2017 Cat Fanciers’ Association International Cat Show. Pictured from left to right: Phebe Low and first-runner up; Noralyn Heisig and Best in Show winner; CFA president Mark Hannon; and Gloria Busselman and second runner-up. (Photo courtesy of Cat Fanciers’ Association)
The following is a press release from the Cat Fanciers’ Association:
Velvetkist Don’t Touch My Tutu took Best in Show honors at the 2017 Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) International Cat Show presented by Royal Canin. The event, which is the largest pedigreed cat show in the nation, was held this past weekend, November 18 – 19, in Portland, OR. It drew entries from around the world.
The six-month-old Dilute Calico Persian female kitten is bred and owned by Noralyn Heisig from Maryland. Heisig is no stranger to the CFA’s International Shows. In 2014, Velvetkist Pack’n Heat of Krimpurrs took Best In Show honors at that year’s International Cat Show. Then in 2016, Velvetkist Designer Genes was named second runner-up at the International Cat Show.
Also taking honors at the 2017 CFA International Cat Show presented by Royal Canin were:
FIRST RUNNER-UP
GC, DW Chapter XXI Gabu
Black Bombay Male
Breeder: Phebe Low, Sig & Sharyn Hauck
Owner: Phebe Low, Sig & Sharyn Hauck, SM Wong, Wong My
SECOND RUNNER-UP
GC, GP, BW, NW Parti Wai Hear Me Roar
Red & White Persian Neuter
Breeder: Gloria Busselman
Owner: Carol Warrens & Gloria Busselman
“CFA congratulates Noralyn and everyone who participated in the show,” said Mark Hannon, CFA President. “We also thank the many exhibitors who flew in from around the world to compete and to the people of Portland for making us feel welcomed.”
More than 500 cats, representing 41 breeds, competed for top honors in the largest pedigreed cat show in the country.
Jason Taylor, Royal Canin National PRO Sales Director, added: “This year’s event attracted an incredible showcase of pedigreed cats from around the world. We are proud to support the Cat Fancier’s Association through our title sponsorship of the International and would like to congratulate all of the winners!”
Royal Canin, a leading global pet nutrition company specializing in breed-specific nutrition, has spent nearly half a century developing diets that are highly palatable and provide complete and balanced nutrition for cats.
Items in Ikea’s Lurvig product line for pets (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
Sweden-based lifestyle company Ikea has launched a product line for pets called Lurvig, which is Swedish for “shaggy.”
Here are more details from an Ikea press release:
“I feel that my pets are the ones who can really take me to the present moment. When we share our time together, my head is more free, and other worries and stress fall away. They teach us respect, and their unconditional love is priceless.”
Ikea’s Lurvig designer Inma Bermudéz (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
If you’re a pet owner, designer Inma Bermudéz’s words might be something that rings true to you too. After all, our pets give us a lot, from that wagging tail that welcomes us home, to that calm company next to us on the sofa, or that unconditional love at every other time. If you ask us, we reckon it’s time to give them something back.
That’s why we brought in Inma to work on the LURVIG range, which is designed to help out all aspects of life with our dogs and cats. Not to mention be long lasting and affordable, while fitting in with your existing home furnishings.
As Inma says: “Our pets have their own personalities but they have five things in common: they love sleeping, eating, playing and exercising, and being close to us. So these behaviors have been the first thing on our minds when designing these products.”
DESIGNING FROM A PET’S PERSPECTIVE
(Photo courtesy of Ikea)
Of course designing products for pets, rather than humans, has its own set of rules and things to consider. To help out, the LURVIG range was developed with the assistance of trained veterinarian Dr. Barbara Schäfer, who also works with product risk assessment at IKEA.
Barbara has an extensive background working with pets – from hamsters and rats all the way up to dogs and cats. She says the biggest challenge is not to “humanize” pet products.
“It’s really important to use an animal’s natural needs and
behaviors (like how they sleep, eat or play) as a starting point. Then we can design a product that fits in with our
human needs, such as style and form.”
The first thing to consider was safety:
“Dogs will definitely chew on their toys and bring in dirt from their daily walks. Cats will definitely scratch on most surfaces and are sensitive to smell and texture. So safe, durable materials are very important.”
As well as looking at animal behaviors like eating.
