Sep 17, 2008

Planet Dog announces winner of Cover Dog Challenge

Portland, ME – Planet Dog is barking about the winner of their Cover Dog Challenge that took place at Woofminster, the Third Annual Planet Dog Foundation (PDF) Amateur Dog Show Fundraiser, held at Camp Ketcha in Scarborough, Maine on Sept. 13. PDF’s popular annual event raised over $6,000 for NEADS: Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans, a non-profit that trains service dogs to help people with disabilities live more independent lives throughout New England and the nation. The donation will specifically benefit NEAD’s Maine Puppy Raisers Program and the volunteers who care for and train the puppies until they are ready, at 18 months, for intensive service dog training.

About 200 dog-loving attendees, vendors and volunteers participated in the event, with over 100 dogs watching or competing in fun and silly contests including; Best Trick, Most Ear-Resistible Ears, Best Vocal, Best Mixed Mutt, Best Smile, Most Ball Crazy, Best 2-Legged Beggar and Best Kisser.

“It was wonderful to see the dog community come together for a fun event to raise money for NEADS,” says Kristen Smith, the Executive Director of PDF. “It is clear we have an abundance of beautiful and talented dogs and generous people that run in our pack,” adds Smith.

There were several very close competitions including the Cover Dog Challenge which was won by Jax, a happy and healthy mixed breed who was rescued from a shelter in Utah and now resides in Portland with Renee Bourgeois, a vet at PinePoint Animal Hospital in Scarborough and her husband Brian Eng. A ski fanatic had rescued him one day before he was due to be euthanized, but couldn’t afford to keep him so after reading about Jax on a ski message board, Brian drove to Utah and brought him back to Maine.

Jax took home the top prize for his unique look, which includes a beard and four-color markings, his calm temperament and love of squeaky toys. As the Best in Show winner, Jax won a professional photo shoot and the chance to be on the cover of the next Planet Dog catalog. He also took first prize in the Best Mixed Mutt category.

“Planet Dog did a fantastic job organizing Woofminster,” says Renee Bourgeois. “They should be proud to have hosted a wonderful event in support of such a great cause,” she adds.

In March of this year, the Planet Dog Foundation was named the 2008 Official Outfitter of NEADS by donating over $25,000 in Planet Dog products to outfit all NEADS’s puppies, dogs-in-training and new graduating Assistance Dogs. PDF has been supporting NEADS since 2006, providing grants in support of the Puppy Early Learning Center and the development of a new Walker Dog harness; sponsoring and naming a puppy; underwriting a 2007 calendar and providing gift bags for all new Assistance Dog teams.

The mission of the Planet Dog Foundation, Planet Dog’s flagship initiative, is to promote and celebrate programs in which dogs serve and support their best friends. “We back worthy organizations such as NEADS through fundraising events and a grant-making program designed to support not-for-profit partners nationwide,” says Smith.

“We are incredibly proud of our relationship with NEADS, a canine service industry leader,” says Smith.

PDF receives a percentage of every Planet Dog purchase. In turn, it is donated back to non-profit canine service programs nationwide.

“We’re doing what no other pet product company is doing,” says Catherine Frost, Planet Dog’s Brand and Product Champion. “We offer unique, top-quality products that dogs love, while creating awareness of how much service dogs give back to people in our society. Our goal is for our actions to speak louder than woofs,” adds Frost.

Since January 2006, PDF has given away more than $350,000 in grants and in-kind donations to several worthy organizations nationwide. For more information and a full list of programs and grantees, please visitwww.planetdogfoundation.org.