Petland Charities Donates $300,000 to Fund Construction of New Ohio Shelter

Petland Charities has donated $300,000 to the Ross County (OH) Humane Society’s Capital Campaign to build a new shelter. Petland Charities’ year-end giving also included $21,000 in donations to 21 local shelters and rescues across the country.

Ross County Humane Society’s (RCHS) current shelter building was constructed in the late 90s and had reached the end of its lifespan. A new 7,000-square-foot facility with air quality, noise reduction and enhanced disease control measures will provide a significant improvement to service the more than 1,400 animals that go through their doors each year. The new facility is scheduled to break ground this year.

In 2019, Petland committed to feed every animal at the RCHS shelter and to date has donated more than $70,000 of food. Every adopted pet’s new family receives a $50 Petland gift card and a bag of premium food. Petland has redeemed nearly $200,000 in these gift cards since 2017.

Petland Vice President Steve Huggins, a RCHS board member, was tapped to chair the shelter’s capital campaign. Petland’s founder, Ed Kunzelman, has also worked with community leaders to garner support. Petland pledged $250,000 and Kunzelman personally pledged $50,000 to help kick off the campaign.

“Petland’s partnership with the Ross County Humane Society is a collaborative model between businesses and non-profits to end pet homelessness,” said Joe Watson, Petland President and CEO.

Additionally, Petland Charities continued its end-of-year giving to area shelters by providing $21,000 to 21 area local shelters across the nation.

“The local shelters work tirelessly to protect and care for abandoned pets in our local communities. We are grateful to provide some assistance to these organizations that have limited resources and are doing great work in the areas they serve,” said Petland Charities Executive Director Ed Sayres.

The 501c3 organization also sent a pallet of dog crates to the Tampa Bay SPCA to hold and care for pets displaced by Hurricane Ian.