“Cats are generally good at regulating how much food they eat, however a number of dog breeds still retain the desire to overeat. That’s how the ‘slow feed’ bowl became part of the LURVIG range. By using a design that breaks up a bowl’s internal surface area, it prevents the dog from being able to inhale their food in one or two gulps.”
MATCHING HUMAN DESIGN WITH PET DESIGN
(Photo courtesy of Ikea)
When watching your pet, how often do they go for the same toy or blanket, and return to a cozy spot to chew or maybe just have nearby as a comfort?
Rounding out the LURVIG design process was the focus that our pets live with us at home as part of the family — even if they do take the odd shoe or two.
For Inma, that led to a friendly-smelling bed.
“The piece that I’m most proud of is a pet cushion: we
encourage owners to fill it with their old clothes, blankets or towels. The idea is that pets get a comfortable cushion with comfortable, familiar smells too.”
CAT SCRATCH MAT
Cat scratch mat. W 9⅞×L 24¾”. Sisal/natural (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
With this cat scratching mat, you quickly and easily transform an ordinary table leg into a scratching tree, where your cat can both sharpen their claws and stretch.
You easily attach the cat scratching mat using the sewn-in straps.
CAT HOUSE ON LEGS
LURVIG Cat house on legs. W 13-15⅜×D 13×H 27⅛”. White. (Photo courtesy of Ikea)LURVIG Cat house on legs. W 13-15⅜×D 13×H 27⅛”. White. (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
You can place the cat house on legs, hang it on the wall or slide the house into a KALLAX shelving unit. The cat house can also be used as a practical bedside table where the cat can crawl in and you can have small things close at hand on top. On the front side there’s a scratching wall where your cat can sharpen their claws. The opening is designed small to make your cat feel safe.
KALLAX INSERT
A cozy, safe and comfortable sleeping space that you can place on the floor or slide into a KALLAX shelving unit.
When you don’t need the box and want to save space, simply open the zipper in the bottom and fold it flat.
PET BEDFRAME
LURVIG Frame for pet bed. L 27¼×W 17½×H 9½”. White. (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
You can use the frame in two different ways: as a cozy nook with medium-high walls or put it upside down to give your pet a clear view in all directions.
KLIPPAN PET BED
LURVIG Cat/dog bed. L 27½×W 26¾×H 11¾”. Black. (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
You can quickly and easily create an even larger sleeping
space by folding out the seat cushion. The cover is easy to keep clean since it’s removable and can be machine washed.
SLOW FEED BOWL
LURVIG Slow-feed bowl. 41oz. Green. (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
The bowl stays in place since it has an anti-slip material
on the underside. The elevated part in the middle of the bowl ensures that your dog takes smaller bites, which reduces the risk of stomach pain.
Other Lurvig Products
LURVIG Travel Bag.
Polyester, polyethylene foam and
synthetic rubber. Imported. Requires assembly. L 19¾×W 12½×H 13¾”.
Black and green. (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
LURVIG Cover for petbed. 100% Polyester. Imported.
Black/White L 20½×13¾”.. Also comes in size L 20×30″. (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
LURVIG Cushion 100% polyester removable, machine washable cover. Polyester fiber ball filling. Imported.
L 19¼×W 11¾×H 2¾”. Gray. Also available in orange in white. Additional sizes: L 29¼×W 18×H 4¼” and L 39¼×W 24½×H 5½”. (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
LURVIG Reflective leash,
LURVIG Reflective harness.
LURVIG Reflective collar.
LURVIG Reflective collar,
LURVIG Collar for cat,
LURVIG ID tube, LURVIG Retractable leash.
LURVIG Anti-shock leash (Photo courtesy of Ikea)
Last weekend, North Americans welcomed 30,269 adoptable pets into their hearts and homes during PetSmart Charities’ third National Adoption Weekend of 2017 hosted at 1,500-plus PetSmart stores across the continent, making it the most successful National Adoption Weekend event ever for the leading funder of animal welfare and leading pet specialty retailer. With the help of more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations across the U.S. and Canada, PetSmart and PetSmart Charities found homes for a wide variety of adoptable pets, including dogs, cats, and even small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs and birds.
