MetLife Pet Insurance Honors “The Bond Between” with the Golden Beagle Award for Outstanding Animal Welfare Contributions
MetLife Pet Insurance and the Association of Animal Welfare Advancement recognize the organization for its impact on the lives of animals in the Minneapolis area
NEW YORK, October 14, 2025 – MetLife Pet Insurance and the Association of Animal Welfare Advancement are pleased to announce that the Minnetonka-based organization The Bond Between is the recipient of the second annual Golden Beagle Award. The organization is being recognized for their outstanding contributions to animal welfare, including their work fostering the bond between humans and animals and providing essential services to prevent animal homelessness. As the recipient of this award, the group will receive $20,000 to support their work.
“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,” said Brian Jorgensen, CEO of MetLife Pet Insurance. “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.”
Founded in 2009, The Bond Between has rescued more than 32,000 dogs and cats and facilitated over 3,100 adoptions in 2024 alone. The organization’s holistic approach includes:
- Building bonds between pets and people by providing safe shelter, proper veterinary care, and daily necessities for animals while facilitating and promoting pet adoption.
- Supporting bonds between pet owners and their furry loved ones by offering social services like its pet food shelf, respite foster care program and low-cost vet clinics.
- Reinforcing bonds between people and animals by organizing animal visits to assisted living facilities, hosting pet loss support groups and providing free private training sessions for animals with behavioral needs.
“The Bond Between is honored to receive this year’s Golden Beagle award,” said Rachel Mairose, Founder & CEO of The Bond Between. “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.”
To learn more about The Bond Between visit https://www.thebondbetween.org.