Some local animal welfare organizations are getting a helping hand this holiday season from a State College pet store.
Each year, through the PETCO Foundation's "Tree of Hope" campaign, individual PETCO stores pick a local animal welfare organization to receive money raised from their stores.
PETCO, located on 40 Colonnade Way in State College, selected the Nittany Greyhounds, of Port Matilda, and Centre County PAWS, 1042 Benner Pike, as this year's recipients.
"We expect to raise about $2 million. It's pretty much on track," said Don Cowan, a spokesman for PETCO.
Cowan was very pleased with the progress of the fundraiser, which began Nov. 16.
"We're up from last year overall and ahead of expectations. We're very pleased with the way it's going," he said.
Carla Hass, president of Centre County PAWS and a Penn State research associate in the Eberly College of Science, said there are certain qualifications for animal welfare organizations that are selected for the PETCO fundraiser.
The first stipulation is that the group must be a charitable organization whose donations are not taxed. The organization must also show their animals at the PETCO store at least once a month.
Hass said PAWS is a non-profit organization that promotes responsible ownership of companion animals. The center provides shelter for cats, but not for dogs. The dogs are placed in foster homes or in local kennels.
"[Fostering] lets us know a lot about the animal's personality," Hass said.
The PAWS organization has both graduate and undergraduate Penn State student volunteers.
"Walking the dogs and working at the adoption center are the two most popular student activities," Hass said.
Hillary Herendeen (junior-animal science) said it's especially difficult for stray animals to survive during the winter.
"It's a good thing to support places that take in animals," she said. "A lot of people find animals that they bring in. It's good that they get the extra support,"
The property where Nittany Greyhounds are located is the home of the founder and president of the organization, Elaine Skidel, and is being sold. The organization is fundraising to buy an existing kennel or to build a new kennel. The greyhounds are currently in foster homes.
Mary Lisa Hostetler, vice president of the Nittany Greyhounds, said the group's goal is to "replace retired racing greyhounds into forever homes." Because Pennsylvania does not have greyhound-racing tracks, the organization brings the dogs in from other states. She said the dogs are known as "the 45-mile-per-hour couch potato" because they enjoy sleeping so much.
"I think it's great that there's alternatives to the shelters where you have to euthanize the animals," Manish Vaidya (senior-social and economic justice) said.
On Dec. 28, the Nittany Greyhounds will have a "Meet and Greet" at the PETCO in State College. Hostetler explained that the event provides an opportunity for people to meet the dogs and ask questions.
"If you don't know about the breed, just ask. There are a lot of misconceptions about them. They're very mellow," Hostetler said.
People can donate $1, $5, $10 or $20 to the "Tree of Hope" and when they do they receive a cardstock ornament which can then be signed and hung up in the store or taken home.
