LifeLine Animal Project Gets $1.5 Million Grant from Petco

DECATUR, GA -- LifeLine Animal Project, which runs animal services in DeKalb and Fulton counties, has received a $1.5 million grant from Petco.

The Petco Foundation's Lifesaving Impact Grant to Lifeline is the biggest grant it has ever given, and is meant to further LifeLine's goal of ending euthanasia for healthy and treatable animals in county shelters.

LifeLine took over management of DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services in 2013, and in less than a year reduced euthanasia rates by more than 50% at both shelters while achieving record numbers of pet adoptions.

Petco made the gift official with a check presentation at Fulton County Animal Services on Tuesday.

LifeLine is a nonprofit founded in 2002. In addition to DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services, LifeLine operates a private rehabilitation center and two spay-and-neuter clinics. LifeLine cares for more than 27,000 animals annually and has performed more than 90,000 free spay/neuter surgeries.

The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization associated with the popular pet retail chain, has invested more than $135 million since it was created in 1999 to promote and improve animal welfare.

The retail chain, with more than 1,430 locations, and foundation work together and, through in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 400,000 animals every year.