Local PetSmart stores will host adoptable pets March 23-29th as part of PetSmart Charities of Canada’s National Adoption Week
London, Ontario – March 23rd, 2026 – Thanks to a new grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada®, Humane Society London & Middlesex (HSLM) will help more pets in London get healthy, adoption-ready, and into loving homes. The $40,000 grant will support National Adoption Week events at local PetSmart stores taking place March 23- 29th, 2026. HSLM will be hosting cats in the Adoption Centre at PetSmart all week. Additionally, HSLM team members will be onsite March 27th (featuring critters from 10am-5pm), March 28th (featuring dogs from 10am-3:30pm) and March 29th (featuring additional cats and kittens from 10am-3:30pm).
Thousands of pets find themselves in shelters each year, placing strain on organizations already coping with limited resources. HSLM has already taken in nearly 200 animals so far in 2026, averaging 16 new arrivals each week.
Funding from PetSmart Charities of Canada supports organizations like HSLM and strengthens the local community by enabling us to enhance our nutritional program, providing consistent, high-quality food for all shelter pets. It also allows us to support adopters with a 30-day supply of food and ensures that every animal goes home fully vetted, including spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, and preventative care.
This funding has also made it possible to provide lifesaving, critical care to animals in need, including a sweet English Bulldog mix named Cheeka. She arrived with a severe skin disease affecting most of her body, including sores, infection, scaling, and significant hair loss. With the support of PetSmart Charities, we have been able to provide pain management, medicated baths, and a specialized treatment plan to help her heal. To follow Cheeka’s recovery journey and see updates and photos, please visit hslm.ca/cheeka/.
“Because of this funding, we are able to provide more adoption opportunities to the community, expanding our reach across the city through partnerships with multiple PetSmart stores in London. We were fortunate to receive grant support both last year and this year, allowing us to partner not only with PetSmart London East but also with PetSmart London South West.” said Melanie Paterack, Manager of Community and Animal Supports with HSLM.
“With animals steadily coming into our care, we are incredibly grateful to PetSmart Charities for this generous grant, which allows us to expand our capacity to support vulnerable animals in our community. This funding enables us to provide critical medical and behavioural care, enrichment, and adoption services, ensuring pets are healthy and ready to find loving homes.
Thanks to this support, we are able to prepare more animals for adoption, reduce their length of stay in the shelter, and ultimately save more lives. We are proud to partner with PetSmart Charities to better support our community and improve outcomes for animals in need. We have already seen the impact as a previous grant recipient, having placed 80 animals in loving homes in just 9 months through PetSmart adoptions.”
“Our animal welfare partners in local communities are determined to keep pace with the need, and deserve support,” said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities of Canada. “We’re proud to work alongside HSLM and appreciate the critical steps they take to advocate for the animals that come through their doors in need of love, safety, care and nutrition. Please consider supporting their lifesaving work through volunteering, fostering, adopting, or by donating.”
PetSmart Charities of Canada National Adoption Week is a special time during the year. Neighbourhood PetSmart stores will host adoptable pets to meet and cuddle in spacious areas, and staff and volunteers are ready to make introductions and answer questions. Potential pet parents can also learn about the products and services they’ll need for the best possible start with their new family members.
To find out more information regarding services and events at HSLM follow us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and check out our website hslm.ca
WHEN/WHERE:
Adoptable pets will be available at the following times and PetSmart locations:
March 27th: featuring critters from 10am-5pm
March 28th: featuring dogs from 10am-3:30pm
March 29th: featuring cats and kittens from 10am-3:30pm
Find us at PetSmart London East, 1275 Highbury Ave N, Unit 117
Keep an eye out for DIEGO! He is looking for his forever home!
About HSLM
The Humane Society London & Middlesex has operated within the London community for over 125 years, this past year, we opened our new facility with the support of our community. This new facility as a fully functioning veterinary clinic and animal care team that work tirelessly to provide lifesaving and care to the animals who come through our doors. As a surrender shelter, animals arrive in various forms of neglect.
About PetSmart Charities of Canada
PetSmart Charities of Canada is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the country, PetSmart Charities of Canada has helped over 400,000 pets find loving homes. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter, and emergency relief. Each year, thousands of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada directly at PetSmartCharities.ca, while shopping at PetSmart.ca, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $40 million since its inception in 1999. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity. To learn more, visit PetSmartCharities.ca.