Stella & Chewy's in Oak Creek is temporarily reimbursing senior pet adoption fees from any shelter across the U.S. and Canada
During November, anyone can adopt a senior dog or cat for free.
Oak Creek-based Stella & Chewy’s is reimbursing up to $80,000 of fees for all adoptions of dogs and cats five years or older from any shelter across the United States and Canada.
Additionally, thanks to a partnership with Pilots To The Rescue, senior pets will be flown to more “adoptable cities to help them find forever homes,” Stella & Chewy’s said in an Oct. 27 news release.
"When I was first introduced to Stella & Chewy's, I knew our joint missions of rescuing senior pets would make a great impact on the lives of these amazing animals, but also the families bringing them home," said Michael Schneider, founder of Pilots To The Rescue. "I'm honored to be working together this year to kick start National Adopt a Senior Pet Month by transporting senior animals to new cities in hopes of adoption."
Reimbursements are made through www.stellaandchewys.com/adopt. In addition to reimbursing the fees, the company is including a $40 voucher for Stella & Chewy’s products. The average cost to adopt an animal is $263, based on what Stella & Chewy’s has seen over the course of the program.
Marie Moody, the founder of Stella & Chewy’s, named the company after her two rescue dogs.
"Stella & Chewy's has long placed a focus on senior pet adoption, but this year we're overjoyed to be taking things even further by not only eliminating the barrier of the cost of adoption but also making senior pets more accessible by our work with Pilots To The Rescue,” she said.
Moody said rescuing an animal, as opposed to outright purchasing one, is something people should consider when looking for a new pet because rescue animals might “fit the profile they are looking for.”
“It’s actually hard to not take them all home,” she said. “At some level, I think they know they are rescued, and they are really amazing pets.”
Why adopt a senior pet? Moody said since they are full-grown there are no sizing surprises, they are often already housebroken, more self-sufficient, less destructive and tend to be calmer.
“They don’t have that puppy energy,” she said. “Senior pets are often overlooked, and people are missing opportunities if they pass these animals by.”
Stella & Chewy’s has helped over 650 senior pets find homes and reimbursed over $200,000 in pet adoption fees since the National Adopt a Senior Pet Month campaign began in 2019. The effort is part of the Journey Home Fund, which works to bring awareness to senior pet adoption issues and ensure good nutrition for shelter animals.
Senior dogs have a 25% adoption rate compared to the 60% adoption rate for younger dogs, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Stella & Chewy’s suggests those interested in becoming parents of a senior pet check out the Humane Animal Welfare Society, the Elmbrook Humane Society and the Wisconsin Humane Society.
Stella & Chewy's was founded in 2003 and offers natural pet food such as frozen patties and morsels, freeze-dried dinners and meal mixers, baked kibble, stews, broths and treats.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at (262) 875-9467 or erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Stella & Chewy's in Oak Creek to reimburse senior pet adoption fees
