It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on iHeartRadio. Welcome to
Maria's Mutts and Stuff and with me. I'm so very very happy. She
is actually the president of peck co Love. It is Suzanne Cogut. So,
Suzanne, thank you for chatting with me today. I'm excited to talk
to you. Well, thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here
absolutely so. For those who aren't sure, so pet COO Love is actually
was originally pet Co Foundation that was founded back in nineteen ninety nine. And
for those of us who have shopped at Petco all these years when they ask
if you'd like to make a donation to the pet Co Foundation, you know,
give a dollar or whatever as you're making your purchase, that is what
peck COO Love is right. For people who aren't yes, you have got
it on the notes there, just we are a separate nonprofit and all of
those those small donations they really go to make big impact by bringing them all
together and into pet Go Love and we use those to help animals. And
you know you talked about our name was pet Goo Foundation. We really we
changed to pet Go Love. I think it's about three years ago now,
Okay, and it really because it's it's because all what we are all about
is really harnessing that love that people have for pets, turning that love into
good for pets. So it really just spoke to who we are sure,
and I bet, I bet it made a difference. I mean, having
the word foundation, everybody knows what that is, but I think having it
love because you're right, I mean, we all love our pets so much,
so I'm sure that actually and I mean I would be fascinating to see
if it increased the donations, but I bet it did. By changing the
name, well, it helped in donation, but it also helps people understand
school we words. So we are structured as a nonprofit on a foundation,
and some of what we do is actually invest in other local orgs to make
a difference. Are doing great work, and I think we do it in
a very unique way, and we can talk more about that. But the
other thing is a lot of times we actually are putting initiatives in play ourselves
when we find a need that's not being met and we create something to address
that need, are lost and found initiative where we can talk more in detail
about that right right coming up. But yeah, so well let's talk about
for some of some of the things that you do. It's as simple as
that tell us what Peco Love does. Yeah, so we are all about
you know, if I look at we are focused on three things that we
want to achieve. We want to end the youth unnecessary youth in aga of
shelter puts in our country. There are a lot of loving homes that we
just need to get the shelter pets into those loving homes. Yes, a
lot of how we do that is working with local organizations often supporting their work.
And when I say that our approach is unique, I think, you
know, this is what we do. So our team has really developed a
process where we can really evaluate organizations, what funding do they have, and
what's the impact that they're making with that funding. And we're going to focus
on supporting those organizations that are making a significant impact in saving lives. And
sometimes that means we're funding some organizations that maybe they don't look that pretty,
but they are just really doing amazing work. They have a heart that people
there have a heart for saving lives, right and what they really just need
is more resources. And sometimes you just don't know it until you get to
know those organizations a little bit more. So I said three things, and
then I went off on a long time. That's okay. No, no,
no, it's no. Don't apologize. This is perfect because this is
what the whole purpose is is to educate everyone who doesn't know, or maybe
who has a slight idea. So no, no, no, it's perfect,
perfect, perfect because you explained it perfectly. Thank you. Yeah.
So, we want to end the euphanasia of shelter pets in our country.
We want to make sure any lost pets is reunited with the families that love
them. Because I don't know about you, but if I ever lost my
dog and I didn't find it, forget it, I don't know how I
would go on. Me too, No, me too, me too.
Yeah, And honestly, even if they found a new, loving home,
that's not the point. The point is I want them to be in my
home at them. Correct. You want to make sure that happens? Correct?
Yeah, And I mean, yeah, go ahead, I'm sorry.
No, And then I was going to say, the third thing that we
focus on is really making sure that we increase access to veterinary and care for
the pets that really needed. Is the cost of veterninearying care rises. What
are the things that we can do to support more pet parents who may not
be able to afford that cost? Sure? And I feel like number three
also is kind of related to number one, because if people could afford to
get their pets spayed and newtered, maybe we wouldn't have so many pets in
the shelters. I think you're absolutely right, and people are surrendering, surrendering
pets because they know they need care and they can't afford. So you're seeing
a lot of the nonprofit organizations moving in that direction about how do we help
people keep their pets. We don't want to take pets where people love them
just because they are facing financial challenges. So we're seeing a lot of animal
welfare organizations move in that direction as well. Yeah, which is actually I
think is a big, big, big will be a huge help to people
so they can actually because I mean times are hard, people lose their job,
they don't, you know, not that the pet is the first thing
to go, but it's a consideration because they're worried about paying their mortgage or
their rent or putting food on the table. But this way, it helps
them realize and because we know and most people know that when you have a
pet, it's part of your family. So you're not going to give up
one of your children when you lose your job, so you shouldn't have to
give up one of your you know, your pets as well. Absolutely right,
And in the end, helping us keep our pests benefits us as individuals.
