International Artist Mya is National Spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America's Tour For Life 2010

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, and international recording artist, actress and philanthropist Mya, announce the tenth annual Tour For Life®, the world's largest cooperative mobile pet adoption event.

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Since its inception in 2001, Tour For Life, in partnership with Purina®, has placed thousands of homeless animals with loving families. In 2010 Tour For Life will stop in 28 U.S. cities in 17 states to help save pets' lives across America. It is the Animal League's month-long national cooperative initiative with animal shelters promoting the importance and advantages of adopting shelter animals as a life-saving measure.  

Mya, who last year thrilled fans as the runner-up in the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars, will serve as spokesperson for the Animal League initiative. A passionate animal lover and rescuer, Mya shares her life with six pets, including four dogs, Rambo, Bear, Pepper and Tango and two cats, Mellow and Journey, with the latter adopted from North Shore Animal League America.

"My professional life can be hectic and demanding and having the love and companionship of my animals provides me with peace and balance. My pets are both calming and energizing and each day I realize how grateful I am to have them in my life. I would encourage anyone to consider bringing an animal into their lives, and especially to go to a shelter and rescue a homeless pet. You will be saving an innocent, precious life and giving yourself the most amazing gift possible," says the artist.

For one month, beginning the last week in March, the Animal League's Mobile Adoption Units travel two cross-country routes, simultaneously, stopping at scheduled destinations and will be helping more than 100 shelters and rescue groups find homes for orphaned pets.

Tour For Life's presenting sponsor is Purina ONE® brand pet food. All pets adopted during Tour For Life receive a free bag of pet food and a goodie bag from Purina ONE®. Tour For Life ends with a "Grand Finale" event in New York City to be hosted by Mya on April 27 in Times Square.

Adopting a shelter animal will save a life. North Shore Animal League America urges you to visit your local shelter or sponsor an animal in need. Learn more about Tour For Life and how you can help the Animal League. Call the special Tour For Life hotline, 1-800-214-4308, email [email protected], or visit www.AnimalLeague.org.

The 2010 Tour For Life schedule follows:

About North Shore Animal League America's Tour For Life

Every year North Shore Animal League America travels across the country bringing its life saving mission on the road to help shelter partners find loving adopters for homeless dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. The world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, the Animal League, through Tour For Life, spreads the message of its mission to rescue, nurture and adopt to 28 US cities, in partnership with over 100 animal shelters and rescue groups, educating the public and raising awareness of shelters and their services. Learn more about Tour For Life, the world's largest cooperative mobile pet adoption event, now in its tenth year, by visiting www.AnimalLeague.org.

About Mya

In 2010, Grammy Award Winning Artist Mya is celebrating 12 years in the entertainment industry as an internationally known, respected and loved singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and philanthropist. Most recently, Mya entertained the world and impressed millions as the highest scoring contestant on ABC's Dancing With the Stars. Mya finished out the decade as one of Billboard's Hot 100 Artists of the Decade, a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award-Winning Actress and as the President and founder of her own non-profit foundation, The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation. Mya, whose extensive repertoire includes the hits, "Case of the Ex," "Ghetto Superstar," "Free," "Lady Marmalade" and "My Love Is Like...Wo," is currently preparing for the eagerly anticipated world-wide release of her sixth studio album due out later this year.

About Nestle Purina PetCare Company

Nestle Purina PetCare Company promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A., the world's largest food company.

SOURCE North Shore Animal League America