Canadian pet food and supplies retailer Pet Valu’s recent Pet Appreciation Month achieved a record-breaking total of over $2.2 million in monetary and product donations. The sum benefits more than 400 animal-related causes across Canada and represents the highest amount raised since the event’s inception in 2011.

Pet Appreciation Month, a cornerstone of Pet Valu’s Companions for Change initiative, is the company’s largest annual event. Throughout June, customers at Pet Valu’s 700-plus stores outside Quebec had the opportunity to contribute by purchasing paper PAWs for a donation amount of their choosing. Additionally, customers could buy and donate a product of their choosing to their local store’s designated rescue or cause —100 per cent of all donations going directly to the designated organization. Since its launch, Pet Appreciation Month has generated over $16 million in contributions and donations.

In conjunction with Pet Appreciation Month, select Pet Valu stores also hosted a National Adoption Weekend.  This year, more than 900 pets found new homes, adding to the over 48,000 pets that have been adopted through Pet Valu’s National Adoption Weekends over the years.

“Our stores are owned and operated by Animal Care Experts who care deeply about animal causes in their communities and want to give back. This year’s outstanding results are a testament to our Animal Care Expert’s passion to help and the generosity of the devoted pet lovers who visit our stores every day,” says Tanbir Grover, chief digital and marketing officer at Pet Valu. “We are so grateful for all the devoted pet lovers who helped make this year’s Pet Appreciation Month our most successful to date.”