Oak Creek Dog Food Brand Says It Will Pay For Senior Pet Adoption

OAK CREEK, WI — An Oak Creek-based pet food business is hoping to bring awareness to adopting senior pets this November by reimbursing certain adoption fees throughout the month.

There are thousands of senior cats and dogs across the U.S. that are in need of adoption, Stella & Chewy's said in a news release, except many people may be discouraged to adopt them because they are older. To encourage more people to consider older pets when looking to rescue, the brand announced it will reimburse older pet adoption fees throughout November.

The efforts come as a tradition that was started in 2019 and a partnership with Pilots to the Rescue, an organization that brings older pets to cities where they are more adoptable. The brand, founded in 2003, announced this year's campaign for older pets at the end of October.

"Stella & Chewy's has long placed a focus on senior pet adoption, but this year we're overjoyed to be taking things even further by not only eliminating the barrier of the cost of adoption, but also making senior pets more accessible by our work with Pilots To The Rescue."

A chunk of cash, $80,000, has been set aside by the brand to go toward reimbursements for older pet adoptions. People who adopt a dog or cat that is older than 5-years-old are eligible for the adoption fee reimbursement, plus a $40 voucher to be used at Stella & Chewy's, the brand's news release said.

Since 2019, the program has helped 650 senior pets to find a home, the news release said. The program coincides with "National Adopt A Senior Pet Month."

Along with the pet reimbursements, the brand's partnership with Pilots to the Rescue helps to make older pets more adoptable, the news release said. Older pets are shipped into cities where the likelihood of their adoption increases.

"When I was first introduced to Stella & Chewy's, I knew our joint missions of rescuing senior pets would make a great impact on the lives of these amazing animals, but also the families bringing them home," said Michael Schneider, founder of Pilots To The Rescue. "I'm honored to be working together this year to kick start National Adopt a Senior Pet Month by transporting senior animals to new cities in hopes of adoption."