Mars Petcare Teams Up With Celebrity Adoption Advocates to Turn Foster Pets Into Forever Family

After an Unprecedented Increase in Pet Fostering, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Colton Underwood and LeAnn Rimes are Joining Forces to Help End Pet Homelessness

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Mars Petcare U.S.

May 27, 2020, 09:00 ET

FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- During these unprecedented times, people are looking for companionship and social connections, and many are finding it in a four-legged friend. While an estimated 40 percent of the country's shelter population are currently in foster homes¹, shelters are bracing for a time when these pets may be returned or when other pets are surrendered due to the financial hardships so many are facing as a result of the global pandemic. So today, Mars Petcare announced a new program called FOSTER TO FOREVER™ to help find loving homes for as many pets as possible. The program, supported by several celebrity pet adoption advocates, including Katherine Schwarzenegger, Colton Underwood and LeAnn Rimes, will raise awareness of the need for pet adoption and directly support those who permanently adopt their foster pets.

Colton Underwood and Zooka support Mars Petcare's FOSTER TO FOREVER™ program to encourage pet adoptions and end pet homelessness.

"Now more than ever, people are turning to pets as a source of comfort and companionship, and as a result, we've seen record numbers of fosters," said Mark Johnson, president of Mars Petcare North America. "We're in awe of the support being shown to pets in need during this global crisis and want to ensure that as many pets as possible find loving, forever homes. That's why Mars Petcare is providing essential resources like pet food and veterinary visits to families who make their foster pet a permanent member of their family."

To kick off FOSTER TO FOREVER, more than 10 pet-loving celebrities, including Katherine Schwarzenegger, Colton Underwood and LeAnn Rimes, will virtually welcome people into their homes on Thursday, May 28 through Instagram Live. While live, each celebrity will share an intimate look at life with their pet, including fun and heartfelt stories of some of their favorite activities together.

"Six weeks ago, I decided to foster Zooka," said Colton Underwood. "That was one of the best decisions I could have made. Zooka quickly became a member of our family, and I just couldn't see myself bringing her back to the shelter. I'm happy to call myself a 'foster failure' and honored to be part of the Mars Petcare FOSTER TO FOREVER program to encourage others to permanently adopt their foster pet, if they're able to."

Following the live event, Mars Petcare will distribute FOSTER TO FOREVER kits to shelters around the country in some of the areas hit hardest by COVID-19 like Chicago and New Orleans.

FOSTER TO FOREVER kits will be given to more than 1,000 pet parents who are able to provide a permanent loving home to their foster dog or cat and will include some of the following:

PEDIGREE® wet food for adult dogs or puppies
Coupons for free PEDIGREE dry food and PEDIGREE® DENTASTIX™ treats
TEMPTATIONS™ cat treats
ROYAL CANIN® dry and wet food for adult cats or kittens
A voucher for a free veterinary visit from BANFIELD™ Pet Hospital
A WISDOM PANEL™ Essential dog DNA test
Discounts for a WHISTLE™ GO pet activity tracking device
Other gear and educational information from PEDIGREE Foundation and the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program

In addition, Banfield Foundation will provide free veterinary services for up to 1,000 additional shelter pets while they await their forever homes.

The FOSTER TO FOREVER program is the first time Mars has brought together brands across all areas of the Petcare business including BANFIELD™, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, TEMPTATIONS™, WHISTLE™, and WISDOM PANEL™, for one cause. By bringing these brands in the veterinary health, pet nutrition and innovation spaces together, the company is continuing to drive its global purpose of A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™ and helping to support pets and people around the country.

For more information about FOSTER TO FOREVER and participating shelters, please visit https://bit.ly/FosterToForever.

About Mars Petcare
Part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, the 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries in Mars Petcare are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets – including brands PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, ROYAL CANIN^®, NUTRO™, GREENIES™, SHEBA^®, CESAR^®, IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™ as well as the Waltham Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of over 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™, Linnaeus, AniCura and Antech. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND™ programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in – and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.