In preparation for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, animal welfare organizations across the country worked together to transport adoptable shelter pets from Florida and Texas to other areas of the country to help free up shelter space in the communities that were in the hurricanes’ paths. That way, pets displaced or left homeless by these storms would have access to shelter, food and veterinary care while they wait to be reunited with their pet parents and families.
Several of PetSmart Charities’ animal welfare partners, such as Last Chance Animal Rescue in Waldorf, Md., were able to bring adoptable pets from the southern U.S. to their East Coast community through pet transport programs. Not only did this make more room in Florida and Texas animal shelters, but it also gave the recently relocated pets a great chance at finding a forever home since adoption demand in many east coast states like Maryland is high.
“During times of natural disasters like the recent hurricanes, it’s inspiring to see how the animal welfare community and pet parents come together. While PetSmart Charities is always focused on getting more pets out of shelters through successful adoption events like the one hosted this past weekend, during times of natural disaster, it’s even more important to clear shelter space and assemble resources animal welfare agencies are going to need to care for pets displaced during the storms,” says David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D. and president of PetSmart Charities. “By adopting a pet this past weekend, not only did families give a shelter pet the forever home they deserve, but unbeknownst to them, they also had a hand in helping rescues and shelters to care for, assist and reunite pets and pet parents impacted by the hurricanes.”
Pet Parents Supporting Pets in Need
Many pet parents and animal welfare organizations across North America are looking for ways to help pets affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. To provide additional support to pets and pet parents in need, PetSmart stores invited shoppers to donate pet supplies and food to local animal welfare partners. In all, a record-setting 615,000-plus items from stores across the U.S. and Canada were donated to support pets in need. Donations will support pets in local communities, as well as emergency relief efforts following the historic hurricanes along the Gulf Coast and wildfires along the West Coast.
# # #
About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its philanthropic Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017, see petsmart.com/giveameal for details. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.
Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store and Distribution Center opportunities.
About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.
Hurricane season is underway, and the year 2017 is expected to have record-setting hurricane devastation. Here are American Humane’s tips for pet owners on what to do before, during and after a hurricane or other major storm:
Before the storm
NEVER leave animals behind. Review your evacuation plans and know a safe place where your pets can go if you need to evacuate. Evacuation destinations may include a friend or family member’s home, going to a pet-friendly hotel, or temporarily housing your pet(s) at a boarding facility. Plan multiple routes to your safe destination.
Microchip your pets and properly affix a tag on your pet’s collar with your name, address and cellphone number so they may be returned quickly in case you are separated from your pets. Update your microchip registrations and pet license information to ensure its current and consider including the name and contact information of an out-of-area contact just in case you are unreachable in a disaster zone.
Tie down or anchor outside objects that might fly about and injure someone.
Double-check your disaster preparedness kit for your pets (e.g., First Aid kit, leashes, and pets’ carrying cases, bowls, sanitation materials, chew toy, minimum 3 days, ideally 7-10 days of food, meds, water).
Evacuate your family and pets as early as you can and remember to take your family and your pet’s disaster preparedness kit if you do leave.
Bring children and pets inside; bring outdoor animals inside with a carrier ready large enough to turn around and lie down comfortably.
Have a carrier and leashes at the ready.
If your family must evacuate, ALWAYS take your pets with you.
During the storm….if you cannot evacuate
Choose a safe room for riding out the storm—an interior room without windows – and take your entire family there, including your pets.
Stay with pets. If crated, they depend on you for food and water.
Keep your emergency kit in that room with you (food, water, litter, meds).
Know your pet’s hiding places. That’s where they may run; keep them with you.
Secure exits and cat doors so pets can’t escape into the storm.
Do not tranquilize your pets. They’ll need their survival instincts should the storm require that.
After the storm
Make sure the storm has fully passed before going outside and assess damages before allowing children or animals out.
Keep dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier, and children close at hand. Displaced objects and fallen trees can disorient pets and sharp debris could harm them.
Give pets time to become re-oriented. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and cause a pet to become confused or lost.
Keep kids and animals away from hazards such as downed power lines and water that may be contaminated.
Uncertainty and change in the environment affect animals, presenting new stresses and dangers. Your pet’s behavior may change after a crisis, becoming more aggressive or self-protective. Be sensitive to these changes and keep more room between them, other animals, children or strangers. Animals need comforting, too. Comfort your pet with kind words and lots of pats or hugs. If possible, provide a safe and quiet environment, even if it is not their own home.
NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of NBCUniversal today announced that Snapchat will feature content from the stations’ Clear the Shelters third annual nationwide pet adoption campaign in its “Stories” section on Saturday, August 19. Videos and snaps of users with their pets and participating animal shelters will be featured in the app’s special Clear the Shelters “Stories” section this weekend. In addition, audiences all across the country will be able to activate Snapchat filters that will complement the stations’ pet adoption campaign.
Clear the Shelters is a first-of-its-kind pet adoption campaign that is spearheaded by NBC and Telemundo-owned stations. The stations’ pet adoption initiative includes the participation of more than 75 NBC and Telemundo stations, and nearly one thousand animal shelters across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. The campaign’s robust social media campaign #ClearTheShelters, #DesocuparLosAlbergues has already garnered support from various celebrities including Kristen Bell from NBC’s The Good Place, model Kate Upton, and Telemundo’s Carmen Villalobos, to name a few. On Clear the Shelters day August 19, participating animal shelters will offer low cost or waived pet adoption fees. Since the effort was expanded nationally in 2015, the stations’ Clear the Shelters pet adoption campaign has resulted in more than 70,000 pet adoptions.
“We’re excited to partner with Snapchat to offer audiences an entirely new way to stay up-to-date with all the wonderful pet adoption stories that we’ll be sharing from our Clear the Shelters events this weekend,” said Lora Dennis, Senior Vice President of Digital Media, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations. “Clear the Shelters has become a summer tradition for many communities and we cannot wait for audiences to watch all the fun videos and snaps and also join our social media campaign.”
For more information about the pet adoption campaign, visit ClearTheShelters.com. You can also follow the effort on social media by using the hashtags #ClearTheShelters and #LoveMyPet. To access information in Spanish, please visit DesocuparLosAlbergues.com and follow #DesocuparLosAlbergues and #AmoAMiMascota.
The following is a press release from NBCUniversal:
NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of NBCUniversal, today announced VIP Petcare returns as a repeat national sponsor of the NBC and Telemundo owned stations’ annual Clear the Shelters nationwide pet adoption campaign. VIP Petcare will donate more than $200 of preventive veterinary services to individuals that adopt a pet at this event. The $200 includes one free dose each of prescription flea/ tick and heartworm preventative medication.
Clear the Shelters is a nationwide pet adoption campaign that is spearheaded by NBC and Telemundo-owned stations. The stations’ Clear the Shelters annual pet adoption campaign has become a popular event for communities all throughout the country and includes the participation of hundreds of animal shelters. On Saturday, August 19, participating animal shelters will offer low cost or waived pet adoption fees. Since the effort was expanded nationally in 2015, the stations’Clear the Shelters efforts have resulted in more than 70,000 pet adoptions.
“VIP Petcare’s continued support of the NBC and Telemundo owned stations’ Clear the Shelterspet adoption campaign will ensure that our stations and partner shelters deliver a memorable event for communities and pet adopters all across the country,” said Bruce Kallner, Senior Vice President of Strategic Sales and Marketing, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations. “We’re excited to work with a partner that values the importance of quality pet care and wellness and look forward to another successful Clear the Shelters day.”
VIP Petcare’s goal is to not only find forever homes for shelter and rescue pets, but to educate all pet owners on the importance of ongoing pet wellness care. The company is dedicated to keeping every pet healthy, happy and safe. Through a network of over 2700 clinics nationwide, VIP Petcare provides vaccinations, diagnostic testing, microchipping and other wellness veterinary care to pets and their parents.
“We are honored to sponsor Clear the Shelters for the second consecutive year,” said Will Santana, CEO and Founder of VIP Petcare. “Thousands of pets will find a home on August 19 and we are committed to ensuring they get a healthy start in their new life.”
For more information about the pet adoption campaign, visit ClearTheShelters.com. You can also follow the effort on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by using the hashtags #ClearTheShelters and #LoveMyPet. To access information in Spanish, please visit DesocuparLosAlbergues.comand follow #DesocuparLosAlbergues and #AmoAMiMascota.
The following is a press release from American Red Cross:
For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross has been training people to perform first aid skills so they could save the lives of others. Now, the organization announces the release of its new Cat and Dog First Aid online course so that owners will know what to do in an emergency until veterinary care is available.
