Petfinder.com Foundation recently awarded grants to help 31 animal shelters prepare for natural disasters, with a total of $130,000 in funding through Merial's Paws to Save Pets program.

The Merial Concert Series at the AVMA Annual Convention is a fundraiser for Paws to Save Pets, which in turn supports the disaster preparedness and relief efforts of the Petfinder.com Foundation and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.

The recent grants will help shelters pay for items such as generators, emergency lights, back-up communication equipment, repairs and replacements of storm shelters, and storage units for emergency supplies.

Since its inception in 2005, the Paws to Save Pets program has raised more than $3 million in cash and products. Additional information is available at www.pawstosavepets.com, www.petfinder.com, or www.avmf.org.