A One-of-a-Kind Pop-Up Shop Gives Animals Hope for the Holidays

Nov. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Thousand Oaks, CA – A new pet store is in town and just in time for the holidays. On November 18, Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks will be the home of Shelter Hope Pet Shop, a pop-up pet store that carries shelter animals available for in-store adoption. NewMark Merrill, who manages the shopping center, donated the space to help Ventura County Animal Shelter in Camarillo find homes for shelter animals in need of adoption. The store will be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm and the adoption prices will be the same as adopting directly from the shelter, including discount prices for dogs to veterans (November only) as well as senior citizens! The adoption fee includes spay/neuter, microchip, shots, a certificate for a free vet exam (at participating vet clinics), and a six-week obedience class with a canine behaviorist at no charge (offered on site at the Ventura County Animal Shelter in Camarillo). The available bunnies come litter box trained, and the adoption packet includes a $25 gift certificate towards spay or neuter and phone numbers for counselors who will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help members of the public with any questions they have regarding their new adopted bunny!

What:  Press conference

When:  Friday, November 18, 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Where:  Janss Marketplace, 275 N. Moorpark Rd. East, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(Enter mall near Rite Aid. Shelter Hope Pet Shop is located inside the mall between the Conejo Valley Art Museum and Gold’s Gym Kid’s Club)

Who:  Melanie Pozez (Founder, Bark Avenue Foundation), Kim Sill (Board Member, Bark Avenue Foundation), Linda Parks (Supervisor for Ventura County, District 2) and Heather Danko (Marketing Director, NewMark Merrill)

Press check-in:  10:15 am

The Shelter Hope Pet Shop staffed and managed by Bark Avenue Foundation, will house approximately 25 small dogs and 10 rabbits for adoption from the Ventura County Animal Shelter in Camarillo. “We will have a computer available in the store to show customers other available shelter animals, should they not find a pet they are interested in adopting from us,” stated Melanie Pozez, Founder of Bark Avenue Foundation. “With the financial support of the ASPCA to help cover the store’s additional expenses, we are able to provide a new opportunity to save lives.”

Kim Sill, Board Member of Bark Avenue Foundation, stated, “In this tough economy, with mall vacancies at their peak, it’s reassuring to see NewMark Merrill turning the tables by giving back to their community. There are so many pet stores still in business selling puppy mill dogs. We haven’t beaten these chain stores yet, so we are joining them…but with shelter animals who are priceless!”

“We were happy to donate the space for such a great cause,” stated Heather Danko, Marketing Director for NewMark Merrill. “The store was vacant and it gave us the opportunity to give back to our community and benefit animals at the same time.”

California shelters take in close to 1 million dogs and cats per year and the cost to house and euthanize them are approximately $300 million. Linda Parks, Supervisor for Ventura County, stated, “The Shelter Hope Pet Shop is a great addition to Thousand Oaks, and our hope is that we are able to make a real difference in the lives of so many animals.”

www.shelterhopepetshop.org