15 Big Brands That Are Changing Dogs’ Lives Nationwide

When you buy a Subaru, shop at PetSmart, or even vacuum your floors with a Bissell, you might not realize you’re supporting a network of animal welfare programs that have collectively saved millions of dogs’ lives. Rescue organizations do the frontline work, but some of America’s biggest corporations have quietly become powerhouse supporters of canine welfare through substantial donations, innovative programs, and long-term partnerships.

These brands aren’t just writing checks — they’re funding adoptions, providing meals to shelter dogs, transporting rescue animals to safety, and creating programs that help dogs find their forever homes. From automotive companies to pet food manufacturers, cleaning-supply makers to online retailers, corporate America has stepped up for dogs in ways that deserve recognition. Here’s a look at 15 major brands making tails wag across the country and right here in Nevada.

Subaru

Subaru has donated more than $70 million to pet-focused organizations since 2008, making it the single largest corporate donor to the ASPCA. Through its Subaru Loves Pets initiative, more than 630 dealerships nationwide participate each October in grant programs supporting local shelters. The company’s annual Share the Love Event has also directed nearly $320 million to charity over the past 18 years, according to the ASPCA’s official report. Subaru’s partnership model has become a blueprint for how automotive brands can embed animal welfare into their corporate culture.

Bissell

The Bissell Pet Foundation, established by Cathy Bissell in 2011, has helped more than one million pets through partnerships with over 6,000 shelters and rescues across North America. Its flagship initiative, Empty the Shelters, reduces or waives adoption fees, directly leading to tens of thousands of successful adoptions each year. The foundation’s Fix the Future program offers affordable spay and neuter services for $35 or less, while its Animal Incident Management (AIM) team provides rescue and transport during natural disasters. Details of these efforts were highlighted in Pet Food Industry’s coverage, underscoring Bissell’s transformative impact on animal welfare.

PetSmart Charities

Since its founding in 1994, PetSmart Charities has granted more than $600 million to animal welfare organizations and facilitated over 11 million adoptions through its in-store adoption centers. The organization also funds critical initiatives for pet hunger relief, disaster response, and affordable veterinary care. Remarkably, around 80% of its donations come from small contributions made by customers at checkout — proof that collective compassion can drive large-scale change. The full scope of their programs is documented on PetSmart Corporate’s website.

Petco Love

Formerly known as the Petco Foundation, Petco Love has invested nearly $400 million in animal welfare since 1999, helping to rehome more than 6.9 million pets through partnerships with 4,000 shelters nationwide. One of its most innovative efforts is Petco Love Lost, a nationwide facial recognition database that helps reunite missing pets with their owners. The foundation’s comprehensive support network and adoption campaigns are detailed in the Petco Foundation Fact Sheet, which outlines its multi-pronged approach to reducing shelter populations.

Chewy

Chewy Gives Back, the philanthropic arm of the online retailer, has donated over $183 million in pet food and supplies to more than 9,000 shelters and rescues across the U.S. The platform’s Wish List feature allows customers to directly support their favorite shelters by purchasing needed items, while seasonal campaigns like Chewy Claus partner with Best Friends Animal Society to promote free adoptions and food drives during the holidays. The company’s charitable milestones were reported by DVM360.

Purina

Purina, one of America’s most established pet food manufacturers, invests more than $30 million annually in programs that support pets, people, and communities. Each year, over $10 million in pet food is donated to shelters nationwide. Purina also funds therapy dog programs supporting youth mental health, backs domestic violence shelters through its Purple Leash Project, and sponsors service dog initiatives for veterans with PTSD, profiled by Shelter Animals Count.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program has delivered more than $300 million worth of pet food to over 1,000 shelters during the past two decades, supporting an estimated 12 million adoptions. The brand is a key sponsor of the national Clear the Shelters campaign, which helps reduce shelter crowding through free and reduced-fee adoption events each summer. Hill’s also provides adoption kits for new pet parents, ensuring dogs have a strong start in their new homes. The program’s details can be found in Colgate-Palmolive’s official announcement.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo, part of General Mills, partners with Best Friends Animal Society to donate more than 500,000 pounds of food to shelters each year. During its annual Home 4 the Holidays campaign, the company supplies more than 80,000 pounds of additional food to support peak adoption periods nationwide. The brand’s continuous commitment to pet welfare is documented by Best Friends Animal Society.

