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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals Partners with
Iams Home 4 the Holidays to Help Reach 1.5 Million Pet Adoptions
Program Goal is to Help Place 1.5 Million Homeless
Animals into Loving Homes between October 2009 and January 4, 2010
New York, NY – Tuesday, December 1, 2009 –
The Mayor's
Alliance for NYC's Animals, along with its network of Alliance
Participating Organizations (APOs), is collaborating with Iams
Home 4 the Holidays again this year to help increase New York
City area responsible animal adoptions between October 2009 and
January 4, 2010. With more than 25 of its partner rescue organizations
and shelters participating in the adoption campaign this year, and
a full schedule of adoption events lined up for the holidays, the
Mayor's Alliance is doing its part to make sure as many animals
as possible find homes this holiday season.
Pet adoptions are perhaps more crucial this year
than ever. Because of economic challenges, foreclosures, job loss,
etc., some New Yorkers are deciding to give up their pets to area
shelters, while others are putting off adopting a pet at a time
when they most need the comfort of a loving pet in their home. New
York City shelters are filled with wonderful cats, dogs, rabbits,
and other animals awaiting new homes. To encourage New Yorkers to
open their homes to a wonderful pet in need, the Mayor's Alliance
for NYC's Animals has planned a comprehensive lineup of adoption
events throughout the city, and has partnered with the successful
Iams Home 4 the Holidays annual adoption campaign to promote adoptions
during the holidays. The complete schedule of adoption event locations
can be viewed at www.HolidayPetAdoptNYC.org.
Throughout the Home 4 the Holidays campaign, Animal
Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) shelters has extended
its adoption hours until 7:30 p.m. each day. It also is waiving
the adoption fee for cats one year and older, and offers gift adoption
bags to adopters while supplies last.
"By combining the dedication and passion of
the remarkable shelters, rescue groups and volunteers that comprise
the Mayor's Alliance with the inspiring and successful Iams Home
4 the Holidays program, we hope that more New Yorkers will open
their hearts and homes to a new furry family member, bringing joy
this holiday season and for years to come," said Jane Hoffman,
president of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals.
Iams Home 4 the Holidays has successfully placed
more than 2 million pets into homes since it began in 1999. The
campaign has announced its most aggressive goal to date, which is
to find loving homes for at least 1.5 million animals between October
1, 2009, and January 4, 2010. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center
in 1999, Iams Home 4 the Holidays harnesses the power of nearly
3,000 worldwide animal organizations in a global effort to raise
awareness about the importance of pet adoption. This year, two-time
Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank is partnering with Iams
Home 4 the Holidays. Hilary has adopted and rescued many pets throughout
her life, including her two dogs Karoo and Rumi, as well as cats
and birds.
By providing resources and information about participating
rescue groups and shelters, the program encourages potential pet
owners to adopt their next companion, not purchase from a pet store.
For those who cannot adopt a pet, the program also provides opportunities
to foster an animal, volunteer, or donate.
Important Facts
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There are as many as 8 million* orphaned
pets in the United States. |
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As many as 4 million* orphaned dogs and
cats will be euthanized this year due to shelter overcrowding,
according to a pet population study by Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS). |
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For anyone interested in adopting a purebred
dog, it's helpful to know that roughly 20–25 percent
of all dogs in animal shelters are purebreds. |
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More than 15 countries participate in this
adoption drive, making Iams Home 4 the Holidays one of the
world's largest pet adoption programs. There are participating
shelters in Canada, Iran, Australia, India, New Zealand, Iraq,
and more. |
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Iams Home 4 the Holidays has helped more
than 1,047,000 dogs, 962,000 cats and 66,000 other animals,
such as rabbits, reptiles, birds, and more, find homes over
the past nine years. |
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The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals is
committed to making NYC a no-kill city by 2015. Since its
inception in 2002, the Alliance's collaborative efforts have
reduced the euthanasia rate in New York City from 74 percent
in 2002 to 39 percent in 2008. |
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Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals pet adoptions
by AC&C and Maddie's Pet Partners (APOs) have increased
from 12,692 in 2003 to 26,593 in 2008. |
* According to a pet population study
from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
The pet adoption campaign takes place through January
4, 2010, and anyone who adopts from a Home 4 the Holidays participating
shelter or rescue group will receive an Iams Adoption Starter Kit,
which includes a care guide loaded with tips and information about
pet care, behavior, training, and nutrition. The kit also includes
the new pet's first meal as well as coupons for great savings on
additional pet food, other supplies, and animal health insurance.
To learn about the myriad ways to help an orphaned
pet, including finding participating shelters, volunteering and
making a donation to support animal organizations and pets awaiting
new homes, visit www.HolidayPetAdoptNYC.org
or www.IamsHome4theHolidays.com.
About Iams Home 4 the Holidays
As one of the most successful pet adoption programs
in the world, Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH) partners thousands
of animal organizations dedicated to finding forever homes for orphaned
pets. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams,
IH4TH began in 1999 with just 14 participating animal shelters in
San Diego County. Since it began more than 9 years ago, IH4TH —
along with nearly 3,000 pet adoption centers — has helped
more than 2 million families experience the joy of pet adoption,
including nearly 500,000 pet adoptions last year alone. For more
information, please visit www.IamsHome4theHolidays.com.
About the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals
The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Inc., founded
in 2002 and powered by Maddie's Fund, The Pet Rescue Foundation,
with support from the ASPCA, is a coalition of more than 150 animal rescue groups and shelters working with Animal Care &
Control of New York City (AC&C) to end the killing of healthy
and treatable cats and dogs at AC&C shelters. To achieve that
goal, the Alliance, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, helps
its Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) work to their highest
potential to increase pet adoptions and spay/neuter rates, with
the goal of transforming New York City into a no-kill community
by 2015. For more information about the Mayor's Alliance and its
participating organizations, please visit www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org.
Press Contact
Carrie Hyman
M. Silver Associates
Phone: (212) 754-6500 x245
E-mail: carrie@msilver-pr.com
Jessica Del Guercio
M. Silver Associates
Phone: (212) 754-6500 x237
E-mail: jessica@msilver-pr.com
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