PEDIGREE Foundation announced the recipients of US$1.2 million in 2025 annual grants to shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada, with 94 grants supporting nearly 119,000 dogs. The announcement coincides with National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and marks a milestone for the organization: since its founding in 2008, PEDIGREE Foundation has helped more than one million dogs and awarded more than $15.3 million in grants.
In its first year, Foster 50 delivered nearly 9,000 net-new fosters and an 11% increase in active fosters, enabling care for almost 16,000 dogs.
"Foster 50 galvanized nearly 200 communities across the U.S. to embrace fostering - relieving pressure on shelters, speeding adoptions, and creating the capacity that lets transport, enrichment and behavior training move faster," said Deb Fair, executive director, PEDIGREE Foundation.
Alongside Foster 50, PEDIGREE Foundation announced its 2025 annual grants to shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada. Annual grants support fostering, transport, behavior training and disaster relief.
Data from Shelter Animals Count shows that in the first half of 2025, an estimated 1.4 million dogs entered U.S. shelters and rescues, while monthly adoptions trailed last year's pace. Dogs are staying longer in care (median 47 days, and longer for large dogs), according to the Shelter Animals Count 2025 Mid-Year Analysis. According to the State of Pet Homelessness Report, there are approximately 39,000 pets in shelters and rescues across Canada.
"With adoptions lagging and length of stay rising, our 2025 grants invest in foster expansion and funding transport, behavior, and disaster relief, so shelters can find homes for more dogs," Fair said. "We're proud to have helped more than one million dogs, and we're doubling down with our partners to grow these lifesaving interventions to help the next million."
2025 grant recipients
A complete list of recipients is available on the foundation's website.
DOGS RULE grants are $100,000 grants provided over two years to develop an initiative that can become a best practice for other shelters and rescues. The 2025 grantees are:
Gateway Pet Guardians (East St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.): The first half of this grant for 2025 and 2026 will support their Finder-to-Foster Program, which empowers residents who find stray dogs to become temporary fosters. The funds will provide supplies, transportation and support to ensure the pets' wellbeing while awaiting reunion or adoption.
Dallas Pets Alive! (Dallas, Texas, U.S.): The second half of this grant for 2024 and 2025 will support their Foster+ program, which offers training scholarships, streamlined access to supplies, transportation assistance for vet visits and grooming coverage.
Program Development Grants support shelter and rescue activities that expand the programming capacity of the organization to increase dog adoption rates. The focus is on foster, transport and behavior initiatives. More than $480,000 will be awarded for program development funding to 34 shelters and rescues.
Collaborative Grants are awarded to organizations that bring partners together around initiatives to help more dogs get adopted. This year's grants include Foster 50 grants and grants to cover adoption fees during Mars Global Adoption Weekend. 24 grants will be given, totaling $265,000.
Disaster Relief Grants are given on an as-needed basis to support dogs in disaster-stricken communities across the U.S. 18 grants totaling $227,000 have helped more than 35,000 dogs impacted by natural disasters, including the fires in Los Angeles and floods in Central Texas.
Canadian Grants support animal shelters and rescue organizations in Canada with implementing foster, behavior and adoption matching, transport, remote community support and safety net programs. $110,000 (CAD) was awarded through 10 program development grants to 10 shelters across Canada, as well as four grants covering adoption fees as part of Mars Global Adoption Weekend. An additional $15,000 (CAD) was allocated for disaster relief efforts across Canada, particularly related to wildfire seasons.
As part of the disaster relief grants, one grant was awarded to Winnipeg Humane Society to support immediate wildfire relief in the local community. An additional grant was made in partnership with Humane Canada to support emergency disaster relief.
This year's grant cycle also includes the first-ever Foster 50 Challenge Grants. These 12 grants, totaling $100,000, were issued in partnership with Maddie's Fund to support new and growing foster programs. Adopt a Pet contributed an additional $20,000 in grants to pilot foster technology solutions.
$25,000 grants were awarded to the following recipients of the inaugural "Foster 50 Trailblazer Award":
- Bitter Root Humane Society (Hamilton, Montana, U.S.) - awarded by PEDIGREE Foundation
- Santa Barbara County Animal Service (Santa Barbara, California, U.S.) - awarded by Maddie's Fund
According to Maddie's Fund, dogs who experience even one foster sleepover are 14 times more likely to be adopted. Launched in June, Foster 50 is a program with Maddie's Fund, Adopt a Pet, Mutual Rescue, Petco Love, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and Outcomes for Pets that focuses on fostering as an intervention. The program has reduced length of stay, eased capacity challenges and prepared dogs for permanent homes through in-home care and individualized attention.
According to Petfood Industry's Top Pet Food companies, Pedigree is owned by Mars, Inc. Mars Petcare’s annual revenue in 2023 reached US$20 billion. Mars Petcare is one of the top pet food companies. Its nearly 50 pet food brands include several billion-dollar brands. PEDIGREE Foundation operates independently from Mars, and grants are awarded based on charitable objectives.