Mars Petcare

Mars Petcare, the parent company of Pedigree and Whiskas, not only supports U.S. shelters but also contributes globally. The company has delivered pallets of pet food to renowned charities such as Battersea, the RSPCA, and Dogs Trust in the U.K. In partnership with Hilton Hotels and Greater Good Charities, Mars helped repurpose more than 140,000 pounds of retired hotel towels for use in animal shelters — a creative way to reduce waste and comfort animals in need. This unique initiative was highlighted by Hilton Stories.

FedEx

FedEx’s Delivering for Good program provides free transportation for rescue animals, disaster relief supplies, and emergency shelter transfers. In one notable collaboration with the ASPCA, FedEx helped relocate nearly 300 animals from crisis zones to safe shelters across the U.S. Their logistical support often proves vital during hurricanes and wildfires, when traditional transport routes are cut off. The ASPCA documented these joint efforts in a CSRwire press release.

KONG

Known for its durable rubber chew toys, KONG extends its commitment to animal welfare through grants that enrich shelter environments. Partnering with the Petfinder Foundation, KONG provides thousands of enrichment toys to help reduce stress and encourage positive behaviors in shelter dogs. In 2023 alone, 1,275 toys were distributed, benefitting more than 20,000 pets. The brand also released a limited-edition Volkswagen-themed toy, donating 100% of proceeds to VCA Charities. Details of the program are outlined on the Petfinder Foundation website.

BARK

BARK, the company behind BarkBox, pledged $10 million in product donations to Greater Good Charities for distribution to shelters and crisis centers nationwide. Their affiliate program also enables BarkBox subscribers to generate donations for local rescues — raising more than $96,000 for over 400 shelters to date. The company’s ongoing commitment to aid dogs in need is described in their official investor announcement.

Zappos

Through its Zappos for Good initiative, the Las Vegas-based online retailer has funded more than 25,000 pet adoptions. Campaigns like Home for the Pawlidayz and Friends on Us Fridays, run in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society, have helped thousands of shelter dogs find homes during the holiday season. Zappos also offers a $250 reimbursement to employees who adopt pets from 501(c)(3) rescues. Their large-scale adoption drives were covered by PR Newswire.

Embark

Embark, a canine DNA testing company, launched its Homed for the Holidays initiative, donating 160 DNA test kits to 16 animal shelters across the U.S. The results — revealing each dog’s breed makeup — helped increase adoption rates by making listings more engaging and informative for potential adopters. According to the company’s official blog post, shelters that participated saw a 64% adoption rate for tested dogs, with additional boosts in volunteer involvement.

Orvis

Outdoor lifestyle brand Orvis has donated more than $2 million to canine cancer research through its Cover Dog Photo Contest, while also raising over $1 million in partnership with the Petfinder Foundation. Their ongoing monthly enrichment grants — totaling $28,000 last year — help shelters provide toys, training aids, and equipment to improve dogs’ quality of life. The company’s efforts are detailed in Orvis’s canine commitment statement.

These corporate initiatives represent hundreds of millions of dollars in annual support for animal welfare. In Nevada, programs such as Bissell’s Empty the Shelters, Subaru Loves Pets month, Chewy Gives Back, and PetSmart’s in-store adoption centers directly benefit local shelters and rescue groups. Together, they illustrate how compassion and commerce can coexist — proving that behind every rescued dog is not just a volunteer or adopter, but often a company that chose to make kindness part of its business model.