<![CDATA[Good Neighbor Stories]]> https://newsroom.statefarm.com/ en-us Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:04:39 +0200 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 22:53:30 +0200 <![CDATA[Good Neighbor Stories]]> https://content.presspage.com/clients/150_1441.jpg https://newsroom.statefarm.com/ 144 Meet Arson Dog Teams and Other Animal Helping Heroes https://newsroom.statefarm.com/meet-arson-dog-helping-heroes-at-petco/ https://newsroom.statefarm.com/meet-arson-dog-helping-heroes-at-petco/360939Events Oct. 12 at Petco Stores Across the CountryAbout State Farm:

For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance combined in the United States. Its more than 19,200 agent offices and over 62,000 employees serve over 96 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the 2025 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com. 

]]>Heroes walk among us every day. Some of them have four legs instead of two.

Arson K9 Kaimi is one of those dogs. K9 Kaimi is the first and oldest serving arson dog in Hawaii. Abandoned at a California shelter when he was seven months old, things didn’t look good for the young yellow Lab. Most pet adopters are looking for a calm pet or lap dog, not a dog with an energy level that doesn’t stop. Thankfully a shelter worker took notice of his enthusiasm and work drive. They contacted a local fire investigator, who reached out to trainers with the State Farm® Arson Dog Program.

In April 2008, K9 Kaimi met and trained with his new human partner, Assistant Fire Chief Robert (Bobby) Perreira. After five weeks of training, they became a certified team for the county and state. Since then, K9 Kaimi has worked hundreds of fires across the Hawaiian Islands, finding evidence that helps local police and fire departments during arson investigations.

Assistant Fire Chief Robert Perreira and K9 Kaimi will be at the Petco store in Hilo, Hawaii, on Oct. 12 for the Petco Foundation Meet a Helping Hero campaign. It will be one of his last public events. K9 Kaimi will retire from service in December 2019 after serving the residents of Hawaii for 11 ½ years. Nearly 13 years old, K9 Kaimi may be a little slower, but his nose is still sharp.

State Farm will have 47 arson dogs and handlers at Petco stores as part of the Meet a Helping Hero campaign. The campaign highlights how working animals transform lives by providing comfort, support, and assistance. The campaign also raises money to support animal shelters, rescues, and working dog organizations.

The Petco Foundation has provided over $60,000 in grants to police and fire department with certified arson dog teams. These grants help with expenses related to care, maintenance, and annual recertification of dogs like K9 Kaimi.

Therapy, service, and working animals will be at Petco stores on Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. local time. Visit the Petco Foundation Meet a Helping Hero website to find participating stores.

]]> Mon, 07 Oct 2019 12:07:00 -0500 https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1441/500_100719mahhbobbyandkaimi-593981.jpg?10000 https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1441/100719mahhbobbyandkaimi-593981.jpg?10000 Pawing It Forward https://newsroom.statefarm.com/pawing-it-forward-at-animal-shelters/ https://newsroom.statefarm.com/pawing-it-forward-at-animal-shelters/244993State Farm® Celebrates the Heroes Working and Volunteering at Animal Shelters At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, we’ve invested more than $200 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we’ve helped more than 5.5 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.

]]>About State Farm:

For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance combined in the United States. Its more than 19,200 agent offices and over 62,000 employees serve over 96 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the 2025 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com. 

]]>Animal shelter staff and volunteers provide care for the 7.6 million companion animals that enter shelters each year. For some, it is the first time they have received a loving touch or a regular meal.

]]>Pets are a member of the family. Unfortunately, many animals haven’t found their forever home. Each year, an estimated 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters. They are loved and cared for by dedicated employees and volunteers. For some of these animals, it is the first time they have received a loving touch or a regular meal.

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is November 5-11, 2017. State Farm celebrates the people who dedicate their time working and volunteering at the estimated 14,000 shelters and pet rescue groups in the United States. These people know animal rescue is both rewarding and devastating.

State Farm does not exclude homeowners or renters insurance coverage because of the breed of dog owned. Under the right circumstances, any dog might bite, regardless of breed.

An Unsung Hero

Karl Booker arrives at work every day ready to show love to the animals at LifeLine’s Fulton County Animal Services in Atlanta, GA. As a kennel technician, he provides care to the animals until they find a forever home. He also provides friendship and love to the dogs who may never make it out of the shelter. When a dog enters the shelter scared or aggressive, Booker is the one called upon to make a connection. In some cases, it is the only loving touch these dogs have ever – or will ever – experience. According to Booker, “it isn’t so much about them being bad. They just need some attention...some love.”

Unfortunately, some of these dogs will never be safe as family pets. In those cases, Karl is the one who is with them when their lives end. It is Karl who shows these dogs the love and respect they should have received during their entire life.

On May 19, 2017, Karl and his wife flew to San Diego, CA, to accept the Petco Foundation Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by State Farm. Celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stilwell presented the award. It recognizes a special individual whose commitment and dedication exemplifies their love for animals. In honor of Karl Booker, the Petco Foundation also awarded LifeLine’s Fulton County Animal Services a $25,000 grant to continue saving the lives of animals in Atlanta.

Other 2017 Petco Foundation Lifesaving Award recipients included:

  • Founder’s Award – Brian Devine: Honoring the former Petco CEO and Chairman for his creation of, and commitment to, the Petco Foundation.
  • Paul Jolly Compassion Award - Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association (Charleston, WV): Recognizing a small to mid-sized organization whose compassion for animals moved them to make a difference.
  • Spay Neuter Award - Coalition for Pets and Public Safety (Los Angeles, CA): Celebrating the commitment of a high-impact spay and neuter clinic for service to their community, sterilizing an extraordinary number of animals.
  • Helping Heroes Award - Mission K9 Rescue (San Antonio, TX): Honoring the work of an organization committed to serving our courageous canine heroes.
  • Love Amplified Award - NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations for Clear the Shelters: Recognizing the visionary marketing and outreach efforts that resulted in increasing pet adoptions and saving lives across the country.
  • Lifesaving Impact Award - LifeLine Animal Project (Atlanta, GA): Celebrating an exceptional organization, whose inspirational leadership transformed their community and made a significant lifesaving impact.

You Can Make a Difference

Want to make a difference for animals in your community? State Farm has launched the Neighborhood of Good® initiative to make it easy for people to volunteer.

Step 1: Visit NeighborhoodofGood.com®

Step 2: Choose a topic that you care about and enter your zip code

Step 3: Select a volunteer opportunity

If you are a non-profit organization, the Neighborhood of Good has teamed up with All for Good to help you connect and coordinate with volunteers around your cause. Registering with All for Good also helps people find your cause on the Neighborhood of Good website.

Join the movement by doing anything – big or small – to make a positive difference in your neighborhood. Together, we can turn the power of caring into the act of doing.

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