their companionship for years to come. YHS believes that by helping loving pet owners provide needed veterinary care for their animals, both people and animals in Yancey County will benefit. Pets will enjoy improved health and longer lives; their owners will benefit from the companionship, love and social interaction their pets bring to their lives; and more animals will be retained in their homes and kept out of the shelter system.
YHS will make this program available to those on government assistance and will consider other requests based on demonstrated financial need. By assisting economically disadvantaged residents with urgently needed veterinary care and spay/neuter surgeries for their pets, YHS can make a significant impact on the quality of life of some of Yancey County’s most vulnerable residents and their pets, reduce the incidence of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens being born, and prevent the grief and isolation that would result from residents having to relinquish ownership of their beloved animal companions.
