A New Furry Family Member Could Make this an A+ Back-to-School Season
Wednesday, 11 September 2019 02:24.PM
- PetSmart Charities® of Canada to host National Adoption Weekend Sept. 13-15 in PetSmart® Stores Across Canada. -
(PetSmart Charities) - From backpacks and homework to fresh new sneakers, back-to-school season is here and one thing many parents and teachers may not think about are the many mental and physical benefits of having a pet in the home or classroom.
PetSmart Charities of Canada, the leading funder of animal welfare, advocates for the many benefits the human-animal relationship offers both children and adults. During PetSmart Charities of Canada's National Adoption Weekend Sept. 13-15, potential adoptees are encouraged to consider how adopting a pet could benefit the entire family or even a classroom.
According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), a non-profit industry research and education group, research demonstrates the positive influence pets have on a child's physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.
- Classroom pets improve students' attitudes toward school and have facilitated students learning lessons in responsibility, respect and empathy
- Scientific research has demonstrated the positive impact of early exposure to pets on the development of allergies and asthma later in life
- For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) the presence of companion animals improved positive social behaviors, including becoming more receptive to social advances from peers
"As a parent, I've seen the abundant benefits owning a pet can have on a child's development both mentally and emotionally," said Amanda Landis-Hanna, DVM, senior manager of veterinary outreach at PetSmart Charities. "Pets help teach children compassion, empathy and respect for all living things. They've also been shown to reduce stress levels, especially in children with special needs."
PetSmart Charities is doing its part to strengthen this bond, providing grants supporting nearly 4,000 animal welfare organizations across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico to provide shelter, socialization and veterinary care to homeless pets to prepare them for adoption. PetSmart and its non-profit partner have worked together for 25 years to find loving homes for over 8.5 million pets and counting through its in-store adoption program during National Adoption Weekends held in Feb., May, Sept. and Nov., as well as every day at the PetSmart Charities of Canada's Everyday Adoption Centres located in stores.
PetSmart Charities of Canada's National Adoption Weekend Details:
September 13-15, hundreds of animal welfare organizations will bring a host of adoptable shelter pets, including dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, and various small pets, into nearly every PetSmart store across Canada.
Dates:
Sept. 13 – 15, 2019
Times:
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (local time)
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (local time)
Locations:
Nearly every one of the 140 PetSmart stores across Canada
Visit petsmart.ca to find a store near you.