Purina invests more than $30 million to help pets, people and the planet

The company's 2023 grant and pet food donation promotes the human-animal bond
Supporting young people's mental health

ST. LOUIS, February 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nestlé Purina Pet Care Company The belief that pets and humans are better together continues to grow throughout 2023. $30 million We support programs designed to keep people and pets connected and create partnerships that help communities and the environment thrive. In addition to funding, collaborations, and donations of Purina pet food and cat litter, the company's 10,000 employees took an active role in their communities, spending nearly 5,000 volunteer hours supporting nonprofit organizations last year. fulfilled.

Purina's philanthropic giving focuses on several important areas, including connecting pets with youth to support mental health and funding programs aimed at connecting people and pets in times of crisis. Ta. To learn more about the causes Purina supports, visit www.purina.com/partnerships.

Promote pet adoption
The number of pets in U.S.-based pet shelters increased by nearly 250,000 in 2023;¹ Petfinder, powered by Purina, hosts the world's largest database of adoptable pets and provides this technology for free to over 14,000 shelters and rescues. In 2023, Petfinder used data and insights to match an estimated 1.5 million pets with new families.

To support shelters and rescues, Purina has donated more than 10 million dollars We deliver nutritious pet food and cat litter to dozens of pet welfare partners across the country who care for adopted pets and support pet owners struggling to make ends meet.Purina also collaborated. better philanthropy Removing adoptable pets from overcrowded southern shelters pacific northwest Shelters have more space and are more likely to be adopted.

Youth mental health support
According to the report, seven of the teenagers we struggling with mental health²Purina is committed to harnessing the healing power of pets to match more therapy dogs with youth to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, lower blood pressure, and increase self-confidence.

To meet the growing demand for therapy dogs, Purina is helping to place more trained service and therapy dogs in schools and pediatric hospitals. Additionally, the company has launched a new 16-week pet therapy certification course in collaboration with Duo Dogs, a nonprofit organization that trains dogs and connects them with people with specific mental, emotional and physical needs. More than 30 Purina Associates graduated from the program last year and have since completed more than 10,000 pet therapy sessions and volunteered hundreds of hours with dogs in schools, hospitals, and youth organizations. I am. Additionally, 10 Purina employees volunteer as puppy raisers for Duo Dogs, opening their homes to train and socialize Labrador Retriever puppies and soon to receive advanced training and service placements. I'm going back to Duo Dogs.

“At Purina, we see every day how pets can seriously impact our mental health,” said Dr. julie spears, a Purina scientist who completed the DuoTouch Therapy Certification Program with her dog. “By visiting children and teens in schools and hospitals, you can play an active role in making pet therapy more accessible to young people in your community.”

Create a space where survivors and pets can heal together
Statistics show that an estimated 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime, and over 70% of domestic violence victims report that their abuser is in control. reported threatening or harming pets as a means of However, very few domestic violence shelters accept pets. Since 2019, Purina has invested in: 2 million dollars through it purple leash project We also partner with the nonprofit organization RedRover to help domestic violence shelters make the necessary changes to accept pets.

When Purina and Red Rover started this initiative, only 4 percent of shelters were accepting pets. however, purple leash projectover $500,000 With grants awarded last year alone, 18% of domestic violence shelters became pet-friendly. But there is still work to be done. Purina's goal is for at least 25% of domestic violence shelters to be pet-friendly by 2025.

Connecting veterans and service dogs
More than 3 million veterans struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Service dogs are beneficial in reducing the severity of PTSD symptoms and suicidal behavior, but the demand for these lifesaving dogs far exceeds the supply. That's why Purina is investing more than ever. $ 1,000,000 Through our Dog Chow Service Dog Salute program, we help care for and train more service dogs for veterans with PTSD at no cost to veterans.

Support for pets and people during disasters
When natural disasters strike, Purina has a history of supporting affected communities so people can evacuate their pets to safety and begin rebuilding together. Following a catastrophic situation, Hawaii Purina worked with global nonprofits during last August's wildfires better philanthropy We support immediate and long-term recovery efforts through grants and pet food donations to people, pets, and nonprofit organizations across the island.

Caring for the community and the planet
As a company with factories in 24 cities nationwide we, Purina partners with local nonprofits to make our communities better places to live and work for pets and people alike. Every May, employees are encouraged to take time off from work to volunteer in their local communities. purina cares day. In 2023, employees will log thousands of volunteer hours and service projects, from planting community gardens and distributing food to people and pets in need, to improving local dog parks and pet shelters. Did. Purina also $ 1,000,000 Support capital and capacity development projects for local nonprofit organizations in the community.

In addition to our commitment to pet health and nutrition, Purina is focused on helping create a healthier planet for generations to come. Purina supports farmers in their transition to regenerative agriculture, powers their facilities with renewable electricity, designs recyclable packaging and more to help restore the natural environment our pets love and the planet we call home. Contributing. As part of this commitment, the company supports nonprofit organizations that have a positive impact in these areas.

About Nestlé Purina Pet Care
Nestlé Purina Pet Care creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has been helping dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by providing science-based nutritional innovations. Purina makes some of the world's most trusted and popular pet care products, including Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Friskies, and Tidy Cats.Our 10,000+ we Our employees take pride in our trusted pet food, treat and litter brands that feed 46 million dogs and 68 million cats each year. More than 500 Purina scientists, veterinarians and pet care experts ensure our commitment to unparalleled quality and nutrition.

Purina promotes responsible pet care through scientific research, products and support for pet organizations. Over the past five years, Purina has donated more than $150 million to organizations that connect and keep people and pets together and help communities and the environment thrive.

Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness. For more information, visit purina.com or subscribe here for the latest Her Purina news.

¹ According to the number of animals in the shelter
²National 4-H Council 2020 survey conducted by Harris Poll.

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