Held four times per year, PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend invites future pet parents to help change a life through pet adoption. With adoption events at over 1,600 stores and partnerships with nearly 4,000 adoption partners, unconditional love is closer than you think. Since 1994, we’ve been able to help over 8.5 million pets find loving homes through our adoption programs. It’s support from pet-lovers like you that provides homeless pets the best chance to find the people they’ll call family. Help us reach 9 million adoptions by joining us to adopt your new best friend! @PetSmartCharities @PetSmartCharities @PetSmartChariTs {PetSmart Charities} THE PAW REPORT SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION MARK YOUR CALENDAR PETSMART CHARITIES NATIONAL ADOPTION WEEKEND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Find a store near you at www.petsmartcharities.org/locator We’re leveraging social media to encourage people to attend their local events and adopt. But for those that can’t adopt just yet, there is #PicMe — using the power of social media and influence to inspire others to help save even more lives. Can’t adopt? You can still help pets in need: Attend a PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend Event at a PetSmart store near you. Take pics of adoptable pets (feel free to sneak in some snuggles while you’re at it!) Post the photos on your social media channels using #PicMe with information on the pet(s) and where they can be adopted. ADOPT IF YOU CAN... INSPIRE OTHERS IF YOU CAN’T! NATIONAL ADOPTION WEEKEND NOVEMBER 8-10

OPEN DOORS { publisher’s page } My close friends have heard me say these words many times: “Everyone should have to work as a waiter or in retail for at least six months. It would make for a more understanding world.” Serving customers in a restaurant or store is hard work. You’re on your feet, face forward no matter the mood, and that old adage “the customer is always right” presents some interesting challenges. When I see someone abusing this privilege, it makes me cringe and wonder if they would act that way if they had done this type of job during their lifetime. My first “real job” came at 14 — the minimum age to acquire a work permit in California. I wanted to have the latest 80s fashions and my mom let me know I was going to need to work for that. The Boston Store (now long gone) was a mini Macy’s in my hometown and it needed a part- time associate. The 16-hour-a-week commitment provided a paycheck to keep the latest Esprit collection in my closet, and the full-time team was game to train me in all things retail. Giftwrapping baby shower and Mother’s Day gifts let me be crafty; using the register and balancing my drawer required real-life math; and learning how to pierce ears was crazy-fun. By the time my senior year rolled around, I was training the new teenagers coming in to replace me after I left for college. Andrea Evans | Publisher LESSONS FROM SERVICE OCTOBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 49