It is becoming quite common for pet retailers to partner with their local shelters for everything from hosting fundraisers to promoting awareness and holding adoption events. Pet Product News and Halo, Purely for Pets pet food company wanted to get in on the action too. They held a contest to honor the ways that retailers are working with shelters.
There were lots of submissions, but Four Your Paws Only was the clear winner. The company is located in Conway, New Hampshire and is co-owned by Brain and Kathy Ahearn. As the winner of the contest they will receive a trip to SuperZoo 2015 and 10,000 meals donated to their partner shelter.
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The pet store held its first shelter meet and greet 20 years ago for Harvest Hills Animal Shelter. At the time it was the only shelter within an hour’s drive of the store. It was so successful that the Ahearn’s decided to partner with Lakes Region Animal Shelter, which is located even farther away.
Over the next few years customers began to drop off abandoned animals at the store. The Ahearn’s would try to find homes for them through word-of-mouth at the pet shop, but as time went on and more animals showed up, it became very clear that a local shelter was needed. In 1999, Kathy formed what is now known as the Conway Area Humane Society (CAHS).
As a founding member of the board of directors, Kathy was active in the capital campaign, the building process, and the opening of the shelter in 2003. She was active on the board until 2007. Kathy, along with Four Your Paws Only gave CAHS one of its first monetary donations in the amount of $5,000 towards the shelter’s building effort.
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The store has continued to support the shelter in many ways. They support every event that the shelter hosts by donating gift certificates and products. The store also sponsors many events that benefit the shelter, including the shelter’s largest annual fundraising event for the last 17 years, Bark in the Park – Walk for Animals.
New adoptive families even receive a “going home” bag full of product samples, store coupons, and a free bag of pet food from Four Your Paws only. In 2009 the Ahearn’s were an instrumental part of building the CAHS dog park. They’ve also supported many other rescue groups and animal shelters over the years.
The Ahearns’ continuous efforts to help animals in need is what made them stand out among the entrants in the Pet Product News contest.
