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The Pedigree Foundation Gives Thousands to the Petsmart Charities® Rescue Waggin’® Program

Donation will help save the lives of homeless dogs and puppies

(Nashville, Tenn.) — The PEDIGREE Foundation will award the PetSmart Charities® Rescue Waggin'® program with a $25,000 grant in honor of the program’s 5^th Anniversary of saving lives by transporting dogs and puppies from high euthanasia shelters to shelters elsewhere in the country where adoptable dogs are in demand.

"On behalf of The PEDIGREE Foundation Board, we are proud to support the Rescue Waggin’® program as it plays a vital role in finding homes for millions of homeless dogs," said Foundation President John Anton.

Each year, more than 4 million dogs are up for adoption at breed rescue organizations and animal shelters across the U.S. Sadly, only half of these dogs ever find homes. This startling statistic served as the impetus for the establishment of The PEDIGREE Foundation—a non-profit organization founded in 2008 by the PEDIGREE® Brand to help dogs in need find loving homes by providing grants to 501(c)(3) shelters and rescue groups across the U.S. In its very first distribution of funds since its establishment in 2008, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 million to 540 deserving dog shelters and breed rescues.

The grant to the PetSmart Charities® Rescue Waggin’® program will help fund the operating costs for four routes across the nation. Rescue Waggin’® vehicles stop monthly at participating shelters to pick up puppies and dogs who might otherwise be euthanized because of overcrowded conditions. The Rescue Waggin’® vehicles deliver those adoptable dogs – as many as 60 at a time – to animal shelters elsewhere in the country with higher adoption rates and available adoption space.

According to Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities®, the Rescue Waggin’® program has helped save the lives of more than 25,000 homeless dogs and puppies since its inception in 2004. Shelters in the Rescue Waggin’® program are also eligible for grants to expand spay/neuter services for dogs and cats in their communities, and to expand their operations and pet-adoption programs.

Shelters and breed rescue organizations in need of funding may submit grant applications to The PEDIGREE Foundation through September 30, 2009, the cutoff date for all who meet the Foundation’s criteria. If you’d like to help dogs in need, log on to www.pedigreefoundation.org to donate throughout the year. All donations to The PEDIGREE Foundation are tax-deductible and will directly benefit select breed rescue organizations and animal shelters across the country.

^{About PetSmart Charities, Inc.}

^{PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities has funded more than $87 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and, through its in-store adoption program, has helped save the lives of more than 3.5 million pets in the United States. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working to help find a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit www.petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS.}