I mean, there is study after study that have proven that pets improve
are physical and our mental health. So you know, think about it.
If there's a lot of initiatives right now that are focused on the fact that
perhaps we can keep down the cost of human health care by making sure people
have pets, well that's a beautiful will all the way around. No,
it's one hundred percent, because I know with pets it helps with senior citizens,
with people who live by themselves. I've spoken to so many veteran groups
where a lot of people who come home with PTSD, rather than be on
you know, thirty five medications, they get a service dog and it completely
opens their life again and gives them their life back. So you're absolutely right.
It's pets do so much physically health you know, health wise for us
it's the the benefits of pets on our lives are it's just endless and so
you know, it is a mutually beneficial relationship. But I mean, honestly,
it's just so much more than that. It really I think pets just
bring love into our life so much. There's even there's even studies about how
they also bring us together and sometimes in this day of division, yes,
those are that's the one thing that can bring us together, whether it's you
know, race, social justice, equity, politics, everything. The thing
is everyone loves their pets. That's right. Now, You're all come together
around that. And I think they really really breaks down the barriers that people
have right and starts conversations where maybe conversations wouldn't otherwise start. I've always said,
if you want to get legislation passed, I think, you know,
we should bring pets up to the hill and we'll get a lot of You
know, you're a very smart woman, because I agree with you. I
think that would definitely solve a lot of our issues for sure, because it
would definitely put people at ease because there would be a pet there, a
dog or cats. Ay. Yeah, I definitely agree with that. I
think a lot more would get accomplished. Absolutely. Oh, so we did
hit on something and I actually saw a fact that was shocking to me.
That nearly ten million pets go missing each year. And I know we talked
about that, but we touched on it before. That's a jaggering number,
and I didn't realize that it was so many. I mean, that's that's
really tragic when I when you think about it, ten million, that's yeah,
and people at least think it won't happen to them, but in fact,
one in three pets will go missing in their lifetime. It's not going
to happen every day, but in their lifetime, and well we need that
one time for it to really impact your life. Sure, and yet so
many pets, and yet when we look at the way we've been focused on
reuniting pets. Microchips are absolutely important, and we always tell people they should
they should microchip their pets. Not every pet is microchipped. A lot of
people don't keep it up to date. Well, yes, not to provide
alternative correct And in the day and age of technology, we're still telling people
to put a flyer on a telephone pole. So you're relying on people that
drive by where you put the flyer right right. So that is really that
is really why peco Love became focused on fixed really providing a solution, a
community solution to this, and that's creating a national lost and found database that
uses image recognition technology to help us reunite pets. And so just think about
it. If everyone who lost a pet and everyone who found a pet put
them into one central place, we would be reuniting more loss pets. It's
like if everyone used the same telephone, poles drove by it and put up
the fire, we would be reuniting more loss pets. And so this is
I think an important initiative, a game changing initiative. We're already working with
shelters around the country that makes to make sure that if pets have already gotten
to the shelter, those pets end up in our system and it's automated.
But it also enables people in communities to just contact one of the another directly
and reunite the pets in their community, so you don't even have to worry
about your pet ever getting into a shelter. And because a lot of those
shelters are already very overwhelmed, we don't need to put that on them.
Let's all help each other, let neighbor to neighbor help each other, and
let's reunite our pets. Well this sounds like I mean, this really is
like the perfect solution. I just saw. It's funny that you say that,
because I just it was just a recent video and I think it was
from the city shelter and a family had they were on vacation and maybe it
was like earlier this year. They were on vacation, the dog sitter lost
the dog, and the dog wound up in the city shelter, and so
they went to an adoption event now from wintertime almost summer, and as soon
as they saw the dog and they said, you know, that dog looks
like our dog, whatever the name was. And there's a video. I
just saw it the other day. It was just like a babe cry because
when the dog saw the people who were looking at it saying, I think
that's our dog, the dog lost its mind because it was its owners.
I think that may have been at our New York City adoption events the prior
year, because this exactly, this situation exactly happened. Okay, you know
we also one of the things Peco Love does is is, you know,
put on these mega adoption events around the country, and in New York City
was in a Union Square just past year over two hundred and fifty adoptions.
But the year before that we did have someone come and they were they were
looking to adopted pet because it had been a while, and they saw their
own pets. It must have been yeah, oh my gosh, just an
amazing story. And when you think about that, you know, this is
just something that we know there's probably pets being adopted that already have families.
