BISSELL Invites Animal Lovers to Help Homeless Pets Find Homes

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BISSELL Homecare, Inc., a longstanding supporter of pet adoption, today announces the launch of an online fundraising campaign to help more homeless pets across America find loving homes. From now through September, for each new fan that registers on BISSELL's Facebook page, the company will donate 50 cents to the Petfinder.com Foundation toward its goal of contributing $50,000 in 2011.

The Petfinder.com Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that works with animal shelters and rescues across North America to ensure no adoptable pet is euthanized for lack of a home. BISSELL's $50,000 gift to the foundation will directly fund numerous shelters and rescue groups in need of help, and will serve to arm pet parents with the knowledge and tools they need to care for their furry companions.

"BISSELL believes that pets are part of the family and wants to see more four-legged friends find forever homes," said Rich Sorota, senior vice president and general manager of global marketing and sales for BISSELL. "Sadly, our research shows many Americans don't have pets because of the messes they make – 38% say they'd add a pet to their home if clean-up was easier. This misconception compels us to support adoption groups like the Petfinder.com Foundation, and to continue to develop tools that simplify pet clean-up."  

To rally consumers around pet adoption and spread the word that pet clean-up need not be a deterrent, BISSELL is inviting pet lovers across the United States and most of Canada to join the effort via its Facebook page this summer. Those who are not yet fans of BISSELL's Facebook page can register and the company will make a 50-cent donation to the Petfinder.com Foundation. Existing fans who wish to contribute to the campaign can share this short video with their friends and family and encourage them to participate as well.

"As a company and as pet owners ourselves, we are passionate about supporting the pet community and serving as a resource for pet owners," said Sorota. "With this campaign, we aim to help more Americans understand that cleaning up after pets doesn't have to be a chore and shouldn't discourage people from adopting pets."

In addition to partnerships with organizations like Petfinder.com, BISSELL supports the pet community through contributions to more than 100 U.S. pet charities totaling over $200,000 annually. The company is committed to providing pet owners with effective, easy-to-use pet clean-up products. For information on the complete line of BISSELL pet products, cleaning tips and more, visit the online Pet Lovers Community at www.bissell.com/pets.

About BISSELL Homecare, Inc.

A 135-year-old company, Grand Rapids-based BISSELL Homecare, Inc., is the top-selling brand in floor care appliances in North America* with an expanding presence worldwide. As an innovator of cleaning products, BISSELL produces and sells vacuums, sweepers, deep-cleaning machines, bare floor cleaners and cleaning formulas at retail locations across the globe. The company is in its fourth generation of family leadership.

About the Petfinder.com Foundation

The Petfinder.com Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity, helps homeless pets by saving lives through adoptions, helping shelters prepare for and recover from disaster and working to make sure animal welfare organizations across the country are more sustainable. Its mission is to ensure no adoptable pet is euthanized for lack of a home.  Since 2003 the foundation has provided over $15 million in grants to animal welfare organizations and Petfinder.com member shelters and rescue groups.

*based on NPD sales data

SOURCE BISSELL Homecare, Inc.