Pet Adoptathon has been extended throughout the entire month of May to save even more lives

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., April 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 more than 2000 animal shelters around the world will unite with North Shore Animal League America for Pet Adoptathon® 2011, the premiere global pet adoption event. Renowned dog behavior expert Cesar Millan, from National Geographic WILD's The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, is the spokesperson for the 17th annual global adoption extravaganza that helps save the lives of homeless pets.  Pet Adoptathon's presenting sponsor is Purina ONE®.

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At Pet Adoptathon Headquarters in New York, North Shore Animal League America will kick-off the month-long event beginning at 9 am on Saturday, April 30 and stay open for 36 hours straight.  For the first time ever, Pet Adoptathon activities will be extended throughout the entire month of May in an effort to save more animals' lives. Participating shelters and rescue organizations around the world will also open their doors for this important life-saving event. Pet Adoptathon events have taken place in shelters located in every time zone around the world, and in 2010 over 20,000 pets were adopted.

Pet Adoptathon promotes the adoption of mixed-breed pets, known as Mutt-i-grees®. These animals represent the majority of shelter pets around the world; unfortunately they also make up the majority of the pets that are being euthanized.  Mutt-i-grees rallies 25 million mixed-breed pet owners in the U.S. to encourage adoption of mixed-breed pets and to help end puppy mills that perpetuate animal cruelty and euthanasia. Participating shelters and rescues are official Mutt-i-grees partners to help spread the word about these wonderful unique adoptable animals.

Spokesperson Cesar Millan, who's a supporter of shelter adoptions, has worked with Yale University School of the 21st Century to develop The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum. The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum is an educational approach to teaching children social and emotional skills as well as highlighting the unique characteristics and needs of Mutt-i-grees awaiting adoption at a shelter.

"The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum was created to draw attention to the desirability of rescue animals, whilst at the same time helping kids to develop important life skills," said Millan.  He added, "By building on children's unique affinity for animals we aim to encourage a deeper understanding of their instinctual selves and in turn develop social and emotional skills that will help them to display compassion and understanding in all areas of their lives."

To learn more about Mutt-i-grees, visit www.Muttigrees.org.

The first Pet Adoptathon, in 1995, began as a local North Shore Animal League adoption event, with the goal of finding homes for each pet in the shelter. Encouraged by its success, the Animal League invited shelters and rescue organizations worldwide to participate in Pet Adoptathon. Seventeen years since its inception, Pet Adoptathon has helped find loving homes for over 300,000 animals.

Pet Adoptathon Presenting Sponsors is Purina ONE®.  For Pet Adoptathon participating shelters in your area or for more information call the Adoptathon Hotline at 800-214-4308 or visit www.AnimalLeague.org.

About North Shore Animal League America

The Animal League has saved almost 1,000,000 lives.  As the world's largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization, we understand that a rescue isn't complete until each animal is placed into a loving home.  Our innovative programs provide education to reduce animal cruelty and advance standards in animal welfare.  Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly in the pursuit of our vision of a world where all companion animals find permanent homes to end euthanasia. For more information visit www.AnimalLeague.org.

About The American Mutt-i-grees Club

The American Mutt-i-grees® Club is an innovative organization developed by The Pet Savers Foundation, the development arm of North Shore Animal League America, to give a voice to the over 50 million mixed-breed dogs in the United States today.  Its mission is to change the perception of mixed-breed dogs and to promote shelter adoption, as most shelter pets are Mutt-i-grees, ultimately helping to save millions of lives.

About Nestle Purina PetCare Company

Purina ONE is manufactured by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, one of the leading global players in the pet care industry.  Nestle Purina promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina was founded more than a century ago. The company is part of the Swiss-based Nestle S.A. – the world's largest food company.

About The Millan Foundation

On Valentines Day 2007 Cesar Millan officially established The Millan Foundation with the mission to create and deliver community humane education programs and promote animal welfare by supporting the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abused and abandoned dogs.

Since it's inception The Millan Foundation has been creating life long healthy relationships between dogs and people through a series of grants to non-profit animal shelters and rescues, community education programs including The Mutt-i-Grees Curriculum, spay and neuter campaigns and emergency animal rescue through the Daddy's Emergency Animal Rescue (DEAR) Fund. For more information visit www.millanfoundation.org

Devera Lynn
Phone: 516.883.7633
Cell:     516.474.5332
Email:  deveral@animalleague.org

SOURCE North Shore Animal League America