Let's get them to their family. Sure that loved them, you know,
Yeah, And it's so funny because that probably I mean, I just saw
it. So it's great that it's making the rounds again because it's actually perfect
timing for what we're talking about for Pet Love Lost. You know, if
all the dogs get onto and it's for cats too, correct or is it
just it's yeah, yeah, dogs and cats, Dogs and cats, and
it's funny. Yeah, people don't focus as much on cats. They think
they're going to come home and stuff. And sometimes cats do come home,
right, but not always? Yeah, not always. And we actually have
just as many people using Petco Love Loss for cats. Is you for dogs?
We've already reunited forty six thousand pets on the system, but we are
just getting started and a lot of the shelters are on board now. And
I think the more people utilize the system, the more lives we're going to
say, we're going to keep populations down in shelters. That'll give them room
to focus on the dogs that really do need homes and the cats that really
do need home. Right, it's just a win all the way around.
Yeah, it definitely is. So for someone who's listening right now has a
dog or a cat, they can just go to petcoloveloss dot org and upload
a photo and information. Is it that easy? It's that easy? And
then if they go missing, it's just a click of a button. You
would just hit it I've been lost. It'll go into our system and then
if someone finds it, it'll match them up. And if you don't.
You know a lot of people are worried about sharing contact information. You can
chat within our system. You can talk to another and you can come and
then you know, really verify everything and then meet up with the person.
So it's that easy. Wow. Wow, And this is and I mean
approaching the fourth of July. As much as people should know better to keep
their animals safe inside, but sometimes with you know, fireworks and firecrackers,
pets get out because they're frightened. So this is this is perfect. Like
right now, as you're listening to this and you have a pet, a
dogg or a cat, you should definitely go to petcoloveloss dot org and just
register your pet just because better safe than sorry. As they say, absolutely,
I one percent agree with you. Wow wow wow, So this is
actually you said it's pretty new, this whole technology. Yeah, it's a
few years into it and we continually make changes to improve it. So the
more most recently the team that we are integrating pets that are in the neighbors
app. People are posting lost pets in the neighbors app that's affiliated with your
Ring Cameras, and then we recently also began an integration with next door.
And so the goal is wherever your pet is, we want to make sure
it gets into our database and there's one central place, so people will post
a lot of places. We just want to make sure that they all find
their way into Pecko Love Loss because that's when we're going to reunite more lost
pets. Wow, difficult if everyone's posting twenty different places, but the people
who lost the pet and the people who found it aren't posting in the same
place. Correct. We want to make sure everyone gets into one place,
right, like a big it's like one big universal phone book of all the
pets. See, I mean, you know, just to make an old
school a little bit. It's like a big giant phone book with every single
pet his photo is and information. So this way we hope that it never
happens that someone loses their pet. But things do happen. Unfortunately, accidents
happened. I love to say it has never happened to me, but right,
no, me neither. But still it doesn't matter. Yeah, we're
just two people. Oh no that Actually it has happened to me, Marie.
I you know, one of my dogs got out of the fence and
didn't even know he got out of it, and thankfully I was able to
find him. But I think I'm a pretty darn responsible pet owner and it
has happened to me. So things can happen. No things can happen,
It's true, and it's really it's no strike against what type of pet who
you are, because like you said, of course you're an excellent one.
We know you are. So it just it happens. They're they're animals.
Things happen all the time. So better safe than sorry, especially with you
know, the fourth of July coming and summer vacations. If you take your
pets with you, you know many people I've done it, take you know
it, take my dog all the time on vacations with me, and you
just never know, even like being in a strange place, if you lose
your dog, well, if your dog is registered at petcoloveloss dot org,
better chances that you'll be going back home with your pet. So that's right,
it's great, so great, okay, And you know, of course
I always look to like kind of the call to action for my listeners who
are listening and well, how can I help? How can I help?
So if they have pets, they should definitely register their pet. But also
you survive by donations, yes we do, and anyone can donate to petco
I'm going on petcolove dot org and we also just I also just always recommend
people donate to their local shelter, volunteer foster help your local organizations too,
we're all in this together, and we're all in it for one reason,
and that's to help the pets most in needs. So wherever you want to,
you know, focus your efforts on. We just encourage everyone to do
something right. Exactly well, Suzanne Cochd. I appreciate you and all that
you do and all of your knowledge and information and sharing it with us today,
and I definitely will talk to you. I want to talk to you
again because I really do love pet co love so much. So please let's
talk again in the near future and you can tell me more things that are
going on with you. Absolutely I would love to do that. Thank you
Maria for having us