The Petco Company and Petco Love (formerly the Petco Foundation) have played significant roles in propelling SDF forward as a leader in the field of Canine Disaster Search – and as a loving caretaker of canines.

Following the deployment of our teams to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, Paul Jolly, the founding Executive Director of the Petco Foundation, contacted SDF to begin what would become a vibrant and strong relationship that has spanned over two decades.

Sadly, Paul lost his battle with ALS in 2014, but his legacy of caring is carried on through Petco Love and its team of animal lovers dedicated to making a difference. In 2018, SDF was thrilled to announce the naming of SDF-trained search dog “Paul,” in honor of Paul Jolly.  It was a very emotional moment for everyone, including the current Petco team, many of whom knew and loved Paul.

From their first grant of $150,000 in 2001 (the largest in SDF history at that time), Petco Love has been helping SDF and Search Dogs on every step of our journey:

• When Petco learned that FEMA-Certified Search Teams in America had access to pet food vouchers at the time, they made sure that the Canine Search Specialists (Handlers) were able to redeem them at Petco stores nationwide.
• In 2005, Petco Love helped launch our Canine Healthcare Fund, which provides reimbursement to SDF Handlers for canine medical costs.
• The Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund was established in 2012 to provide funding for active and retired working canines in urban search and rescue, wilderness, human remains detection, military and police disciplines who have been diagnosed with any form of cancer. This fund is part of a partnership Petco Foundation has with Blue Buffalo Pet Food Company.
• On July 9, 2015, Petco Love announced an unprecedented $2.5 million grant in support of our National Training Center (NTC) Project, a multi-year capital campaign to build America’s first Training Center specifically designed for Canine Disaster Search Teams. The grant helped secure The Petco Love Canine Pavilion – the largest building at the NTC and home to our canines-in-training, a veterinary facility, classrooms and program staff offices.
• In June of 2018, Petco Love presented SDF with the Helping Heroes Award at their annual Lifesaving Awards Gala. The prestigious honor recognizes organizations that are transforming animals into heroes that in turn help others.

“Each year Petco Love invests millions in lifesaving animal welfare organizations to empower communities across the country to make a difference for animals. We’re able to do this important work because of the many Petco customers and employees who, like us, understand the power of our bond with animals and have a passion to help them all live their best lives.

By saving shelter dogs and transforming them into national heroes, SDF highlights the potential of shelter dogs for all types of service programs. The relationship between the rescue dog and the first responder, partnering to save lives, is the ultimate expression of animals and humans working together in service to humanity. The transformative impact that they have on so many lives is nothing short of heroic, and we couldn’t be more proud to partner with the Search Dog Foundation to help make this amazing vision come to life.”

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, 13 SDF-trained Search Teams answered the call to respond to the collapsed World Trade Center and searched for days trying to locate survivors left behind in the rubble. Soon after, world-renowned advertising firm VML (formerly Young & Rubicam or Y&R) reached out to our small organization and offered their talent and expertise to help share our story and the critical impact of Canine Disaster Search Teams.

Just one year later in 2002, VML began a National Awareness Campaign to keep SDF’s mission in the minds and hearts of people across the country. The original ads, created and placed at no cost to SDF, stood out in the pages of publications like the Wall Street Journal, Time magazine and others.

Over the years, as our pawprint has grown, VML has continued to show their enduring support with several new ad campaigns that have helped the public discover and learn more about the work we do. Their generosity has been an essential element of our growing ability to strengthen disaster response in America.

We look forward to new endeavors with our friends at VML and to their creative impact on the Search.