• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, November 20, 2024

Chewy Claus is back again, granting holiday wishes. This year, the ecommerce company’s program is more generous than ever, partnering with Best Friends Animal Society to provide free animal adoptions over Thanksgiving weekend.

The company introduced Chewy Claus in 2022 as a letter-writing campaign for pets. Cats, dogs, bunnies and birds (or more specifically, their humans) started sending holiday wish lists, and since then, the company has collected more than 500,000 letters. While many requested treats and toys, thousands asked for something more: permanent homes for shelter animals.

The requests for adoption funding got too numerous to ignore, resulting in this year's adoption drive. “Chewy Claus is dedicated to spreading joy during the happiest time of the year,” said Orlena Yeung, chief brand officer, in the release. “When we received thousands of letters from pets asking for homes, we knew we had to help. There’s no better way to celebrate the season than by uniting pets with loving families—whether they’re first-time pet parents or welcoming a furry friend back home.”

Chewy is partnering with Best Friends, a pioneer in the no-kill movement that has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to 415,000 last year. The two organizations are linking would-be pet parents up with shelters and rescue partners around the country. And even if the pet isn’t directly in a person’s city, most pets are available for adoption nationwide.

For every letter sent to Chewy Claus, the Plantation, Florida-based company will also donate one pound of food to a nonprofit partner, up to 600,000 pounds. Pets can also defer their holiday gift and instead ask Chewy Claus to send an extra pound of food to pets in need.

While cause-related efforts to all charities heat up in the holiday period, pet-related giving remains a growth spot. In 2023, gifts to environment and animal-related organizations rose 8.2% to $21.2 billion, according to research from Giving USA. Total giving reached $557.16 billion, up 1.9%.