Iams Home 4 the Holidays Encourages Adoption

Program Creates Happy Endings for Abandoned Pets

Looking to add a pet to your family this holiday season? Iams^® Home 4 The Holidays (H4TH) program encourages potential pet owners to consider adopting an animal through their annual international pet adoption drive, which aims to help one million orphaned pets find a home between Oct. 1, 2008 and Jan. 5, 2009.

Finding New Homes for Pets Nationwide

Founded by the Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams, H4TH began in 1999 with just 14 participating animal shelters in San Diego County and now has the support of nearly 3,000 pet adoption centers throughout 25 countries, including Canada, Iran, Iraq, Australia, India, New Zealand and more.

To date, the campaign has helped more than two million families adopt a pet, including nearly 500,000 pet adoptions last year alone.

The goal of the program is to raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption.

Saving Pets’ Lives

According to a pet population study from The Humane Society of the United States, as many as four million orphaned cats and dogs will be euthanized this year due to shelter overcrowding. Luckily, many of the animals adopted from shelters participating in the H4TH program that were once close to being euthanized got a second chance at life because of people who chose to adopt.

Pets Got a Second Chance at Life

Some H4TH campaign success stories include:

Kaylee is a three-year-old mixed breed dog who was spared from euthanasia from a woman who saw her picture at North Carolina shelter. The woman had Kaylee transferred to Massachusetts on the intuition that she would turn out to be a great pet. When Kaylee first arrived at her new home, she was scared of men and didn’t know what toys were. With some love from her new owner, Kaylee is now described as a completely different dog who loves all people—especially kids—and has piles of toys she plays with often.

Toby is a one-year-old mixed breed dog who was close to being euthanized at the age of 12 weeks before he was adopted. His new owners believe he knows he was saved, and describe him as a very fun pet with a lovable personality who loves to cuddle, run around in the backyard and play fetch.

Kaylee and Toby’s stories are examples of pets that were saved from euthanasia because of families who rescued animals from shelters.

Adopt an Orphaned Pet

You can welcome an orphaned pet into your home, too. Families who adopt a dog, puppy, cat or kitten through the H4TH campaign will receive an Iams Adoption Kit as part of the program, which contains tips and information on pet care, behavior, training and nutrition, along with coupons for other pet services.

To learn more, visit www.iamshome4theholidays.com.

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