Michel A. Khalaf, President and Chief Executive Officer at Metlife | Metlife
MetLife Pet Insurance and the Association of Animal Welfare Advancement have named The Bond Between, a Minnetonka-based organization, as the recipient of the second annual Golden Beagle Award. This award recognizes organizations for their significant impact on animal welfare, especially in fostering connections between humans and animals and providing services that prevent animal homelessness. The Bond Between will receive $20,000 to support its initiatives.
Brian Jorgensen, CEO of MetLife Pet Insurance, stated, “Core to MetLife Pet Insurance’s mission is our deep commitment to animal welfare and empowering pet parents to address potential barriers to care, helping their pets thrive. The Bond Between exemplifies this commitment through its innovative programs and compassionate care. We’re proud to recognize their impact and support their continued efforts to improve access to care for pets and their families.”
The Bond Between was established in 2009. Since then, it has rescued more than 32,000 dogs and cats and facilitated over 3,100 adoptions in 2024 alone. Its approach includes providing shelter and veterinary care for animals while promoting adoption; supporting pet owners with social services such as a pet food shelf, respite foster care program, and low-cost vet clinics; and organizing activities like animal visits to assisted living facilities, pet loss support groups, and free training sessions for animals with behavioral needs.
Rachel Mairose, Founder & CEO of The Bond Between said, “The Bond Between is honored to receive this year’s Golden Beagle award. Since our founding, we have been focused on taking a holistic approach to rescuing animals and addressing the root causes of animal homelessness. By doing so, we have been able to grow our organization from a rescue to a first-in-its-class animal well-being organization. The award will help us continue our work and reach even more animals in need.”
Further information about The Bond Between can be found at https://www.thebondbetween.org.
MetLife operates globally across more than 40 markets offering insurance products as well as asset management services. More details are available at metlife.com.
MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC administers MetLife Pet coverage policies issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company in Rhode Island. Additional information can be accessed at https://www.metlifepetinsurance.com.