PetSmart Launches Special Yellow Ribbon Grooming Stencil to Honor America's Military

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Just in time for Veterans Day, PetSmart has launched a new grooming service in U.S. stores aimed at honoring the service and sacrifice made by our nation's men and women in uniform. $1 from the sale of a special Pet Expressions yellow ribbon stencil applied in the grooming salon will go to Canine Companions for Independence, in support of their Wounded Veterans Initiative to help partner assistance dogs with the military veterans who need them.

"A yellow ribbon is universally recognized as honoring America's brave men and women in uniform and offering this option in the Pet Expressions grooming service is another way that PetSmart is able to say thank you to our military," said Bruce Thorn, PetSmart executive vice president, store operations, services and supply chain. "Our partnership with Canine Companions for Independence means that more wounded military veterans will be able to access information on life-changing assistance dogs. To be able to have an assistance dog who loves you unconditionally and is able to help you live a better life, is priceless."

PetSmart has partnered with Canine Companions to create PetSmart for Patriots, a program which gives wounded military veterans increased access to assistance dogs. As part of the partnership, a veteran or their family can visit any of PetSmart's 1,350 stores to receive more information on getting an assistance dog.

PetSmart for Patriots is one of several national programs PetSmart runs under its community relations program, PetSmart Gives Back. PetSmart supports organizations that make communities a better place to call home and enrich people's lives through the power of pets. Its other programs include:

• PetSmart Promise – supports homeless families in keeping their pets
• PetSmart Paws for Hope – promotes healing through therapy dogs at hospitals
• P.U.P. (Pop Up Park) – a portable community dog park

About PetSmart

PetSmart, Inc. PETM is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company employs approximately 53,000 associates and operates approximately 1,352 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, 200 in-store PetSmart^® PetsHotel^® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (http://www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp ^SM day care services and pet adoption services. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 5.7 million pets since 1994. PetSmart Charities, Inc. and PetSmart Charities of Canada (collectively “PetSmart Charities”) are independent, nonprofit organizations that save the lives of homeless pets and reduce shelter intake through spay and neuter efforts. In 2013, nearly 440,000 dogs and cats found homes through PetSmart Charities' adoption centers in all PetSmart stores and by sponsoring community adoption events. PetSmart Charities is the leader in granting money to help pets in need, with more than $34 million given in 2013 throughout North America.

About Canine Companions for Independence

Canine Companions for Independence provides highly-trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has five regional training centers across the country. Canine Companions is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. For more information, visit http://www.cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

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