Options Veterinary Care Selected for Accelerator program by PetSmart Charities®

News Release

For Immediate Release: April 8, 2025

For more information contact:

Kimberly Wade 904-294-1914

Options Veterinary Care Selected for Accelerator program by PetSmart Charities® to Improve Accessible Veterinary Care Services Locally

Reno, NV - Fifty million pets in the U.S. experience a lack of basic veterinary care. Rising costs and other barriers leave many pet owners struggling to access services such as spay/neuter, vaccinations, and critical medical and preventative care. With as many as 70% of households now including pets, this issue affects families in nearly every community, including our community.

PetSmart Charities has committed $100 million over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care across the United States and Canada. The “Accelerator” low-cost veterinary care program is a key part of this effort.  These grants support the expansion of low-cost veterinary care by funding growth and operations for up to four years for nonprofit clinics looking to expand their services, serve their communities better and inspire other veterinary providers by sharing their experiences.

Options Veterinary Care, Northern Nevada’s only full-service nonprofit clinic, is honored to have been chosen to participate in this program, which includes expert advice, analysis, strategic and business planning support, and other guidance as well as grant funding. This program and support will enable Options to expand our services and help more local pets and their people, pets who would otherwise suffer without needed veterinary care.

“Options is grateful and honored to be part of this important program created by PetSmart Charities.” said Diane Blankenburg CEO of Humane Network, Options parent nonprofit organization. “Options was founded to help pets in need and to keep them with the people who love them and depend on them. 70% of Options clients are low-income senior citizens. We are also grateful for the support of this community, which has made the work of Options possible."

Overwhelmingly, people consider their pets important members of the family. Pets have a significant impact on the health and wellness of the people they love. The support of PetSmart Charities will enable more families to get veterinary care that ensures their pets thrive at home and stay out of shelters.

“Our veterinary system is in crisis,” said Kate Atema, director of community grants and initiatives at PetSmart Charities.  “Rising costs are putting standard veterinary care out of reach for as much as 50% of pet-owning families. We need innovative solutions that make veterinary care affordable for the families in every community who want the best for their four-legged companions but struggle to meet the cost of vet care. We’re inspired by the incredible work Options Veterinary Care is doing to create solutions that will build strong families and a healthy community.”

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Options Veterinary Care is a nonprofit clinic in Reno, Nevada that provides affordable, quality veterinary care to those who could not otherwise afford it, preventing suffering for pets and keeping them with the people who love them. It is a program of Humane Network. All donations are tax-deductible. For more, visit https://www.optionsveterinarycare.org/. 

About PetSmart Charities® PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps up to 600,000 pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter and emergency relief. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart® stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.