Train to Adopt Program Will Help More Than 1,000 Dogs in 2012

Seattle, WA, November 01, 2012 --(PR.com)-- In 2011, the Petfinder.com Foundation and GreaterGood Network's The Animal Rescue Site partnered to bring the Train to Adopt program to four shelters. In 2012, this program expanded again with the generous support of Petco and their certified in-store dog trainers. The program is designed to help shelters increase the success rate of their adoption programs.

This year’s participants include Escondido Humane Society, San Diego, CA; Regional Animal Services of King County, Seattle, WA; Humane Society of South Platte Valley, Denver, CO; Orange County Animal Services, Orlando, FL; PAWS Chicago, Chicago, IL; Forever Paws, Seeknok, RI, and The Sanctuary of Haafsville, Allentown, PA

As developed by Sue Sternberg, the Train To Adopt Program improves the behavior and mental health of the rescued dogs and increases their chances of getting adopted.

During the Train to Adopt program, Petco will be providing each shelter partner with dog trainers certified in Petco Positive Dog Training to teach shelter staff and volunteers how to train the dogs using the following three basic skills that help the animal to make a successful transition to a new life in an adoptive home:

Sit with Attention
The Do Nothing Exercise
Lie Down with a Hand Signal

Lisa Robinson, Executive Director of Petfinder.com Foundation, estimates that more than 1,000 dogs will receive training from the shelters selected in 2012.

More About The Animal Rescue Site and GreaterGood.org
The Animal Rescue Site's “Click Here To Give” purple homepage button (http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com) provides a simple, fast free way to help animal charities. Visitors can click daily to display a series of ads: 100% of the donations from sponsoring advertisers are donated to Petfinder Foundation, Rescue Bank, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Fund for Animals, North Shore Animal League America, and other worthy groups selected by GreaterGood.org. Additional funding is provided through shopping at The Animal Rescue Site store (http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/store) or donations received through the Gifts That Give More (tm) program.

Funding from The Animal Rescue Site and other GreaterGood Network websites is distributed by the independent 501(c)3 GreaterGood.org, which contributes more than $3 million annually to charities and nonprofits.

More About Petfinder Foundation
The Petfinder Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity, helps homeless pets by saving lives through adoptions, helping shelters prepare for and recover from disaster and working to make sure animal welfare organizations across the country are more sustainable. Its mission is to ensure no adoptable pet is euthanized for lack of a home. Since 2003 the foundation has provided over $20 million in grants to animal welfare organizations and Petfinder.com member shelters and rescue groups.

More About Petco
Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that provides the products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,150 stores nationwide, including more than 50 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop, and www.petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has raised more than $100 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support approximately 8,000 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 250,000 animals through in-store adoption events every year.