William Mattar Rescue A Shelter Animal Campaign 2025

The 2025 William Mattar Rescue A Shelter Animal Campaign has ended. We will be announcing the winner here soon. Thanks to all participants and voters!

Rescue a Shelter Animal 

Where would most of us be without our amazing pets? They are among the most cherished family members who bring years of happiness and joy to their families. They provide us with companionship and emotional support, which may reduce stress levels and feelings of loneliness. Pets stand by our sides during times of need, often posing the question, who rescued who? William Mattar’s beloved dog, Peanut Butter (pictured above), is sadly no longer with us, but each year we run this campaign in memory of pets lost and in the name of those on the way to their forever homes.

 

As the cold weather moves in, William Mattar Rescue a Shelter Animal Campaign highlights the importance of rescuing an animal in need from local shelters and rescues. All animals deserve a safe, warm, and loving home. Despite the hard work of shelters and rescues everywhere, it is estimated that millions of dogs and cats enter America’s shelters each year. Please consider rescuing or fostering an animal, donating, fostering, or volunteering at a local shelter or rescue. Every little bit helps. 

It's Time for the William Mattar Pet Photo Contest!

Enter Your Favorite Pet Photo Between November 4 – 11 , 2025

 
 
 
Our pet photo contest brings the community together over our love of giving back, helping others, and sharing the special bond we have with our pets. Each year, we ask the public to submit their pet photos and then cast votes on their favorite photos to celebrate our furry friends and support local animal shelters and rescue groups. 

The winner of the William Mattar Pet Photo Contest will choose an animal shelter or rescue organization to which we will give a monetary donation. The winner’s pet will receive a gift card to spoil their pet with.

With fresh updates to our pet photo contest to make it more user-friendly, we encourage all who submit photos to encourage their friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family to vote! Not only will you be excited to submit and share your pet’s photo, but being able to gift a donation to the shelter or rescue group of your choice is something that can help so many animals on the journey to their forever homes.

Registration and Voting are Open from 11/4/25 - 11/20/2025

Helping Is More Than Just Adoption

Animal shelters and rescue groups are humane places overflowing with happy and healthy animals waiting for a home. Many animals that end up in shelters are usually there through no fault of their own typically because their human has a problem, such as an illness, divorce, or a move. Many animals living in shelters are already house-trained and are used to living with families, children, and even other animals.

Rescuing a shelter animal gives an animal a second chance, and you may also save it from being euthanized in an overcrowded kill shelter. Most rescue groups do not have brick-and-mortar facilities and depend strictly on foster homes for shelter and care. This can make it difficult to place animals in forever homes.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, each year, “more than one million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States, simply because too many pets come into shelters and rescues and too few people consider adoption when looking for a pet.” Most animal shelters do their best to take in unwanted pets and rehome them. Still, the costs associated with medical care, food, and shelter add up, making it extremely challenging for everyone involved to keep up the good work.

By taking home a new pet, you also make room at the shelter for another animal with nowhere else to go. This is especially important for senior pets, as they typically get a bad reputation because of the stigma associated with their age and potential growing medical needs. Senior pets may have an extended stay at shelters, but it does not necessarily mean they are not loving and loyal companions.

To all who love animals and want to help, we have a list of many rescue groups and animal shelters below. If you are not able to rescue an animal or become a foster, there are many other ways to help that can make a big difference. They are always in need of donations and volunteers to help the animals in their care while awaiting adoption. Monetary donations are desperately needed as many are struggling to gather funds to maintain or make improvements needed to their buildings, and medical costs often strain their budgets as well.

Shelters and Rescue Groups

Buffalo & Western New York Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Rochester Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Syracuse Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Albany and 518 Area Code Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

St. Lawrence County

Capital District NY List of Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Binghamton Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Elmira Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Utica Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Other Agencies and Pet Resources

Wildlife Rehab/Rescue Erie and Niagara County

2024 Photo Contest Winner

The winner of last year’s pet photo contest was Watson! Watson’s human, Michael Avery, granted the $1,000 donation to Greece Residents Assisting Stray Animals (GRASP), which is who rescued Watson! Michael was also the recipient of a $100 Chewy gift card, which he generously forwarded to GRASP as well.

We would like to thank Michael for sharing Watson’s story and participating in our pet photo contest!