ASPCA and Subaru "Share the Love" to help animals left homeless for the holidays

Via PRNewswire - The ASPCA has announced the launch of the ASPCA and Subaru "Share the Love" event Rescue Ride program, which will transport hundreds of homeless dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters to ones in which they have a better chance of being adopted this holiday season.

This is the sixth consecutive year the ASPCA has been a beneficiary of the Subaru "Share the Love" event. The Rescue Ride program will grant a total of $100,000 in funding to 20 organizations to cover transportation costs.

In addition, the ASPCA has distributed grants to over 80 local animal welfare organizations to host pet adoption-related events and promotions at local Subaru retailers to save lives and raise awareness for animals in need.

"Relocation can be the difference between life in a cage versus successful adoption for an animal," said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO. "This generous gift from Subaru and Subaru owners will give hundreds of pets across the country a renewed chance to find homes for the holidays."

All organizations receiving grants are members of the ASPCA's MAP (Moving Animals Places) program, which is a groundbreaking, interactive and free web-based map application that helps connect animal shelters across the country for the purpose of saving more lives through animal transport.

"Through the MAP program, we have been able to facilitate successful connections between organizations to move animals to where they have the greatest opportunity to find a home," said Sandy Monterose, senior director of community initiatives for the ASPCA. "Partnering with Subaru helps us not only fund those transports, but bring attention to how important, meaningful and wonderful pet adoption really is."

During "Share the Love" – which runs from November 21 through January 2 – Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer's choice of participating charities, including the ASPCA.

Subaru will give up to $10,000,000 in total, with a minimum donation of $250,000 to each of the five national charities. In 2012, 100 percent of the ASPCA's 2012 "Share the Love" event donation was distributed as grants to animal welfare organizations across the country.