Missed the PetSmart Charities of Canada 2026 Kick-Off Partner Summit? Check out the recording below to learn more about what we accomplished in 2025, watch an exclusive panel discussion with our special guests, get details on our 2026 strategy, Live Q&A, and much more.
We understand partners have thoughtful questions about low-barrier and same-day adoptions, including follow-up practices, return rates, and spay/neuter requirements. Our approach is grounded in research and results.
While we do not track specific follow-up timelines or altered versus unaltered comparisons in-store, extensive research shows that return rates for low-barrier programs are comparable to traditional, high-barrier models. Studies also demonstrate that common screening tools, such as vet reference checks, do not reliably predict adopter commitment or long-term success.
Reducing unnecessary barriers allows more pets to move into homes quickly and responsibly — without compromising outcomes — while increasing overall lifesaving capacity by freeing space for additional animals in need.
The impact is measurable. A recent Best Friends report found that 131 of 208 participating shelters and rescues increased adoptions and fosters year-over-year, placing 34,557 pets in June 2024 alone — 3,548 more than the previous year. This is a direct result of implementing low barrier adoption methods.
For partners with limited access to veterinary services, spay/neuter contracts remain a responsible and effective pathway that supports both access and accountability.
If you’re interested in implementing or refining a low-barrier approach, your Adoption Grant Manager can provide guidance, connect you with successful organizations, and share resources such as the Adopters Welcome guide and research from Best Friends and Petzel. We strongly encourage partners to test low-barrier strategies and share outcomes so we can continue advancing best practices together.
Full Best Friends report: https://bestfriends.org/stories/julie-castle-blog/changes-rescue-adoption-practices-save-more-animals
Adoption fees and return policies are determined by each individual partner organization, not PetSmart Charities. We encourage partners to establish clear, adopter-centered policies that support positive outcomes for both pets and pet parents, while also building trust and strong relationships within their communities.
Return rates can vary, but most shelters and rescues see an average return rate of about 10%. This reflects pets returned to the organization, not those rehomed privately with friends or family.
Research shows that return rates tend to stay around this level regardless of whether an organization uses a low-barrier or traditional adoption process. Because of this, it can be helpful to plan for about 1 in 10 adoptions not working out at some point.
Returns shouldn’t be viewed as failures. Life happens, and when adopters bring a pet back to your organization, they’re doing the responsible thing. Returns can also be an opportunity to learn more about the pet in a home setting, update notes and photos, and make an even better match the next time.
Removing stigma and offering supportive options — like foster-to-adopt or sleepovers — can help create a more positive experience for both pets and adopters.
For more on this approach, you can explore the Adopters Welcome resources from HumanePro: https://humanepro.org/page/adopters-welcome-faqs
We do not track this data at a broader level, as each partner organization manages and monitors its own spay/neuter follow-up compliance.
That said, even with the recent veterinary shortage and increased demand for services, spay/neuter follow-up remains a critical tool in helping pets move out of shelters and into homes. Based on our experience working with partners, compliance is generally strong when organizations provide clear instructions, assist with pre-scheduling appointments when possible, and make it easy for adopters to ask questions or get support.
Proactive communication and accessible support can make a meaningful difference in ensuring adopters follow through on their commitments.
One effective approach is to position adoption as welcoming, supportive, and achievable — especially for first-time pet parents. Directing them to the PetSmart Adoption Guide and clearly explaining how both your organization and PetSmart can support them through the transition can help ease uncertainty. Ensuring adopters leave with the essentials and a clear understanding of next steps can make the experience feel less intimidating and more empowering.
It’s also helpful to recognize broader trends. In pet acquisition surveys, first-time pet parents represent a relatively small portion of adopters. One survey found that only about 13% of people who adopted in the past year were first-time pet owners, while 66% already had a cat and/or dog at the time of adoption.
Keeping this in mind, marketing efforts may benefit from both reducing barriers for first-time adopters and continuing to engage experienced pet parents who are most actively adopting.
You can access the Adoption Grant Managers' office hours here. Please note that you can only access the meeting during the scheduled hours listed on the website. No appointment is needed.
Thank you for these thoughtful suggestions. We truly value partner feedback, as it helps us continually improve our tools and processes to better support pets and adopters.
We’ll be sure to share your ideas with our team for consideration in future updates. Please keep the feedback coming — we genuinely appreciate it.
Yes! We've put together a quick guide on how to utilize AME to track your K9 Canada Rewards throughout the year, including your adoptions from last year. Check it out here.
Yes — improvements to in-store data and Wi-Fi have been a key focus.
As of late 2025:
Store internet speeds have increased in 1,487 stores, with bandwidth boosted by at least 100%.
Guest Wi-Fi now has more capacity, which helps create more stable and faster connections.
Guest Wi-Fi was moved to a faster signal channel, improving overall speed and reliability.
These updates were made to help support AME completion and improve the overall in-store connectivity experience.
Adoption partners are always encouraged to use store devices to process adoptions in-store, which can help prevent issues such as geolocation errors.
If this becomes a recurring issue, please contact amesupport@petsmartcharities.org for troubleshooting assistance. If all troubleshooting steps have been exhausted and an adoption is still missing, reach out to adoptioncompliance@petsmartcharities.org for support with reconciliation.
