Petland teams donate pet food and more to Delaware Co. Humane Society for emergency needs

SUNBURY – Petland stores in central Ohio recently donated 1,500 pounds of dry dog food, along with canned dog food, pet supplies, treats and toys to the Humane Society of Delaware County. Additionally, Petland Charities, a 501c3 non-profit, presented a check for $1,000 to help with unexpected expenses related to caring for more than 40 dogs rescued last month from a situation of alleged abuse and living in unacceptable conditions.

Touched by media coverage of the dogs removal and their horrific living conditions, Petland East Broad Street’s (Columbus) manager Paige Edwards led the project to deliver help. “I have rescued dogs in my lifetime, so seeing the conditions they were in was gut wrenching and personal,” said Edwards. “I got together with others because I knew the shelter was going to need lots of help with those babies they took in.”

Petland Grove City Manager Emily Gieger was one who jumped at the opportunity. “To see a shelter take in so many dogs in need at once, and them being so close to home was truly heartbreaking,”

Gieger said. “I had been following the story, and then when Paige reached out to me asking how we could help, we got the ball rolling.”

As these Columbus-area Petland locations began accumulating donations at their stores, news of what they were doing spread to all six central Ohio Petland locations, including one in nearby Delaware County. Store manager Jenna Wester of Petland Lewis Center was anxious to get involved in the effort, explaining how this case hit close to home for her.

“I’ve been a part of the Delaware community for as long as I can remember,” Wester said. “As an animal lover, to hear of this pet rescue in our own backyard and its effect on the Delaware County Humane Society, I knew I wanted to do something to help. By coming together as a Petland team, we were all able to provide the shelter with so much more!”

In all, the six central Ohio Petland locations (East Broad St., Grove City, Hilliard, Lewis Center, Pickerington, and Upper Arlington) gathered and delivered the food, supplies, and monetary gift. Humane Society of Delaware County Executive Director Jana Cassidy expressed her gratitude for Petland’s generous donation. “Thank you for your wonderful support of these pups,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful for the donations received.”

“Petland Charities and Petland’s central Ohio locations were able to come together to help the dogs and the shelter,” added Wester. “I feel like a small weight has been lifted for the staff who are working tirelessly to get these dogs ready for adoption. My hope is that we continue to help any way we can.”

To learn more about Petland’s dedication to ending inhumane breeding, ending pet homelessness, and creating special human-animal connections visit petlandcharities.org.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Petland teams donate pet food and more to Delaware Co. Humane Society for emergency needs