“It’s so important for people to know what to do if a person is experiencing a life-threatening emergency,” said Deborah C. Mandell, VMD, DACVECC, member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, and professor at Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Now, the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course provides owners, pet-sitters and dog walkers with an easy and convenient way to learn life-saving skills for their pets.”
People can access the course on their desktop or tablet at redcross.org/catdogfirstaid and go through the content at their own pace. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete the course. Participants can stop and pick up where they left off if Fluffy needs a treat or it’s time to take Fido out to the dog park.
The interactive course includes:
How to determine a pet’s normal vital signs so that owners can notice if there are any irregularities;
Step-by-step instructions and visual aids for what to do if a pet is choking, needs CPR, has a wound, or is having a seizure; and
Information on preventative care, health and tips for a pet’s well-being.
DOWNLOAD THE PET FIRST AID APP The Red Cross Pet First Aid App complements the course by providing cat and dog owners with instant access to expert advice, an animal hospital locator, pet-friendly hotels, content on how to include pets in family emergency preparedness plans and more.
The app can be downloaded for free in mobile app stores or by texting ‘GETPET’ to 90999. American Pet Nutrition is a proud sponsor of the Pet First Aid App.
Petco returns as a national sponsor of NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations’ “Clear the Shelters” pet adoption campaign for a second consecutive year. On Saturday, August 19, 2017, Petco partners will be present at participating animal welfare organizations to answer questions from potential pet adopters and their families. Petco will also be distributing “Welcome to the Family” packets containing information for new pet parents along with coupons for pet supplies.
“Clear the Shelters” is a nationwide pet adoption campaign that is spearheaded by NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of NBCUniversal that includes 30 NBC and Telemundo-owned stations. The stations’ “Clear the Shelters” third annual pet adoption campaign has become a popular event for communities nationwide and includes the participation of hundreds of animal welfare organizations. On August 19, participating animal shelters will offer low cost or waived pet adoption fees. The NBC and Telemundo owned stations’ third annual “Clear the Shelters” effort has helped to inspire local communities to take action and open their homes to animals in need. Since the effort was expanded nationally in 2015, the stations’ “Clear the Shelters” pet adoption campaign has resulted in more than 70,000 pet adoptions.
“Petco has been an fantastic partner to the owned stations and we’re excited to work with a company that is deeply committed to pet adoption issues and helping families have the resources and information they need to provide the best care to their newly adopted pets,” said Bruce Kallner, Senior Vice President of Strategic Sales and Marketing, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations. “The Petco Foundation has also been a great supporter of our “Clear the Shelters” campaign and we’re pleased to work with a non-profit organization that shares our goal of matching homeless pets with new, permanent homes.”
“With more than 50 years in the pet specialty business, Petco understands and celebrates the importance of the incredible bond between pets and pet parents,” said Charlie Piscitello, chief people officer at Petco. “‘Clear the Shelters‘ allows us to extend our year-long animal adoption efforts and offers our immensely passionate store partners the ability to help even more families start out with the tools and knowledge they need to make their relationship with their new pet as rewarding as possible.”
For more information about the pet adoption campaign, visit ClearTheShelters.com. You can also follow the effort on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by using the hashtags #ClearTheShelters, #ThinkAdoptionFirst and #LoveMyPet.
This weekend the Petco Foundation, a leading funder of animal welfare, and The NUTRO Company kick off their “Be A Lifesaver” campaign, promoting everyday lifesavers throughout the country and encouraging all people to be lifesavers for animals this summer.
Everyone can be a lifesaver with five simple actions:
Adopt: Find a new family member by adopting a pet at a local animal welfare organization.
Foster: Fostering pets can save animal lives and can be a fun, educational family-friendly summer activity. Learn more at participating Petco stores on July 22, during the Petco Foundation’s “Be A Foster” event.
Volunteer: Local shelters always need volunteers for a variety of activities like walking dogs, socializing cats or folding laundry. Talk to local animal welfare organizations about how your skills and interests fit with the organization’s needs.
Spread the Word: Share on social media how you’ve acted as a lifesaver for pets with #BeALifesaver
Donate: Donate at checkout at Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores to help the Petco Foundation reach its goal of raising $2.1 million to provide lifesaving investments to animal welfare organizations.
