Petco Love Donates $10,000 to Cat Adoption Team from Winning Entry

Rumi, a long-haired white cat named after the renowned poet, has been with Howe for 10 years. Howe, a resident of Portland, shared how her adventures with Rumi—who is deaf—have been a source of therapy for both. Her submission was one of just 25 selected from thousands, detailing their experiences hiking and camping across the Pacific Northwest. In her entry, she remarked on Rumi's fearless nature and the joy he brings during their outdoor adventures, alleviating her depression and anxiety.

Alongside the grant award, Howe received a Petco shopping spree and footwear from BOBS® after her winning submission. "This is so exciting," remarked Howe, who has volunteered with CAT in the past. "He’s my adventure cat. I promised him an adventure after this."

Store manager Brandon Follett noted this year, Petco Love is distributing a total of $500,000 in grants to various animal-welfare organizations. Tualatin Petco is also unique as it hosts adoptable cats from CAT in a dedicated space within the store.

During the check presentation, the CAT team celebrated as the grant amount of $10,000 was revealed. Karen Green, CAT's executive director, expressed gratitude for the unexpected support, highlighting the significance of shared stories in securing such investments.

Petco Love President Susanne Kogut emphasized the importance of recognizing the impact of pet adoption, noting that the initiative has shared over 25,000 stories and donated $8 million to animal welfare since its inception in 1999.

Established in 1998, CAT is the largest cat-only shelter in the Pacific Northwest, having found homes for over 60,000 cats and providing numerous spay/neuter services to the community. For more information, visit petcolove.org and catadoptionteam.org.