National nonprofit Petco Love, in partnership with BOBS from Skechers, has launched the 2024-2025 Petco Love Stories campaign. Pet adopters across the nation, including those in Oakdale, Riverbank, and Escalon, are invited to share their inspiring stories of how their adopted pets have transformed their lives for the better.
The Petco Love Stories campaign is a celebration of the unique love adopted pets share with us and the profound ways their love changes our lives. By sharing these heartfelt stories, pet parents can not only highlight the joy and companionship their adopted pets bring but also support their local animal welfare organizations like the ASTRO Foundation, which services the three communities. Winning Love Stories will earn significant grants for the shelters and rescues where the pets were adopted, thanks to Petco Love and its partner, BOB from Skechers. Earlier this year, the groups awarded over $500,000 to animal welfare partners across the country in celebration of the 2023-2024 Petco Love Stories winners.
Through this campaign, Petco Love and its partners are celebrating the unique ways adopted pets change our lives for the better, inspiring more pet adoptions and empowering animal welfare organizations to save more pet lives. This year’s campaign introduces new submission formats to engage even more pet lovers. Participants can submit their Love Story in written form and/or share a link to a public-facing social media video. This new format allows adopters to creatively express the unique ways their pets have impacted their lives.
“Every pet adoption story highlights the incredible impact of love and companionship,” said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. “Through Petco Love Stories, we aim to honor these exceptional bonds and inspire more individuals to welcome shelter pets into their lives.”
“Sharing your adoption story not only celebrates the special bond you’ve formed with your furry friend, but it also helps shine a spotlight on the transformative power of rescue,” said Megan Scoullar, Director of Adoption Services for the ASTRO Foundation. “Each story submitted helps us advocate for more support and funding to continue saving lives and finding loving homes. Your love story can inspire others to adopt, donate, or volunteer, amplifying our collective impact on the lives of pets in need.”
Submissions for Petco Love Stories are open to individuals ages 18 and older, or those younger with parental consent. In 500 words or less, participants can share their Love Story along with photos or videos of their adopted pet. Submissions close at 11:59 p.m. (CST) on Sept. 30, 2024. Visit https://petcolove.org/adopt/love-stories/ to submit your story.
For more information about the program, contact Megan Scoullar, ASTRO Foundation, (209) 604-2649, megan@astrofoundation.org or Crystal Bugary, Petco Love, media@petcolove.org.
The ASTRO Foundation was founded in 2012 and is dedicated to rescuing homeless cats and dogs in the local area. The ASTRO Adoption Center is at 157 N. Fifth Ave., Oakdale and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The ASTRO Thrift & Gift Shop is located at 250 E. E St., in Oakdale, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; all proceeds from the shop benefit the group’s rescue animals.
Since 2013, more than 25,000 adopters have shared their stories through the Petco Love Stories campaign, with $8 million in grants awarded to animal welfare organizations across the country. These stories highlight the many ways shelter pets enrich our lives and underscore the importance of pet adoption.
Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, the organization has empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $400 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. They have helped find loving homes for more than 6.9 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide.
