Press Room

Media contacts:
David Meyer, President, (800) 728-3273 x42, davidm@Adopt-a-Pet.com
Abbie Moore, Executive Director, (800) 728-3273 x43, abbie@Adopt-a-Pet.com

Organization Background

Adopt-a-Pet.com (formerly 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com) is North America's largest non-profit pet adoption website with over 7,000 public and private animal shelters and humane societies posting their pets for adoption. Over 1,500,000 unique visitors a month search by zip code and other preferences to see photos and descriptions of pets for adoption in their area.

News

*** MEDIA ALERT ***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ADOPT-A-PET.COM AND SHEPARD FAIREY ANNOUNCE "LEAD BY EXAMPLE" LIMITED EDITION PRINT TO HELP HOMELESS PET CRISIS

LOS ANGELES - September 22, 2009 - Following the tremendous response to the original red and blue Limited Edition ADOPT image release earlier this year, Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America's largest non-profit pet adoption web service, announces the upcoming gold and black Shepard Fairey "Lead By Example" print release.

"Homeless pets urgently need us to take the lead and speak out on their behalf, now more than ever," said Shepard Fairey. "The 'Lead By Example' ADOPT image is a powerful one and it is my hope that this new print will give people a way to advocate for these animals and show their support for pet adoption."

According to Adopt-a-Pet.com Spokesperson Dr. Pia Salk, who initiated the ongoing collaboration with Fairey, "The 'Lead By Example' image is really a call to action to raise awareness for the plight of shelter animals nationwide. Shepard's dedication to all victims of injustice, regardless of species, provides an example of what it means to 'Lead By Example.'"

Salk added, "The economic downturn is hitting these animals harder than ever. Record numbers of loyal family pets are being relinquished to already overcrowded shelters. And budget cuts further compound the tragedy, as shelters are now getting even less funding to provide needed care."

California budget cuts recently led to a suspension of The Hayden Law, a bill that required California shelters to hold all incoming animals for a minimum of four to six days. The reduction to a one to three day hold gives lost and relinquished pets even less chance to be found or to secure safety before they are in danger of being killed.

"Sadly, these innocent animals are paying the price for our crisis with their lives. We at Adopt-a- Pet.com are more committed than ever to getting the millions of great shelter animals currently waiting to be adopted, seen, saved and into loving homes. Proceeds from the print purchase will help support pet adoption," said Salk.

Signed/numbered screen prints (limited edition run of 400) will go on sale Thurs., Sept. 24 at a random time. The first red/blue ADOPT print by Shepard Fairey sold out in under 90 minutes, so this latest version is also predicted to go fast. Each print will be numbered and signed by Shepard Fairey and priced at $200 each.

T-shirts, dog bandanas and stickers with the ADOPT image are also available for those who wish to show their support for this lifesaving cause. To purchase Shepard Fairey ADOPT print and merchandise and to sign up for alerts of future print sales, visit www.adoptapet.com and click the link to sign up.


CELEBRITIES USE TWITTER TO SAVE SHELTER PETS' LIVES

Adopt-a-Pet.com launches "TwitterACritter" campaign with help from Kevin Nealon, Alyssa Milano, and others.

LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 25, 2009 - Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America's largest non-profit pet adoption web service, announces the official launch of TwitterACritter, a new social media campaign that uses Twitter to spread the word about adoptable pets in shelters.

On the campaign web site, www.TwitterACritter.com, pet lovers can select one of the 130,000 homeless dogs, cats, and other pets listed on Adopt-a-Pet.com and tweet a link to that pet's information.

"TwitterACritter is a fun, easy way for people to actively save the life of a shelter pet, even if they can't adopt one themselves or afford to donate," says Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt-a-Pet.com. "Homeless pets are powerless to promote themselves to potential adopters, so it's up to those of us who love animals to lend a hand, and a set of thumbs, and tweet about them. In these difficult economic times, when so many pets are being relinquished to shelters, they need our help more than ever."

Already the campaign has gotten a boost from several celebrities who have participated and encouraged their Twitter followers to do the same. Since the TwitterACritter feature became available two weeks ago, Kevin Nealon, Alyssa Milano, Denise Richards, Kristin Chenoweth, and several other celebrities have taken up the cause and tweeted links to shelter pets listed on Adopt-a-Pet.com. According to Moore, "In each case, immediately after the celebrity's tweet, hundreds of their followers tweeted homeless pets as well... and their followers tweet, and so on and so on. The celebrities create an avalanche of compassion."

"The bottom line is that if enough people see a shelter pet, that pet gets adopted. There is no better way to expose shelter pets to as many potential adopters as possible than through Twitter," continues Moore. "It's no exaggeration to say that a single tweet can save a life. Imagine the impact it would have if everyone tweeted just one critter a day!"


