Beneful® Brand Asks America's Dog Owners: HOW BIG CAN YOU DREAM?

ST. LOUIS, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of dog owners agree that life is best enjoyed with the company of their four-legged friends, and a trip to the local dog park is one of the greatest ways to spend quality time together. To recognize and celebrate these special moments, Beneful® brand dog food is announcing its Dream Dog Park Contest that invites dog owners to share ideas for the ultimate dog park for their daily adventures with their best buddy.

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Now in its second year, the contest challenges dog owners to get creative and Dream Big as they answer the question: If you had $500,000 to spend to create the ultimate dream dog park, what would you do? Functional or just plain fun, one lucky Grand Prize Winner's idea will help serve as inspiration for a half-million dollar makeover of a dog park that the entire community can enjoy.  Dog owners can enter the contest from now through June 21 at BenefulDreamDogPark.com.

"I'm thrilled to be part of a contest that lets dog owners dream about ways to spend even more quality time with their four-legged friends," said Jason Cameron, TV personality, dog owner and head designer for the Beneful® Dream Dog Park Contest. "I was amazed by the creative ideas dog owners dreamed up for last year's contest and can't wait to see what they come up with this year.  Don't hold back, because $500,000 can build one amazing dog park in your area."

How the Contest Works

To enter the Beneful Dream Dog Park Contest, dog owners are asked to complete an online entry form and submit a 250-word (or less) essay that answers the question: If you had $500,000 to create a dream dog park for you and your best buddy, what would you do?  Entrants must also include a photo of them with their dog showing how life is better when they are together.

In addition to having his or her idea(s) help serve as inspiration for a $500,000 makeover of a dog park, the Grand Prize Winner will receive a $10,000 cash award and a year's supply of Beneful® brand dog food. In addition, nineteen runners-up will each receive a year's supply of Beneful® brand dog food. The Beneful Dream Team, which includes Cameron and pet expert and bestselling author Arden Moore, will serve as judges to help select the winner.   Cameron will also manage the transformation of the park, with Moore providing expertise from the dog's point of view.

Beneful Dream Dog Park Contest Timeline

• May 12 - June 21, 2011 – Contest entry period (Round 1: essay of 250 words or less and photo)
• June/July 2011 – Independent judging panel selects up to 20 finalists based on: creativity of the idea(s) (60%); feasibility of bringing the idea(s) to life (20%); and whether the idea(s) effectively demonstrate how life is better with your dog (20%)
• July 2011 – August 1, 2011 – Finalists submit an up to two minute video showcasing their dream dog park ideas (Round 2)  
• August 8 - September 8, 2011 – Public votes on the finalists' videos; Beneful Dream Team judges them using the same criteria as Round 1 to help select the Grand Prize Winner (judging is 90% of final score; assigned public voting rank is 10%)
• September 2011 – Grand Prize Winner announced
• Spring 2012 – Newly-renovated dog park unveiled

To excite and inspire dog owners even further, Beneful brand dog food will unveil America's first Dream Dog Park in Johns Creek, Ga., on June 15, 2011. The $500,000 renovation was inspired by last year's Grand Prize Winner, Johns Creek resident Pat McNeely and his lovable Siberian Husky named Koda.

"Once dog owners across the country get a look at the inaugural Dream Dog Park in Johns Creek, Ga., complete with a giant bone-shaped ramp with tunnels and water splash pads, they will be even more motivated to enter this year's contest. One lucky winner's idea will help serve as inspiration for a $500,000 renovation of a dog park in his/her area," said Ken Wilhelm, Beneful Brand Director.

For more information on the contest, official rules and to enter, visit BenefulDreamDogPark.com.

About the Beneful® Brand

Manufactured by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Beneful brand dog food offers a full line of wet, dry and treats formulas that offer a perfect balance of taste and nutrition. Introduced in 2001, Beneful is one of the most successful dog food brands in the Company's history. The North American headquarters for the Nestle Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina Company was founded more than a century ago. Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestle S.A.- the world's largest food company.

SOURCE Beneful