As cost-of-living pressures continue to impact Australian households, more and more pets are being surrendered to already overburdened rescue groups and shelters. In response to this growing crisis, two Australian businesses have renewed their partnership for a second year, aiming to provide much-needed relief to those on the frontlines of animal rescue.
SavourLife, a manufacturer of premium Australian dog food and treats, is committed to reducing the number of adoptable dogs euthanised in Australia to zero. The company donates 50 per cent of its profits to volunteer-run rescue groups and, in 2019, launched the Adopt-A-Dog website to connect rescue organisations with prospective dog adopters.
Pets Domain, a regional-focused pet specialty retailer with 76 stores nationwide, shares a community-first approach. More than 80 per cent of its stores are based in regional Australia, and the business regularly supports local rescue groups through in-store partnerships and fundraising initiatives. All profits from the sale of reusable Pets Domain carry bags are donated directly to partner rescue groups or shelters.
This August through October, Pets Domain and SavourLife will once again combine forces to raise funds and food donations for dog rescue organisations. Their joint campaign includes a Rescue Challenge, which will run nationally across Pets Domain stores in August and September. Five rescue groups will directly benefit from the sale of SavourLife products, with a fundraising target of $25,000 to be split between them.
Michael McTeigue, Founder of SavourLife, said: “You can find over 2,500 dogs up for adoption on our Adopt-A-Dog platform. With pet surrenders increasing, rescues are facing immense pressure; we have seen the average number of dogs listed for adoption increase by 25 per cent over the last 12 months, while adoption enquiries are slowing.
“We are thrilled to partner with Pets Domain to donate essential funds to our rescue partners, helping them save and rehome more dogs. We hope that by connecting customers with their local rescue groups, we can inspire those considering adding a pet to their family to adopt a rescue dog and save a life.”
The campaign will culminate with Adopt-A-Dog Day at Pets Domain on Saturday, 11 October, from 10am to 2pm. On the day, local rescue partners will be in-store to raise awareness and funds, and SavourLife will donate a matching bag of dog dry food to the rescue group for every bag sold.
Stacey Tweedale, Marketing Manager at Pets Domain, said: “Last year’s event was a huge success, we had 46 stores participate, and we sold one tonne of SavourLife dry dog food at Adopt-A-Dog Day at Pets Domain, which meant that SavourLife donated the same amount to our local rescue groups. This year is set to be even bigger, both in store participation and in donations. We’re encouraging locals to come out and support these initiatives to raise desperately needed funds and resources for these hard-working rescue groups.”
At the conclusion of the campaign in late October, the total amount raised and donated will be shared publicly via Pets Domain and SavourLife’s websites and social media channels.
Together, the partnership between SavourLife and Pets Domain demonstrates how aligned values and community engagement can make a measurable difference to rescue groups and the lives of dogs in need across Australia.
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