INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — For three years, Petco has opened its doors and set aside space for HALO Animal Rescue to find forever homes for more than 300 animals. It’s a partnership neither sees ending anytime soon, though HALO hopes to expand to more stores to find more homes for more pets.
“Don’t change it if it’s not broken,” said HALO founder Jacque Petrone, and it’s not broken.
The animal shelter has found strong support from the management and employees at Petco, which has helped the organization place more than 300 pets into their forever homes.
“I’m a foster failure,” said Nikki Lindsey, Petco’s inventory pricing manager, explaining that she has adopted the cats she was meant to foster.
The Vero Beach Petco store recently received the corporation’s regional recognition for the most adoptions.
“It’s a big reward for us,” Lindsey said, adding that it would not have been possible without HALO’s dedication.
HALO held a special adoption event at Petco over the weekend in celebration of their 3-year anniversary at the store.
At least four cats found new homes – including Benji, Blossom, Bailey and Dahlia.
“We’re all excited about that,” said HALO volunteer Rebecca Grohall of the adoptions. Benji “went like a hot cake!”
Chuck and Shirley Sincerbeaux, of Vero Beach, found out about the adoption event and knew they had to come – their first time to Petco.
They went home with Dahlia.
“Her coloring is different,” Chuck said of the dark-furred tortoise shell beauty.
The Sincerbeauxes have two miniature Chihuahuas, one of which was recently spayed.
Shirley said she hopes Dahlia might be “adopted” by the Chihuahua as a surrogate “puppy.”
“I just fell in love with her,” Shirley said of Dahlia.
The Sincerbeauxes said they are impressed with what HALO has been able to do – finding more than 300 homes for animals in three years at Petco.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Shirley said, adding that, because HALO is a no-kill shelter, no animals are put down just because there is no home for them. “That always hurts me.”
“I’m really so proud of our volunteers and the Petco team,” Petrone said. “They take care of everything. I couldn’t be more grateful. They help us help more animals. It’s a big relief.”
Petrone said bringing select cats and kittens to Petco aids in adoptions because potential adopters then are less likely to be overwhelmed by the more than 100 waiting for homes at HALO’s home-base in Sebastian.
To that end, the animal organization is working to branch out and find more pet stores and animal hospitals to place kitty condos occupied with adoptable pets, Petrone said.
HALO Animal Rescue could not exist if not for the continued support it receives from volunteers and the community at-large, she said.
“We can’t do this on our own,” Petrone said.
To that end, they are working on finalizing the details for their largest fund-raiser of the year – the annual 2-mile Poker Dog walk along Indian River Drive in Sebastian, coming in December.