Iams, ASPCA Team Up To Increase Number of Successful Animal Adoptions

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Saturday, 10 November 2001

"Lifelong Friends" program will match prospective pet parents with the ideal pet.

Approximately 7.5 million animals each year are ready for adoption in the nation's shelters. Of those relinquished to the shelter, 68% were turned in because they weren't a good match for the household. Great potential pets languish at 5,000 shelters in this country every day because prospective pet parents aren't aware of them.

Today, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and The Iams Company took a step toward decreasing these numbers by announcing "Lifelong FriendsTM ," a comprehensive program designed to heighten awareness of the quality pets available at shelters and improve the pet-parent matches made at shelters.

With the announcement, The Iams Company will give more than $200,000 in grants to 10 shelters across the U.S in an effort to expand and improve shelter adoption programs. In addition, Iams and The ASPCA will work with participating shelters to develop guidelines for prospective pet parents that will help pet parents find a perfect addition for their family at a shelter.

"Each year, millions of cats and dogs are waiting to be paired with the right families," said Dr. Larry M. Hawk, President and CEO of The ASPCA. "Shelters are the last hope for many of these animals, and with the help of The Iams Company and the 'Lifelong Friends' program, we're confident we can place more pets in loving homes this year and in years to come."

Shelters participating in the Lifelong Friends program include:

• San Diego Humane Society & SPCA, San Diego, CA


• Citizens for Animal Protection, Houston, TX


• Nebraska Humane Society, Omaha, NE


• Kansas Humane Society of Wichita, Wichita, KS


• Indianapolis Humane Society, Indianapolis, IN


• SPCA Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH


• Erie County SPCA, Erie, PA


• ASPCA Adoption Center, New York, NY


• St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, Madison, NJ


• Humane Society of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, FL

In addition, an additional 25 smaller shelters will receive training to improve and expand their pet adoption programs.

"Iams and The ASPCA are two organizations dedicated to the health and happiness of all animals," said Bryan Brown, VP of External Relations, The Iams Company. "We hope that by working together through the 'Lifelong Friends' program that we'll increase the number of shelter pet adoptions and the number of new 'believers' that shelters are the first place to turn when looking for a new pet."

Additional details about the "Lifelong Friends" program will be announced later this year.

For more information, or to contact American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, see their website at: www.aspca.org