HARROGATE, Tenn. — The Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM) form a collaboration, which includes a one-time $15,000 grant from PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, to fund programs scholarships and research stipends.

“LMU is honored to grow our partnership and friendship with PetSmart Charities to address the animal health and welfare needs of the region,” said LMU-CVM Vice President and Dean Jason Johnson. “I am excited about the opportunities this agreement brings to our students and the University. This program will augment our already robust Spay and Neuter to the Appalachian Region Program, providing animal care to over 10 shelters in the region.” LMU and PetSmart Charities share a passion for serving underserved populations, especially animal populations in Appalachia. This grant will provide LMU students opportunities to explore and promote the importance of the human-animal bond, shelter medicine and over animal welfare.”

The PetSmart Charities grant will support a paid Student Ambassador Program which will employ a second-year student to coordinate engagement events on behalf of the organization. Examples of events might include hosting special guest speakers for LMU’s veterinary students or planning community events to raise awareness of pet homelessness in the region. PetSmart Charities will also provide a representative, and budget for activities coordinated by the student ambassador with the Office of Student Services.

PetSmart Charities will also provide a $5,000 student scholarship to be awarded to a second- or third-year veterinary student showing an interest and aptitude to pursue a career in shelter medicine, and a $5,000 student summer research stipend to a second- or third-year veterinary student at LMU-CVM. The research stipend will be granted to support scientifically important research projects in shelter medicine or human-animal bond.

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.