Blue Buffalo and Petco Raise Over $2.4 Million For Pet Cancer Research

WILTON, Conn., June 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Buffalo® and Petco™ raised more than $2.4 million during the month of May, which was their 5th Annual Pet Cancer Awareness Month.  The figure was the highest in the history of their fundraising push, and exceeded the $2 million goal they set out to raise.  One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to benefit pet cancer research and the families affected by this terrible disease.

Blue Buffalo and Petco have partnered together for the past five years, raising over $7 million since 2010. May was chosen as Pet Cancer Awareness month because it is a time of year when people put down yard fertilizers, spray for fleas and tics etc., which causes an increase in environmental toxins that many veterinarians feel contribute to pet cancer.

Cancer will affect one out of every four dogs in the U.S., and of those, more than half will die from the disease.  In fact, cancer is the number one disease-related cause of death in both dogs and cats, according to Morris Animal Foundation, a world leader in advancing veterinary research. 

"We are overwhelmed by this response," said Bill Bishop, founder of Blue Buffalo.  "I want to thank all of Blue Buffalo's Pet Parents and everyone else who made this our most successful Pet Cancer Awareness month ever.  This issue is very personal to us at Blue Buffalo.  Our family dog Blue had three bouts with cancer which is why we wanted to do something meaningful to help find a cure for this devastating disease.  So one of the first things we did after starting our pet food company was to establish the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research to begin fund raising and start increasing awareness among pet parents of the early warning signs of this disease." And, while funding research is critical, awareness of the warning signs is equally important as early detection of cancer is key to successful treatment; especially since approximately eighty percent of pet parents know little to nothing about pet cancer symptoms.

During the month of May, for each bag of BLUE dog or cat food purchased at Petco stores across the country, Blue Buffalo donated one dollar to the fund.  Money raised will fund efforts like the Morris Animal Foundation's 5-5-5 Initiative, which will conduct five annual clinical trials on osteosarcoma, the most common form of bone cancer in dogs, and a form of cancer that also affects children.

Funds will also be distributed to universities and clinics across the country that are conducting research on the causes, prevention and treatment of canine and feline cancer, as well as to various organizations that are dedicated to helping families in need cover the cost of cancer treatments.

For more information, visit petcancerawarness.org.  To find a Petco store near you, visit petco.com.

About Blue Buffalo and the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research

Blue Buffalo Company, located in Wilton, CT, is the nation's leading natural pet food company, and provides a complete line of healthy and holistic natural foods and treats for dogs and cats under the BLUE brand name. The Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research ( a 501 (c) 3) was established in 2003 by The Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. Blue Buffalo products are sold nationwide in Petco and other leading pet specialty stores.  For more information visit BlueBuffalo.com.

Contact: Phil Cheevers, 203-665-3234, [email protected]

SOURCE Blue Buffalo