Pizza and Paws Program: Order A Pizza, Adopt A Pet
The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh receives more than 3,500 abandoned, stray, and surrendered animals annually – so it recently got creative in helping rehome these animals.
Because it is the largest municipal shelter in terms of coverage area in the country, encompassing more than 142 miles of territory, the need for an innovative approach to help boost adoptions and community engagement has become apparent. In response, the shelter launched its Pizza and Paws program in December 2023 to engage potential adopters and raise awareness in the community.
“Each adoptable animal receives a personalized Quick Response (QR) code, directly linking to their profiles on the shelter’s website,” said Ashley Behrens, the acting director at the shelter, noting that staff and volunteers followed similar successful programs of other shelters nationwide. “This code, coupled with the animal’s picture, is then placed on a pizza box by participating restaurants. This not only increases outreach but also fosters face-to-face interactions with local businesses — a win-win for the shelter and the community alike.”
While the program is still in its infancy stage, the shelter is optimistic about the potential impact it will continue to have on adoption volume. With media coverage and an active social media presence, they anticipate a surge in interest and ultimately more animals finding forever homes.
“So far the public response has been overwhelmingly positive. People tag us on social media as soon as they pick up their pizza,” says Behrens. Some of the restaurants participating in the program include Joanne’s Gourmet Pizza in Roslyn, Pezzi Pizza in Sea Cliff, Allegro Italian & Mexican Food in Baldwin and Roma Pizzeria in Merrick.
Beyond pizza fans and enthusiasts, the shelter runs a parallel initiative called the Partner for Paws program wherein businesses across various industries display pictures and QR codes in their storefronts and at their registers, also greatly contributing to the overall increase in matching adoptables to their new families. Looking to the future, the shelter envisions both programs as sustainable initiatives, hoping to expand its reach across Long Island.
She adds, “Between these programs and all of our additional adoption events held throughout the year, we are hoping this is just the start of more successful programs to follow.”
Businesses wishing to join the cause can reach out to Animalevents@hempsteadny.gov