Be A Lifesaver events:
Be A Lifesaver Adoption Weekend: Adopt your new family member
Saturday and Sunday, July 1 and 2 at participating Petco and Unleashed by Petco store locations.
Be A Foster: Learn more about fostering and apply to be a foster family for pets Saturday, July 22 happening at select Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores.
The NUTRO Company generously donated $75,000 to kickoff the Be A Lifesaver campaign. From July 1-23, guests in Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores are invited to Be A Lifesaver by making a donation at checkout to support animal welfare organizations throughout the country.
“Summer is a busy time for animal welfare organizations. There is often an increase in animal intake and demand for services,” said Petco Foundation executive director Susanne Kogut. “Our Be a Lifesaver campaign aims to inspire individuals to take action to help save animal lives in their own communities. Through collecting donations — $2, $5, and $20 at a time at checkout in Petco stores — we hope to raise more than $2.1 million to support lifesaving animal welfare work nationwide.”
Tickets go on sale May 2 for CatCon, the only cat-centric, pop culture convention in the world. Tickets can be purchased at catconworldwide.com.
Both human and feline celebrities and influencers will be on hand for the event taking place at the Pasadena Convention Center, August 12 and 13, including Ian Somerhalder (“Vampire Diaries”), Mike Bridavsky and Lil BUB, Moshow the Cat Rapper, Cats of Instagram, Julie Newmar (“Batman’s” Catwoman), Pudge the Cat, Nala Cat, Kitten Lady, Aaron Benitez (‘Aaron’s Animals’), Jonathan Zurbel (‘Catstradamus’), Michael Nielsen (‘Monty Boy’), Oskar the Blind Cat, Simone Tipton (‘Doc’), White Coffee Cat, and Luna Rose. More to be announced.
Seminars for this year’s show include: They Put the Special in Special Needs, The Furrocious Fashion Face-Off, CatCon Video Festival presented by The Pet Collective, Kitten Lady Tells All presented by ASPCA, Men and Cats: a Love Story, and The CatCon Awards, presented by the Maker of Frontline Gold.
CatCon 2017 is presented by Rachael Ray Nutrish. Additional sponsors include: Frontline Gold for Cats, The Pet Collective, BuzzFeed, ASPCA, ModCloth, Blue Buffalo, VIP Petcare, World’s Best Cat Litter, Litter Robot, Sleepypod, and Petsafe.
CatCon 2017 Info:
Dates: Saturday, August 12th and Sunday, August 13th, 2017 Location: Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101 Hours: Saturday, 9AM- 5PM; Sunday, 10AM – 5PM Tickets: $30 per day for adults, $15 for children ages 5-12, under 5 free
August 1, 2018 UPDATE: On Sunday, August 13 at 3:00 PM, the 1st Annual CatCon Awards, presented by the Maker of FRONTLINE® Gold will be held. Hosted by Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica” and “Lucifer”), winners will be honored in such categories such as Freshest Loaf and Biggest Newcomer. Plus, actor and animal activist Ian Somerhalder (“Vampire Diaries”) will present Kitty Lady Hannah Shaw with the Advocate of the Year Award.
Current list of talent includes: Ian Somerhalder (“Vampire Diaries”), Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galatica”), Gilles Marini (“Switched at Birth,” Sex and the City), Julie Newmar (Catwoman from “Batman”), Hannah Shaw (“Kitten Lady”), Addison Riecke (“The Beguiled”), Nickelodeon’s Lizzy Greene, model Tess Holliday, Lil Bub, Aaron Benitez, Prince Michael, and Phil (“Aaron’s Animals”), Moshow the Cat Rapper with Ravioli, Cats of Instagram, Pudge the Cat, Nala Cat along with siblings White Coffee and Luna, Oskar the Blind Cat and his dad Mick, Chris Poole (“Cole and Marmalade”), Jonathan Zurbel (“Catstradamus”), Michael Nielsen (“Monty Boy”), Scott Stulen (Internet Cat Video Fest), Angie Bailey, (‘Texts from Mittens’), Kate Benjamin (“Catification”), Rachel DeMita (TV host), Simone Tipton (“Doc”), Dr. Paul Koudounaris and more to be announced.