Adopt-a-Pet.com, a nationwide database of needy animals, recently launched a new social media campaign that uses Twitter to spread the word about adoptable pets in shelters.

Pet lovers can go to www.TwitterACritter.com and select one of 130,000 animals listed on Adopt-a-Pet.com and tweet a link to that pet's information.

Among the critters listed include dogs, cats, horses, reptiles, bunnies, gerbils, horses, amphibians, and farm animals. All of the animals are available from over 8,000 shelters and rescue groups, including many from NYC Animal Care & Control shelter.

"Homeless pets are powerless to promote themselves to potential adopters, so it's up to those of us who love animals to lend a hand, and a set of thumbs, and tweet about them," says Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt-a-Pet.com. Among the celebs that have tweeted for the sake of the animals include newlywed Alyssa Milano, funnyman Kevin Nealon, and reality star Denise Richards. And when Milano tweets, many of her 160,000 followers listen.

For example, a recent RT (return tweet) Milano recently sent out to on the Twittersphere helped raise money for a chocolate lab that was rescued after collapsing in front of a home in Culebra, Puerto Rico.

To learn more about TwitterACritter visit Twitteracritter.com. You can follow the campaign at www.twitter.com/tweetacritter.


Adopt-A-Pet.Com Launches 'Social Petworking' Campaign To Empower Internet Users To Help Get Homeless Animals Adopted

With the economic disaster contributing to a drastic increase in homeless pets, Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America's largest non-profit pet adoption web service, today launched a unique "Social PETworking" campaign to encourage users of social networking websites to advertise adoptable pets to their friends as a way to help homeless pets get seen and adopted.

Social PETworking is a grassroots way for pet lovers to actively spread the word about individual pets in local shelters who need homes

Using the power of tools like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and email, anyone can help save a life with just a few clicks of a mouse.

What better way to address the startling increase in pets being relinquished to shelters than to empower Internet users with a fun, easy way to actually save lives

Social PETworking enables anyone who cares about pets, including those who are not able to adopt, to be advocates for these pets and for pet adoption overall.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 4, 2009 -- With the economic disaster contributing to a drastic increase in homeless pets, Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America's largest non-profit pet adoption web service, today launched a unique "Social PETworking" campaign to encourage users of social networking websites to advertise adoptable pets to their friends as a way to help homeless pets get seen and adopted. To kick off the campaign, Adopt-a-Pet.com has declared June as "Social PETworking Month" and has set a goal of networking at least 30,000 homeless pets in the first 30 days. Adopt-a- Pet.com is also giving away a year's supply of Purina ONE(r) pet food to a lucky pet lover who visits their website to help with Social PETworking. "Social PETworking is a grassroots way for pet lovers to actively spread the word about individual pets in local shelters who need homes," said Dr. Pia Salk, human-animal bond expert and spokesperson for Adopt-a-Pet.com. "Using the power of tools like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and email, anyone can help save a life with just a few clicks of a mouse." Anyone who cares about homeless pets is invited to participate by taking the following simple actions:


ADOPT-A-PET.COM LAUNCHES EFFORT TO SAVE THE LIVES OF RABBITS, HORSES, PIGS AND OTHER PETS VICTIMIZED BY ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Non-profit online pet-search service already helping dogs and cats expands focus to include other species in need

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 2, 2009 - Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America's largest non-profit pet adoption website, today announced the expansion of its pet adoption database to include rabbits, horses, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, farm-type animals and other small pets. This is in addition to the already extensive Adopt-a-Pet.com database of cats and dogs available for adoption across the nation.

"We expanded our database because there are many other pets aside from cats and dogs that need loving homes," said David Meyer, founder and president of Adopt-a-Pet.com. "It's a very timely expansion because the state of the economy and home foreclosures are causing many people across the nation to relinquish their pets to shelters. Our new search database will allow people from anywhere to access photos and descriptions of pets available for adoption from rabbits to birds."

Every year in the U.S., over seven million adoptable cats and dogs are killed mainly due to pet overpopulation. That number doesn't take into account the many other types of pets that are also homeless and often put to sleep.

"Over 100,000 adoptable dogs and cats are currently on our site, where they can be seen by millions of potential adopters, and thanks to a grant from Petsmart Charities, we are thrilled to be able to extend a hand to animals of other species as well," said Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt-a-Pet.com. "We can't wait to help animal shelters and rescue groups find homes for all the types of pets in their care."

The new search database is currently up and running at Adopt-a-Pet.com. Click here to adopt a rabbit, adopt a horse, adopt a bird, or search all new species -- http://www.adoptapet.com/other-pet-adoption.