Please note that missing adoptions must be reported within 30 days of the adoption date to be eligible for credit toward Adoption Rewards. Adoptions reported after 30 days are not eligible for credit.
We do not currently have a way to access this information online. At this time, you would need to contact the store directly or visit in person to confirm the group’s hours of operation.
There is not currently a digital version of the adoption guide.
We recommend working closely with your store team to create a simple, seamless process for connecting adopters with a PetSmart associate once the adoption has been finalized in AME. From there, the associate can help by:
Providing the adopter with the physical adoption guide
Assisting with VIPP activation
Making sure they have the essentials needed to welcome their new pet home
Partnering in this way helps create a smooth, positive in-store experience and ensures adopters feel supported every step of the way.
National Adoption Week in 2026 will be March 23-29, July 20-26, and October 19-25. Our Adopt Joy™ event dates are January 17, February 21, April 25, May 23, June 27, August 22, September 26, December 5, and January 16, 2027.
We understand that distance to the nearest store can be a challenge for some organizations. Participation in the in-store adoption program is flexible — there are no strict requirements for how often you must attend. You can participate when it’s realistic and sustainable for your team.
When you do choose to attend, we encourage you to plan ahead and promote your participation so you can maximize the impact of the time and travel involved.
If distance is a concern, your Adoption Grant Manager (AGM) is available to help explore creative options and discuss what participation could look like for your organization.
We recommend first connecting with the store leadership team to discuss the opportunity to share the space when capacity allows. Open communication can often help find a solution that supports more pets being adopted.
If you’re not able to reach a resolution with the store team, please reach out to your Adoption Grant Manager (AGM) for additional guidance and support.
The types of animals that can be adopted in-store (unless restricted by local/state laws or temporary health guidelines, such as during a disease outbreak) include:
Dogs and cats
Domestic birds
Small animals and reptiles typically sold at PetSmart (excluding rats)
Other non-venomous reptiles
Ferrets (where allowed by state law)
Rabbits
Animals not listed above — such as goats, pigs, chickens, or other livestock — are not permitted for in-store adoption.
For the most up-to-date information on any restrictions, please check the Partner Resource page on petsmartcharities.org.
National data shows that dogs are currently experiencing longer lengths of stay and greater challenges in finding homes compared to cats. In fact, the average length of stay for a cat in an adoption center is typically less than seven days.
While Adopt Joy™ events are focused on addressing the urgent needs of dogs, we absolutely value and support cat adoptions. We encourage partners to take advantage of increased store traffic during these events to help promote and place cats as well.
If your cats are not being adopted as quickly as expected, we recommend reaching out to your Adoption Grant Manager for additional guidance, strategies, and support.
PetSmart Charities and PetSmart operate as separate organizations, and PetSmart Charities does not have the ability to provide discounts on pet food. PetSmart also does not currently offer special discounts specifically for adoption partners.
However, we encourage adoption partners to enroll in the PetSmart Treats Rewards program. This program allows you to earn points on purchases that can be redeemed for discounts in the future, which many organizations find helpful in stretching their budgets over time.
To learn more about our Canada K9 Rewards incentive program, check out all of our resources here.
In our U.S. adoption guides, the free exam coupons can be used at both PetSmart Veterinary Services and Banfield locations. If your local PetSmart store does not have a veterinary provider on-site, we recommend using the Store Locator on PetSmart.com to find a nearby location that offers PetSmart Veterinary Services or Banfield.
Yes. PetSmart and PetSmart Charities partner closely to drive awareness and traffic to both Adopt Joy™ adoption events and National Adoption Week.
For Adopt Joy™ adoption events, marketing efforts span paid and owned channels, including event-specific materials, digital promotion, and localized support designed to create a celebratory in-store atmosphere and attract prospective pet parents.
National Adoption Week receives full chain-wide marketing support. This includes national television advertising, social and influencer campaigns, public relations outreach, email marketing, and prominent in-store signage — all designed to drive strong traffic to our largest adoption events of the year.
We understand that determining the exact age of young animals is not always an exact science. At this time, we do not require pets under 6 months of age to be spayed or neutered, unless local or state laws mandate it.
Pets must be at least 8 weeks old and current on vaccinations to participate in in-store adoption events. If a pet’s age is uncertain, we recommend erring on the side of caution and ensuring they are vaccinated. This helps protect both the pets and everyone visiting the store.
Yes, all rabbits need to have at least one vaccine for RHDV2 before coming in store, with a 24 hour waiting period after vaccination before going in store.
Adoption paperwork must be completed and signed in-store at the time the adoption takes place. The individual who will be legally adopting and owning the pet must sign the AME contract and liability release themselves, as it is a legal document and cannot be signed by someone else on their behalf.
To participate in National Adoption Week events, you’ll need to coordinate directly with your PetSmart store(s) to confirm your adoption dates and times.
Registration typically closes about four weeks prior to the event, so be sure to connect with your store team early to secure your spot.
To help ensure the safety of pets, adopters, and store associates, all pets over 16 weeks of age are required to have a current rabies vaccination when participating in in-store adoption events.
Partners are also responsible for complying with all applicable local and state vaccination regulations in addition to PetSmart Charities’ guidelines.
