PEDIGREE Foundation Accepting 2013 Innovation and Operation Grant Applications To Help More Dogs Find Loving Homes

Grants Help Fund Creative Programs and Basic Operation Costs Aimed at Increasing Dog Adoption

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Apr 30, 2013, 02:44 ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PEDIGREEFoundation announced that 2013 grant applications will be accepted from non-profit, tax-exempt animal shelters and dog rescue groups for Innovation and Operation Grants. Application forms will be available on the Foundation's website at www.pedigreefoundation.org – starting April 30, 2013 for Innovation Grants and May 1, 2013 for Operation Grants.

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Innovation Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000 and are awarded to qualifying organizations based on demonstrated use of creative programs aimed at increasing dog adoptions. The grant application process requires animal shelters and dog rescues to provide a detailed plan of action and must include a program objective, detailed strategy, projected budget and measures of success.

Last year the Foundation awarded 11 Innovation Grants. One of those winners, Panhandle Animal Shelter, demonstrated this creativity with its social media-focused adoption programs. The shelter engages high school students in the adoption process by teaching them the fundamentals of social media and how it relates to business, while using shelter animals as their subjects.

Operation Grants provide financial assistance to shelters and rescues to help promote pet adoption. The Operation Grants help save one dog at a time by providing $1,000 grants to help fund shelter needs. These individual grants have been awarded to thousands of 501(c)(3) organizations across the country, and can be used for any basic operating cost. The total funding of Operation Grants is $150,000.

"PEDIGREE Foundation continually looks for ways to help dogs find forever homes," said Debra Fair, PEDIGREE Foundation president. "The grant program allows us to learn about animal shelters and dog rescue groups who are leading out-of-the box thinking and developing innovative programs. With our shared goal of increasing awareness and adoption of homeless dogs, we can team up to help more animal shelters and dog rescue groups reach their adoption goals."

PEDIGREE Foundation will select qualifying applicants whose program goals and objectives align with the mission of helping dogs find loving homes. PEDIGREE Foundation encourages animal shelters and rescue organizations to look to staff supporters and their local community for inspiration, and consider existing events that have been successful for other nonprofit organizations.

For a list of previous grant recipients and complete set of guidelines on how to apply, visit www.pedigreefoundation.org. The deadline for submitting Innovation and Operation Grant applications is June 30, 2013.

Innovation Grant Success Stories
Last year, PEDIGREE Foundation awarded the following groups grant money to build lifelong bonds between people and animals and find new ways to help increase dog adoptions. The 2012 Innovation Grants winners include:

Aiken County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals – Aiken, SC
Austin Pets Alive – Austin, TX
Friends of the Shelter, Inc. – Ponderay, ID
Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County Inc – Waukesha, WI
Mayor's Alliance For NYC's Animals - New York, NY
Nevada Humane Society, Inc. – Reno, NV
Scott County Humane Society, Inc. – Georgetown, KY
Take Me Home - Santa Monica, CA
Tennessee Humane Animal League – Chattanooga, TN
Valley Animal Center – Fresno, CA
Wisconsin Humane Society – Milwaukee, WI

About PEDIGREE Foundation
Created in 2008 and headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., PEDIGREE Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping dogs in need find loving homes by supporting the good work of shelters and dog rescue organizations throughout the country.

The foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) shelters and dog rescue organizations nationwide and encourages dog lovers to adopt, volunteer and donate to support the cause. Since 2008, more than $5 million has been granted to help more than 1,100 shelters and rescues. For more information about PEDIGREE Foundation, log on to www.pedigreefoundation.org.

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SOURCE PEDIGREE Foundation