ST LOUIS, Nov. 22, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At Thanksgiving Day feasts across the country, families pause to reflect on the many things they are thankful for, and for millions of people that includes their pets. This year, Nestlé Purina PetCare® is looking at this holiday tradition in a different way - from the pet’s point of view.
Beginning on Thanksgiving Day, pet lovers are invited to visit the Petcentric by Purina Facebook page and share what their pet is thankful for. Stories of gratitude will be accepted until Nov. 27, and for each "like" of the Petcentric Facebook page Purina will give thanks to pet rescue shelters by donating $1, up to $50,000, to Adopt-a-Pet.com. Adopt-a-Pet.com is the largest non-profit homeless pet adoption website in North America*.
"Pet lovers show their appreciation for their pets every day, and on this special day of thanks we’d like to know what they think their pets are thankful for," said Danielle Behan, senior brand manager, Purina brand. "This is a fun way to engage pet lovers and to support a great organization, Adopt-a-Pet.com, in its mission of finding forever homes for pets."
The program will be highlighted during the National Dog Show Presented by Purina®, which is scheduled to air at noon (local time in all time zones) on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, on NBC, following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Actor and National Dog Show co-host John O’Hurley will appear in a video during the telecast that features his four-legged friend Tater Tot and explores what the pup is thankful for at Thanksgiving.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the National Dog Show Presented by Purina. NBC launched the two-hour special in 2002 and it became an immediate hit with viewers, more than quadrupling TV ratings for that time slot from previous years. Nearly 20 million people tune into the show each year, making it a genuine family holiday tradition and America’s most widely viewed dog show**. Some 2,000 of the nation’s top dogs encompassing more than 160 breeds will compete for "Best in Show" this year.
The Petcentric Facebook page, located at www.facebook.com/petcentricbypurina, is an online community where pet lovers get together every day to share their love for their dogs and cats.
Adopt-a-Pet.com has more than 1.7 million unique site visitors each month and assists more than 11,000 animal shelters and humane societies find homes for their pets*.
Additional information and video available at www.internetvideorelease.com/thanksgiving.
About Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
The North American headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Mo., where it was founded as Ralston Purina Company more than a century ago. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., the world’s largest food company. Visit www.purina.com.
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*Source: Adopt-a-Pet.com
**Source: NBC