National nonprofit Petco Love, formerly known as Petco Foundation, is set to award North Beach PAWS a $5,000 grant investment in support of their lifesaving work for pets in Grays Harbor County.

Petco Love is the national nonprofit arm of Petco, a health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents, and Petco partners.

North Beach PAWS, a private, all-volunteer, nonprofit animal shelter that facilitated veterinary care, spay/neuter procedures, transfers, adoptions, vaccinations, and microchipping for roughly 1,500 cats and dogs throughout Grays Harbor County in 2024, was just named as a finalist for Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.’s Non-Profit of the Year.

Since 1999, Petco Love has invested nearly $410 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts for pets and their owners.

“Our investment in North Beach PAWS is part of more than $12 million in investments recently announced by Petco Love to power local organizations across the country as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “Our local investments are only part of our strategy to empower animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us. We launched Petco Love Lost, a free national lost and found database that uses photo-matching technology to simplify the search for lost pets.”

According to North Beach PAWS President Carol Jamroz, the grant will go a long way in providing a critical service to pet owners.

“Spay and neuter services are an important community resource to help control dog and cat overpopulation,” said Jamroz. “The $5,000 life saving investment from Petco Love will help us provide more spay and neuter opportunities to local pet parents, save lives, and help keep pets healthy.”

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s official website states, “By having your pet spayed or neutered, you will do your part to prevent the birth of unwanted animals. What’s more, you could be setting your pet up for a longer life, as studies have repeatedly shown that spayed or neutered dogs and cats live longer, on average, than other dogs and cats. This advantage is likely due to the health and behavioral benefits of the procedures.”

AMVA’s website says there are numerous health and behavioral benefits to having your dog or cat spayed or neutered as well:

“Established health benefits include protection against some potentially serious diseases. Spaying female dogs and cats can prevent uterine infection and reduce the risk of breast cancer. Neutering males can eliminate their risk of testicular cancer and reduce their risk of developing enlarged prostate glands (known as benign prostatic hyperplasia). … Behavioral benefits relate directly to the decreases in certain sex hormones that occur after spaying or neutering. Removing a female dog or cat’s ovaries eliminates their heat cycles and generally reduces mating-related behaviors that may frustrate owners. Removing a male dog or cat’s testicles reduces their breeding instinct, resulting in less roaming and fewer urine-marking behaviors.”

North Beach PAWS offers a spay/neuter voucher program for low-income pet owners. Some conditions apply.