The Pet Travel & Safety Product Line are ‘What they’d ask for, if they could'(TM)
NEW YORK, July 25 /PRNewswire/ — The ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)), the nation’s oldest and most respected animal welfare organization, is proud to announce that its licensed Pet Travel & Safety Product Line will soon be available in Shopko stores across the country. Beginning August 20, the “ASPCA Collection” will appear in 64 out of 132 Shopko stores located in 13 states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Utah, Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Oregon, Illinois and Mississippi.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060731/NYM024LOGO )
The Pet Travel & Safety Product Line is the culmination of the ASPCA’s partnership with Team Products International (TPI) on one of the first collections of pet care products under the ASPCA’s brand new licensing initiative. These products embody the ASPCA’s 140 years of understanding of what can help make animals feel safe, happy and loved. Developed in close collaboration with the ASPCA’s staff of animal behaviorists and pet experts, ASPCA-branded pet travel and safety items provide solutions to enable pet parents to enhance their bond with their companions. Just as the ASPCA is the voice for companion animals, ASPCA branded pet products are “What they’d ask for, if they could”(TM).
“The ASPCA aims to elevate the status of companion animals in our society,” said Ed Sayres, president & CEO, ASPCA, “and this includes providing pet parents with the resources to take the best possible care of their companions. We are proud to be able to offer pet parents these products as tangible evidence of, and yet another way to support, our mission, while enhancing the human-animal bond.”
Whether travel involves far-off places or short, local car rides, pets are vulnerable when away from home, and the possibility for them to get lost or injured is much higher during these times. They are also exposed to the same travel perils as their human companions in the event of car accidents and other travel-related mishaps. While there is no definitive data available on the number of animals lost every year, about half of the estimated eight to 12 million animals entering shelters nationwide annually are picked up by Animal Control officers.
The indispensable and innovative pet safety and travel line developed by TPI for the ASPCA contains an initial 22 products. Meeting the high standards of the ASPCA, the collection includes, among others, “see-them-in-the-dark” light-up dog collars and leashes, “keep-them-safe” in-car seat belt restraints, no-spill travel water bowls, and portable easy-to-carry/easy-to- set-up pet enclosures.
Pet parents will appreciate that each package features membership information and pet care tips from certified animal behaviorist, Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, CAAB, executive vice president, national programs and science advisor for the ASPCA. Further, a percentage of the purchase price supports the ASPCA’s important work in providing the effective means of prevention of cruelty to animals.
The ASPCA Pet Travel & Safety Product Line is also available at the ASPCA’s online store; for more information, please visit http://www.aspca.org/.
About the ASPCA(R)
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)) was the first humane organization established in the Americas, and today has one million supporters. A 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides local and national leadership in animal-assisted therapy, animal behavior, animal poison control, anti-cruelty, humane education, legislative services, and shelter outreach. The New York City headquarters houses a full- service, accredited animal hospital, adoption center, and mobile clinic outreach program. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York’s animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet. For more information, please visit http://www.aspca.org/.
About Team Products International (TPI)
Team Products International (TPI) is a leader in product innovation, helping brand owners, gifted inventors, designers, and product developers bring to market best-in-class products. TPI aligns with strong consumer brands to solve real-world problems. Among TPI’s many partners are Sunbeam(R), Hummer(R), Coleman(R), Chevy Racing(R), Emerson(R) and Rawlings(R).
About Shopko
Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC is an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private investment firm focused on leverage buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Shopko is a $2.2 billion retailer of quality goods and services headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., with stores located in 13 states throughout the Midwest, Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 132 Shopko stores, providing quality name-brand merchandise, great values, pharmacy and optical services in mid-sized to larger cities and three Shopko Express Rx stores, a convenient neighborhood drugstore concept. For more information, please visit http://www.shopko.com/.
