Is Your One-in-a-Million Pooch Picture Perfect?

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Posted : Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:02:28 GMT

Author : Purina

Category : PressRelease

Purina(R) Dog Chow(R) Brand and 'Dancing with the Stars' Winner Drew Lachey Invite Dog Owners Nationwide to 'Picture Your Dog in Times Square'
ST. LOUIS, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Is your dog a natural in front of the camera? Do you share Fido's photogenic features with all your friends? Now you can share your unique dog's mug with people everywhere when it is showcased on the digital displays in New York's Times Square and simulcast on the internet.
The Purina(R) Dog Chow(R) brand invites dog lovers to visit http://www.pictureyourdogintimessquare.com/ between March 17 and April 28 and follow the instructions to register and upload a photo of their one-in-a-million dog. Then, on June 19, uploaded photos will be featured on the Reuters/NASDAQ Digital Tower Billboards in Times Square, giving each pooch face time in one of America's most famous intersections. The digital displays will be simulcast on the Purina(R) Dog Chow(R) virtual online dog park at http://www.longliveyourdog.com/ so you don't need to be in the Big Apple to see your dog's photo in Times Square.
Bright Lights, Big Canine
Those who register with Long Live Your Dog, create a home page for their dog, and upload an original photo will also have a chance to win a trip to New York City to see his or her dog's image featured on the big screen in person. The trip includes a five-day, four-night getaway with one guest and their picture-perfect pooch. Visit http://www.pictureyourdogintimessquare.com/ to learn more.
A Message From Drew to You
To help raise awareness for the unique promotion, Drew Lachey, "Dancing with the Stars" winner and host of "Dance War," and his German Shepherd, Luka, are helping to get the word out through a personalized voice message. Dog lovers can visit http://www.pictureyourdogintimessquare.com/ to send friends, family and co-workers messages from Drew Lachey inviting them to upload their dog's photo. Phone messages from Drew can be customized with dogs' names, descriptions, hometowns and the sender's and recipient's names. The end result is a tailored voice mail message from Drew Lachey to join Luka on the big screen in Times Square.
"Everyone thinks their dog is one-in-a-million, and this is a chance to show them off to the world. I'm very excited to be involved with a program that helps showcase so many unique dogs," Lachey said. "In fact, I have already uploaded a photo of Luka to the Web site so his loveable mug will be visible for millions to see. I'd love to see all the dogs in America featured along with him, so I'm doing my part by personally inviting them."
From Virtual Parks to Local Reality
The Purina(R) Dog Chow(R) brand will help support real-life dog parks nationwide with its grant program. Up to $40,000 in grants will go towards maintenance and upkeep of dog-friendly areas, including dog parks and other off-leash designated areas.
"With dog ownership numbers increasing, dog parks are becoming such an integral part of every community," said Daynique Smith, brand manager for Purina(R) Dog Chow(R) brand Dog Food. "People love to spend time with their special dogs, and we want to do our part to provide assistance to community dog parks to sustain and upgrade their facilities."
To be considered for a grant, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements, submit an application containing 500 words or less explaining how the funding will be used and include a photo of the park facilities to be upgraded or maintained. Grant applications will be accepted via U.S. mail at Purina Dog Chow Grant Program, 2M, Nestle Purina PetCare, Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63164. All applications must be submitted or postmarked between March 17 and April 28, 2008. Limit one application per dog park. The recipients will be announced online on June 19, 2008.
For more information on the "Picture Your Dog in Times Square" event and the Purina(R) Dog Chow(R) Grant Program, or to send a personalized voice message from Drew Lachey, please visit http://www.pictureyourdogintimessquare.com/ or http://www.longliveyourdog.com/.
Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A., the world's largest food company.

CONTACT: Josh Rangel: 312.729.4168 GolinHarris or Kerry Lyman: 314.982.2094 Nestle Purina PetCare Company