TIME MAGAZINE’S ICON MAKER OF THE YEAR, ARTIST SHEPARD FAIREY, JOINS ADOPT-A-PET.COM TO KICK OFF NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

Announcing the unveiling of Adopt-a-Pet.com’s ADOPT Campaign featuring a new iconic image created by Shepard Fairey, and modeled on Fairey's Obama "HOPE" poster

WHAT: Adopt-a-Pet.com’s ADOPT Campaign launch will unveil an image developed by Shepard Fairey, the artist widely known for his Barack Obama "HOPE" image. What better advocate could our nation’s shelter animals have than artist Shepard Fairey, the man TIME magazine named “Icon Maker” of the year!

Now the artist who made Obama an icon though his art, has gotten behind the plight of our furry U.S. residents in an effort to save the lives of animals currently awaiting adoption in shelters across the country. Fairey developed an ADOPT image featuring a mutt that will serve as the national campaign centerpiece to raise awareness about the importance of adopting pets and to provide the animals of our country with hope and positive change too. Fairey has made an icon out of the American mutt, proving that every mutt is truly a masterpiece! Pets are non-partisan and so is this effort to unite Americans in ending the killing of five to seven million adoptable shelter animals per year. A new Web site to promote the image and encourage people to wear it and share it will launch in conjunction with the campaign, and a series of national initiatives.

Our nation’s shelters are filled to capacity with all kinds of amazing adoptable animals including, as Obama put it, “Mutts like me.” So in the spirit of hope and progress, Adopt-A-Pet.com is taking this opportunity to promote the inherent worth of all shelter animals, whether mutts or pure breeds!

“On the heels of Obama’s comment, I got a call from Pia Salk, an animal advocate who works with North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website, Adopt-a-Pet.com,” said Fairey. “As most of you know, I’m a big believer in speaking up for all who suffer injustice, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or in this case, species! And I’m all for adopting from the shelter. The image I created for this print reminds me of a dog I had as kid, a mutt named Honey. I have created a limited edition run of 400 signed and numbered silk-screen prints that will be available through Adopt-A-Pet.com. Proceeds will go to getting the furry non-partisan U.S. residents, who share our country, saved and into homes.”

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009 10:00 a.m. Sharp One-on-one interviews available following the news conference

WHERE: Sunset Gallery 1321 West Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026

ONSITE CONTACT: Scott Samson Cell: (323) 632-7075 scott@samsonpr.com



Download Adopt-a-Pet.com logo as .eps for printing


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November 11, 2008 - Press conference launches new national campaign to support Obama adopting a shelter dog and "Pardoning a Pooch"- www.PresidentialPoochPardon.com

Adopt-a-Pet.com, the nation's largest non-profit pet adoption website, has launched a national campaign and website called "PresidentialPoochPardon.com", using a Barack Obama-themed campaign website and messages such as "Yes We Can ADOPT" to gather signatures in support of the new President-Elect adopting a shelter dog.

In his first press conference, President-Elect Barack Obama stated his interested in adopting a puppy for his daughters, but expressed that Malia is allergic to dogs and needs a hypoallergenic breed. Obama was concerned that this was in conflict with his desire to adopt from a shelter. "Many pets in shelters across the nation are hypoallergenic purebreds and mixed breeds", says David Meyer, President of Adopt-a-Pet.com. "Common hypoallergenic breeds include Poodles, Schnauzers, certain Terriers, and mixes of those and many other breeds as well. There is no conflict at all between needing a hypoallergenic dog and adopting from a shelter."

Obama's interest in adopting has spawned an outpouring of support in the animal welfare community and an avalanche of interest across the country and the world. "Searches for adoptable pets have increased noticeably on our national pet-adoption website." adds Meyer. "Certainly if the President-Elect realizes that he can easily get the hypoallergenic dog he needs, his adopting a shelter dog will inspire the whole nation to do the same, and will help get the word out about the millions of pets in shelters who do not get adopted each year." Meyer added with a smile, "Whether you were a 'Bark' Obama or a 'McCainine' supporter, everybody can support shelter adoption".

September 24, 2008 -- To support and promote animal welfare groups' efforts, Care2 (www.care2.com) and Adopt-a-Pet.com are sponsoring "America's Favorite Animal Shelter" contest. The animal shelter or rescue group that receives the most votes will be awarded the grand prize of $10,000. Please visit this page for the official press release: http://ca.prweb.com/releases/Care2/AdoptAPet/prweb1375994.htm

Sept. 10, 2008 - 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com has changed its name to Adopt-a-Pet.com. We have simplified our name to make it easier to remember and type. Nestle Purina PetCare Company and Bayer HealthCare (with its Advantage/K9 Advantix and resQ microchip products) continue their sponsorship of the new Adopt-a-Pet.com in in an effort to enhance our charitable efforts to assist shelters in the care and adoption of homeless pets. The list of partner websites who display the Adopt-a-Pet.com database of pets continues to grow as well, with homeless pets now appearing on sites including MightyDog.com, PetSmart.com and others.