Phoenix-based PetSmart Charities Inc. is laying off its entire workforce!According to company insiders this will be the end of PetSmart Charities as known but not the end of funding for animal welfare.
According to Michelle Friedman, Director of Communications, PetSmart Charities has provided more than $165 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations. Reading from a prepared statement she indicated, "As the largest funder of animal welfare in North America, we believe these decisions will allow us to save the lives of even more pets and enrich more people’s lives through the power of pets".
In November 2014, when the auction for PetSmart was identified as potentially the 'leveraged buyout of 2014', InfoStream wondered aloud how the company and charity would be affected:
PetSmart is one of the largest providers of funds for humane and animal welfare activities. Will new owners continue this investment, will they be satisfied with the return on investment for the brand (goodwill) or will they turn their attention to paying shareholders and recovering the investment? Only history will illuminate the Urban Animal landscape that is now evolving.InfoStream reported on the sale of PetSmart to BC Partners late last year. Industry analysts watching the company didn't have long to wait before a new management team began to make big changes. In July, InfoStream reported a 15% layoff at head office. More recently several InfoStream articles touched on a possible merger of PetSmart and Petco as well as roadblocks the deal encountered.
PetSmart Charities was one of the founders of the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in 2006 but declined funding involvement during the last two years.
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