On Monday, August 4, 2008, representatives from the office of Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, along with other dignitaries, were on hand to officially open PETCO PLACE – a groundbreaking project that will allow pet-owning homeless individuals access to emergency shelter and support services without having to part with their companion animal. This unique “shelter-within-a-shelter”, sponsored in large part by The PetCo Foundation, is the first of its kind in the country.

Created by PAWS/LA, PETCO PLACE is a joint effort between PAWS/LA, the The PetCo Foundation and PATH, a comprehensive homeless service provider in Los Angeles.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, “between five and ten percent of homeless people have dogs and/or cats, and finding any kind of shelter for those with pets is nearly impossible.” When forced to make a choice between their pet and a roof over their head, homeless individuals usually choose to remain with their animal. PETCO PLACE will remove the need to make a choice by accommodating several dogs and cats in a safe, enclosed facility on the property of the PATH Hollywood complex.

Paul Jolly, Director of the The PetCo Foundation, spoke enthusiastically about the project. “The PetCo Foundation is delighted to support this project. This fits neatly into our mission, which is to promote a wide variety of educational and charitable activities nationwide by partnering with local animal welfare organizations at the grass roots level. This provides a way for pet loving members of the  community to remain with their animal, and at the same time allows the person to take steps to get themselves and their pet back into permanent housing.”

The The PetCo Foundation has been a supporter of PAWS/LA and its work since the Foundation’s inception in 1999. PAWS/LA Executive Director Pamela Magette noted, “The generosity of the The PetCo Foundation has allowed us to break new ground in helping animal companions remain with their guardians. We hope this project will be the first of many to address this important need, and allow more people to maintain the vital support their animals can provide.”

The need for this program was identified by PAWS/LA when some of their clients were facing homelessness and were without an option for emergency housing that would also accommodate their companion animals. Based on their knowledge of PATH, PAWS/LA approached the agency and presented the idea of this unique collaboration. With PATH’s agreement to host the animal facility at their site, the wheels were set in motion to create PETCO PLACE and to offer a safe haven for Los Angeles County homeless and their companion animals.

Other PETCO PLACE benefactors include:  The City of West Hollywood,  The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, The Home Depot, LegalZoom.com and other community members.

For more information about PETCO PLACE, contact Steve Wayland, 213.741.1950 x 114.