PetPlace® and Pets Best Insurance Honor Five Extraordinary Pet Rescues as "Heroic Hearts Collective" Award Recipients on National Pet Day

More than 15,000 nominations were submitted in support of pet rescues from coast to coast.

NEW YORK, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet rescues nationwide are facing more challenges than ever before, including overcrowding, increased surrenders, rising costs, and lack of funding to name a few. Today, on National Pet Day, which celebrates the forgotten pets in shelters, PetPlace & Pets Best honor five rescues whose work is making a positive impact on pet lives across the nation.

"Pet rescues work tirelessly to save and rehome pets, often with limited resources. At PetPlace, we're honored to support these organizations through the Heroic Hearts Collective, recognizing their dedication and providing meaningful aid to help them continue their lifesaving work" says PetPlace President, Sam Watson.

The initiative, "Heroic Hearts Collective", was announced in February with the aim of recognizing, celebrating, and rewarding pet rescues throughout the United States. More than 15,000 nominations poured in, reinforcing the amazing work done by rescue groups, and their desperate need for support. Today, PetPlace and Pets Best Insurance are excited to share the inspiring stories behind the five winning rescues that were chosen at random, which will each receive a $1,000 cash donation, 50 standard microchips, one universal microchip scanner, and a feature story on Petplace.com.

1. AmsterDog Rescue has been serving the Greater NYC area for over 14 years, born from a group of volunteers united to help pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
2. Great Pyrenees Rescue Society in Spring, TX, is a volunteer-run organization dedicated to rehabilitating and rehoming at-risk Great Pyrenees dogs.
3. The Pittie Party of Central Florida in Kissimmee works tirelessly to save dogs at risk of euthanasia in county shelters, providing them with the care they deserve.
4. Umbrella of Hope in Pittsburg, CA, strives to reduce euthanasia by raising awareness of homeless pets and promoting adoptions.
5. Whiskers N Wishes Sanctuary in Tucson, AZ, specializes in rescuing cats—particularly seniors and those with disabilities—ensuring they find loving forever homes.

Visit PetPlace.com/heroic-hearts to read more about these incredible rescues.

Today's celebration is marked by an exciting new software announcement by PetPlace. Later this month, they'll launch 24PetRescue, a free, mobile-friendly software designed to help rescues efficiently manage their organization through intake, capturing medical records, microchip registration, and adoption.

According to Sam Watson, "rescue groups work tirelessly to save lives, but managing operations can be tough. Our free software, 24PetRescue, simplifies end-to-end processes in one mobile-friendly platform—so rescues can focus on what matters most: finding loving homes."

To learn more about 24PetRescue visit 24Pet.com/products/24PetRescue.

If you are a member of the media and would like to request more information about the Heroic Hearts Collective, or to request an interview with a PetPlace and/or Pets Best executive, please contact K. Sutherland PR at [email protected].

About PetPlace 

PetPlace® is a network of innovative products and services designed to support pet well-being, the pet parenting journey, and animal welfare organizations. PetPlace is committed to creating a world where pet care is easy for all, and every pet thrives in a loving home. PetPlace is owned by Independence Pet Holdings, Inc. (IPH), an organization that manages a diverse and broad portfolio of modern pet health brands offering a range of pet insurance services, pet education, lost pet recovery services, and beyond across the U.S. and Canada. PetPlace.com 

About Pets Best
Pets Best offers pet insurance and wellness plans for dogs and cats in the U.S. Founded in 2005 with a mission to end economic euthanasia by helping to ensure pet parents are financially prepared when their pets need unexpected veterinary care, Pets Best delivers flexible coverage, an easy claims process, and excellent customer service. Pets Best is highly rated by independent review sites and is rdisplayed by veterinarians across the nation in their clinics. Pets Best is a founding member of NAPHIA, an organization dedicated to ensuring high standards and transparency for the pet insurance industry.

Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company (NAIC #12190), a New York insurance company headquartered at 6100 4th Ave. S. Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98108, or Independence American Insurance Company (NAIC #26581), a Delaware insurance company located at 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd. #160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC (NPN #8889658, CA agency #0F37530) is a licensed insurance agency located at 10840 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28277. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. Terms and conditions apply. See your policy for details. To learn more about Pets Best, click here.

SOURCE PetPlace.com