Contact: Caroline Guth [email protected] 312.988.2410 Debra Fair [email protected] 615-807-4605 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NUTRO PRODUCTS’ NATURAL CHOICE® DOG FOOD AND THE NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION JOIN FORCES TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR CANINE SEARCH TEAMS Focus Will Be To Help Strengthen America’s Emergency Response Network CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., (September 9, 2008) – Canine search teams play a critical role in our society. Both handler and dog – paired together and bound by selflessness, devotion, and an unwavering commitment to find life amidst the rubble – serve as working heroes who help save lives in the aftermath of a natural disaster or a terrorist attack. Today, America is in need of more certified teams. Meeting this challenge is the ultimate goal of The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF), a non-profit organization that gained notoriety in the wake of Sept. 11th. In an effort to support SDF’s mission, the NATURAL CHOICE® Brand, a leading premium pet food manufactured by Nutro Products, has become the organization’s exclusive pet-food partner. “For nearly a decade, Nutro Products has donated pet food to handlers to help alleviate the additional out-of-pocket dollars spent to nourish these heroes, and we want to continue to do so as the number of teams increase,” says Debra Tosch, Executive Director, SDF. “NATURAL CHOICE® dog food is committed to providing superior nutrition to the dozens of SDF canine disaster search teams by helping to provide them with the sustained energy, strength and stamina they need to deliver peak performance.” Located in Ojai, Calif., the Search Dog Foundation produces highly-trained, FEMA-certified canine search teams. Dogs that were once stranded and alone in shelters are shaped into heroes after being rescued by the SDF. After enduring rigorous training, successful program graduates are paired with firefighters for deployment. In fact, the SDF was responsible for 13 of the search dog teams at Ground Zero and 26 that were dispatched to sites devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “It is critical for dogs put through demanding training like that of the SDF to be well nourished,” said Dr. Marty Becker, America’s veterinarian. “The NATURAL CHOICE® Brand emphasizes quality ingredients and as a result offers a product that goes above and beyond to fuel these canine heroes.” Together, NATURAL CHOICE® Brand and the SDF are working to raise awareness about the need for more FEMA- certified canine search teams in an effort to up the nation’s disaster preparedness. They’ve jointly created 1 www.foodforheroes.com and caring consumers (dog owners or not) who log on can get involved in this honorable cause in any of four easy ways: • Make a donation to the Search Dog Foundation to aid in the recruitment and training of additional search and rescue dogs. NATURAL CHOICE® dog food will match all donations, dollar-for-dollar, up to $200,000 through September 30, 2008. As an added incentive, anyone who makes a donation will receive a coupon for NUTRO™ NATURAL CHOICE® dog food • Purchase NUTRO™ NATURAL CHOICE® dog food at your local retailer or online. Every bag sold helps support America’s canine heroes • Share the story about why your dog is your everyday hero. Selected submissions will appear on foodforheroes.com as a means to showcase your dog amongst the life-saving canines of the SDF • Cast your vote for the dog and handler you want to see wear the title of NATURAL CHOICE® Brand Search Team SDF handler and Kern County Fire Fighter Danny Solis and his gorgeous Border Collie Sandi know exactly how important it is to have proper nutrition to ensure a job is well-done. “We're grateful to have companies like NUTRO™ NATURAL CHOICE® partner with the SDF to raise awareness and aid in America's disaster readiness." For more information on NUTRO™ NATURAL CHOICE® Brand dog food, the Search Dog Foundation or to make a donation to aid in the recruitment and training of additional search and rescue dogs, log onto foodforheroes.com. ### About NUTRO™ NATURAL CHOICE® Brand Nutro Products is dedicated to excellence and innovation in dog nutrition – offering healthful formulas for every pet’s life stage, activity level and size. The NATURAL CHOICE® Brand uses high quality ingredients and formulates scientifically to ensure great taste, easy digestion, healthy skin and coast, and smaller stools to help ensure your pet lives a longer, happier, healthier life. Visit www.nutroproducts.com About Mars Petcare U.S. Mars Petcare U.S. is the U.S. pet care operations of Mars, Incorporated, one of the world’s leading food manufacturers. Headquartered in Franklin, TN, Mars Petcare U.S. employs more than 3,000 associates in the United States, with 29 facilities nationwide and owns some of the world’s favorite pet care brands, including PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs, CESAR® Canine Cuisine, WHISKAS® Brand Food for Cats, SHEBA® Brand Food for Cats and THE GOODLIFE RECIPE® Brand. In addition, Mars, Incorporated owns the portfolio of brands produced by ROYAL CANIN USA Inc., Nutro Products, Inc. and S&M NuTec, LLC. About the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) The SDF mission is to produce the most highly trained canine disaster search teams in the nation in order to strengthen America’s emergency response network so that no one is left behind when disaster strikes. The non-profit organization recruits rescued dogs and partners them with firefighters, providing the canines and the training at no cost to their departments. SDF receives no government funding, and relies solely on support from individuals, private foundations and companies to produce the teams. For more information, visit www.searchdogfoundation.org. ®/™ Trademarks © Nutro Products, Inc. 2008. NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION logo and SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION are trademarks of National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, Inc. and are used with permission. 2 .