Local Pets Get Second Chance At Sixth Annual Mars Petcare US’ Adoption On The Lawn

September 26, 2013 /3BL Media/ - Columbus-area pet lovers were able to forever change the lives of homeless dogs and cats by adopting a pet at Mars Petcare US’ sixth annual Adoption on the Lawn.  The adoption event was held at 5115 Fisher Road on Sunday, September 15 from noon to 5 p.m.

Adoption on the Lawn was a free event featuring hundreds of dogs and cats for adoption with discounted adoption fees, free food and drinks, pet food samples, music, raffles and fun activities for the entire family.  Hilliard Police K-9 unit and Banfield Pet Hospital were also on hand to meet with potential pet owners and answer questions related to pet ownership, obedience training, and health and nutrition. In addition, the Southern Ohio Flying K-9’s were on site performing disc dog demonstrations.

“Last year we helped more than 70 pets find new homes in five hours,” said Jay Erskin, site director at Mars Petcare US in Columbus, Ohio.  “It’s not every day you get to experience something this meaningful, so when we have the support of everyone in the plant and the community we make it a priority.  We’ve been hosting this event for six years straight and we’re passionate about it.”

Columbus-area shelters and rescues that participated in the event include:  Canine Collective, Cat Welfare Association, CHA Animal Shelter, Columbus Cocker Rescue, Cozy Cat Cottage Adoption Center, His Hands Extended Sanctuary, Humane Society Serving Clark County, Humane Society of Madison County, Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue, New Beginnings Animal Shelter, Ohio Pug Rescue, Ohio Rottweiler Rescue, Peace For Paws Ohio, Pet Promise Inc., Pets Without Parents, Powell Animal Welfare Society and Stop the Suffering.

“It only takes a moment to fall in love and change everything for a lucky pet or two,” said Cindi Clum, director of Cozy Cat Cottage.  “For the past five years we’ve watched that moment happen again and again, and we believe this year will be a huge success, too.”   

More than 8 million dogs and cats end up in shelters and rescues every year and less than half ever find a place to call home.  The petcare businesses in the U.S. for Mars, Incorporated and its associates are committed to helping these pets find homes by raising awareness and giving back through petfood donations, grants to shelters, adoption events, disaster relief and volunteerism.  In 2012, we put our principles in action with more than 1,100 associates volunteering their time to support homeless pets.  Through this effort, Mars Petcare US was able to help more than 500,000 pets with monetary donations and 4.6 million pounds of pet food.

Adoption on the Lawn is an initiative by the Columbus Mars Petcare US manufacturing facility as part of the annual Mars Volunteer Program (MVP). MVP offers employees the freedom to make a difference in their communities by improving the lives of people and pets and building lasting and meaningful relationships. The Columbus site, manufacturers of PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs, CESAR® Canine Cuisine and WHISKAS® Food for Cats, employs more than 450 associates and has been a member of the Ohio business community for 40 years.

About Mars Petcare US

Mars Petcare US is the U.S. operations of the world’s largest petcare company at the privately-held Mars, Incorporated. Mars Petcare US produces some of the world’s most beloved pet care brands, including PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs, CESAR® Canine Cuisine, WHISKAS® Food for Cats, THE GOODLIFE RECIPE® Brand and TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats. Headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., more than 2,100 Mars Petcare US associates make, sell and distribute its high-quality pet food from 13 manufacturing facilities located in communities across the U.S.

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 72,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, NUTRO®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and CESAR®; Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints.  Food –UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA® Coffee Roasters coffee, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.® tea, DOVE®/GALAXY® Hot Chocolate, and FLAVIA® brewer; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA®, WISDOM PANEL® and SERAMIS®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.  Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars.