Petco Foundation Invests in Caregiver Canines®

Investment of $2,000 will extend efforts to help pets and people in Ocean and Monmouth Counties live their best lives

Toms River, NJ (Oct. 25, 2020) – Caregiver Canines®, a program offered through the nonprofit agency, Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, announced it has been awarded a $2,000 grant investment from the Petco Foundation to support its in-home visiting therapy dog program.

The Petco Foundation investment will help Caregiver Canines® expand their program into more communities in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, allowing them to impact the lives of more senior citizens. This initiative will help to recruit and train more volunteer therapy dog teams and provide them with PPE which will protect all participants involved in home visits.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, therapy pet services are needed even more, so we’re grateful for the Petco Foundation’s support. As our senior citizens self-isolate, these therapy pet visits, which follow social distancing and safety guidelines, are a lifeline for them,” said Danielle Maley, Caregiver Canines® Manager.

Investments are made possible through the Petco Foundation’s annual Helping Heroes campaign, which supports shelter pets that dedicate their lives to saving and improving the lives of others. Since 2012, the Petco Foundation has invested more than $15 million to support the life-changing work of helping heroes.

Caregiver Canines®’ mission is to increase the well-being of seniors and their caregivers by matching them with a therapy dog team for visits in the comfort of their own home. The goal is to decrease loneliness and stress by providing connection, affection, comfort and joy. Since 2009, Caregiver Canines® has matched over 100 certified therapy dogs and homebound seniors for weekly visits.

For more information about Caregiver Canines®, visit caregivercanines.org. For more on the Petco Foundation, visit petcofoundation.org and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag #HelpingHeroes.

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About Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey (CVCJ)
CVCJ provides vital assistance to seniors, the elderly, disabled veterans, individuals with dementia, and caregivers of loved ones with chronic illness to allow them to remain independent in their own homes. All services are free of charge and delivered by 1,200 volunteers to over 2,500 Ocean and Monmouth County residents over the age of 60, who no longer drive. Volunteers provide transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, reassuring phone calls, friendly visits, and relief for family caregivers. The Caregiver Canines® program brings certified therapy dogs to the private residences of dog-loving seniors. To learn more about CVCJ, visit caregivervolunteers.org, Facebook @caregivervolunteers, or call 732-505-2273. For Caregiver Canines®, visit caregivercanines.org or Facebook @caregivercanines.

About the Petco Foundation
At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, we’ve invested more than $280 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. We also partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we’ve helped more than 6.5 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.