Lend A Paw with Walmart and Help Improve Pets’ Lives

Americans Can Help Donate Up To One Hundred Thousand Dollars to the ASPCA

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Walmart and its top pet suppliers are asking Americans to join them in their support for the ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and its Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.

“We are ecstatic about partnering with the ASPCA to help promote the importance of pet adoption and responsible pet ownership, and actively engage the American public to take part in such an important cause.”

Animal lovers everywhere are encouraged to visit www.facebook.com/lendapaw and help “Lend A Paw” to support the ASPCA’s mission to save and improve the lives of millions of animals nationwide. By clicking on the “Create a ‘Lend A Paw’ Post” button, Walmart, through the generous contribution of key pet suppliers, will donate $1 for each post (for a total donation of up to $100,000). All funds raised go to support the ASPCA, the first organization in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to the humane treatment of animals.

“Pet overpopulation, caused by far too many pets not being spayed or neutered – even by otherwise responsible pet parents – is a leading cause of unnecessary euthanasia,” said Elysia Howard, Vice President of Marketing & Licensing for the ASPCA. “In fact, half of all puppies and three-quarters of all kittens born are from unintended litters. Every dollar raised up to $100,000 through the ‘Lend A Paw’ campaign will help us get one step closer to our goal of helping pets in need. For example, $100,000 would help spay or neuter 1,000 animals.”

“Walmart offers everything pet owners need to care for dogs, cats and other pets,” says John Kunkel, Senior Pet Buyer, Walmart. “We are ecstatic about partnering with the ASPCA to help promote the importance of pet adoption and responsible pet ownership, and actively engage the American public to take part in such an important cause.”

Enhancing Pets’ Lifestyles

Walmart.com makes shopping for pets enjoyable and convenient through the Walmart Pet department webpage (www.walmart.com/pets). Shoppers can find everything from outdoor kennels, self-cleaning litter boxes and safety gates to flea and tick treatments, fashionable collars, interactive toys and more.

Shoppers will find information from behavior and training to pet care nutrition for all animals, in addition to featured articles and videos on everything from potty training to traveling with and socializing pets. At great prices, Walmart.com carries a broad assortment of pet care products for dogs, cats, fish and small animals – all at Every Day Low Prices customers trust and expect from Walmart.

Importance of Responsible Pet Ownership

According to the ASPCA^®, approximately five to seven million adoptable dogs and cats enter animal shelters nationwide each year. Of those, approximately 3-4 million are needlessly euthanized simply due to a lack of space or resources to adequately care for them.

After visitors click to donate, they can learn more about pet adoption and the benefits of spaying and neutering at www.aspca.org, including:

• Helping pets live happier, healthier, longer lives by reducing uterine infections and cancer, and encouraging positive pet behavior.
• Helping pet parents reduce expenditures when having and caring for a new litter of puppies or kittens.
• Helping communities by reducing strays and aiding community shelters in promoting responsible pet care, adoption and wellness.

About ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.

About Suppliers

Walmart is a leading retail destination for quality pet care products at great prices. Thanks to the support of generous pet suppliers including the makers of Fresh Step^® litter, Petmate^®, Iams^®, Pedigree^®, Evenflo^®, Smarty Cat^® , Waggin’ Train^®, Oster^®, SimplyDog^® and Dyson^®, Walmart offers everything pet owners need to care for dogs, cats and other pets.