Pet Supplies Plus and Natural Balance donate $50,000 to Patriot PAWS

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Pet Supplies Plus and Natural Balance announced they have joined forces to raise awareness on the impact of service dogs on servicemen and servicewomen by donating $50,000 to Patriot PAWS Service Dogs. This donation will help the nonprofit continue to train and provide service dogs to disabled veterans for free.

"This has become an annual initiative for Pet Supplies Plus and one that is near and dear to our hearts," said Chris Rowland, chief executive officer of Pet Supplies Plus, in an organizational release.¹ "Patriot PAWS makes such a huge impact and we're proud to make this contribution alongside Natural Balance so Veterans can be paired with service dogs at no cost."

According to the organizational release, the check for the donation was presented at the Pet Supplies Plus store in Dallas-Medallion on November 3, 2022. Pet Supplies Plus and Natural Balance both presented the check to Patriot PAWS founder and Executive Director Lori Stevens, development coordinators Marissa Pittman and Sarah Mathers, and Patriot PAWS service dog Pierce.

"Natural Balance is incredibly proud to once again partner with Pet Supplies Plus to support Patriot PAWS," said Darcy Hagan, vice president of Sales of Natural Balance. "Being able to help provide a trained service dog to a Veteran in need could not be more rewarding. Thank you to Patriot PAWS for their great work."

Stevens founded Patriot PAWS in 2006 to train and place service dogs with disabled veterans suffering from mobile disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder for free, when the usual cost of a service dog, before training fees, is around $35,000 per dog.¹

As of this year, Patriot PAWS has placed over 400 dogs in its programs and can house up to 25 dogs at its campus in Rockwall.¹ The rest of the dogs are placed throughout other programs, including Texas A&M Student Led Puppy Raiser Program, DFW Puppy Raiser Program, and a partnership with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where inmates in 3 prison units train service canines.

"We are incredibly grateful to our friends at Natural Balance and Pet Supplies Plus," said Stevens. "because of this generous donation, we are able to continue saving the lives of those who served our great nation."

Reference

$50,000 Donated to Patriot PAWS by Pet Supplies Plus and Natural Balance® in Honor of Veterans Day. News release. Pet Supplies Plus. November 7, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/50-000-donated-to-patriot-paws-by-pet-supplies-plus-and-natural-balance-in-honor-of-veterans-day-301670001.html