Love Stories (Pet Adoption Stories)

Love Stories

Geographic Scope: Nationwide (United States)

Focus Areas:

• Pet adoption stories
• Celebrating the human-animal bond
• How pets change adopters' lives

Award Structure:

• Individual grant awards to organizations range from $1,000 to $100,000
• Grand prize: $100,000 grant award
• Top five vote-getters receive additional funding from $5,000 to $25,000
• Winning adopters also receive Petco shopping spree and BOBS from Skechers shoes
• Total annual funding: Up to $1 million distributed to 100+ organizations

Eligibility:

• Pet adopters who have adopted from animal welfare organizations
• Stories must highlight how pets changed the adopter's life for better
• Submissions must include four photos; video optional

Application Period: Open year-round with annual submission windows (historically September periods and holiday seasons)

Historical Context: Since 2013, more than 20,000 adopters have shared stories, resulting in over $5.8 million awarded to animal welfare organizations

How to Apply

1. Visit the Petco Love Love Stories website
2. Share your pet adoption story describing how your pet changed your life
3. Include four photos to illustrate the story
4. Optionally include video content
5. Submit during the designated application window
6. Community voting period follows submissions (voting window varies by year)

Story Guidelines:

• Highlight big and small ways pets have impacted your life
• Stories should demonstrate the life-changing power of pet adoption
• Can include themes of emotional support, family bonding, personal growth, community connection

Selection Process:

• Stories are reviewed and selected by Petco Love
• Community voting determines top five stories for additional funding
• Winners announced during holiday season celebrations
• Winning adopters and their organizations are surprised with grant amounts during virtual celebrations