North Shore Animal League America Launches World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day with PSA Featuring Spokesperson and Adopter Beth Stern on Monday, August 1st

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- North Shore Animal League America – the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization – will debut its Public Service Announcement featuring animal advocate and adopter Beth Stern, on Monday, August 1, 2011 for "World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day."

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A live webcast of the Animal League press conference at 12:00 NOON EST will be available at: World Mutt-i-grees Rescue Day.   This includes a special celebrity guest appearance by actress, adopter and Mutt-i-grees spokesperson Kathryn Erbe.

An estimated 8-10 million animals enter shelters each year – most are healthy, affectionate and beautiful. Tragically, more than half of those animals are euthanized, as they are victims of overpopulated shelters.  World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day recognizes that shelters nationwide have many wonderful animals and we can save lives by adopting– not shopping.  "Individuals who purchase puppies online or from pet stores need to be educated on the facts that most of these providers are supplied by the cruel puppy mill trade," said Beth Stern.

Broadcasters and Social Networkers are encouraged to air and/or post the PSA* beginning Monday, August 1st - World Mutt-i-grees Rescue Day.  In both the 30 and 60 second PSA's, Stern asks animal lovers to help save lives by adopting a pet from a shelter and to join the Mutt-i-grees Movement - a movement that rallies millions of animal lovers to help end animal cruelty.  Mutt-i-grees represent shelter pets and their unique qualities, whether they are purebreds or mixed-breeds; puppies, kittens, dogs or cats; large or small; energetic or laid back.  While their individuality makes each one of these Mutt-i-grees special, they all share a common need, and that is to find a permanent loving home.

Beth, who adopted cats Walter and Apple from the Animal League with husband Howard Stern, urges broadcasters, social networkers and animal lovers to participate in this life-saving effort by airing or posting the PSA on World Mutt-i-grees Rescue Day. "Spreading the word and raising awareness can help change the way cat and dog-loving Americans perceive shelter pets - ultimately saving the precious lives of countless animals.  I encourage all animal lovers looking to add to the family to visit a shelter today."

ANIMAL LOVERS CAN HELP SHARE THE MUTT-I-GREES MESSAGE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

1. Download PSA in high resolution media, MPEG. Flash and/or MP3 files
2. "Like" us on Facebook and "Share" our Mutt-i-grees message at www.facebook.com/theanimalleague
3. Dedicate your Facebook profile image or "Status" to our Mutt-i-grees message for a day, week, or any length of time - using the following status update on your page:
   • "I changed my profile image to help promote the Animal League's "World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day" and to spread awareness of rescuing and adopting shelter pets. Learn more at www.animalleague.org. Pass it on!"
4. "Follow" us on Twitter and tweet our Mutt-i-grees message at http://twitter.com/animalleague
5. Link to our Mutt-i-grees page www.animalleague.org/muttigrees on your own website
6. Promote the Mutt-i-grees message through email, blogs, and other social networking sites

"Pet lovers are incredibly proud of their Mutt-i-grees, and now they can join together communicating, sharing ideas and celebrating their choices," said John Stevenson, President of NSALA.  He added, "While NSALA practices a no-kill philosophy, many other shelters are forced to euthanize due to lack of space and resources, resulting in approximately 4 million shelter pets unnecessarily dying each year, which makes shelter adoption the responsible choice."

Adopters of shelter pets are also asked to join World Mutt-i-grees Rescue Day by signing up with the National Mutt-i-grees Registry.  All registrants will receive an Official National Mutt-i-grees Registry Certificate.

The Mutt-i-grees Initiative was created in 2009 by The Pet Savers Foundation, the development arm of NSALA, to give a voice to the over 50 million mixed-breed dogs in the United States.  Now, recognizing all shelter pets, the Initiative has grown into the Mutt-i-grees Movement.  This includes an educational component that has been rolled out in over 900 schools nationwide called the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum – created in partnership with Yale University's School of the 21 Century, and graciously funded by the Millan Foundation, as well as Mutt-i-grees ACTIVities.

For more information on cat or dog adoption, or to find a local shelter, visit www.AnimalLeague.org.  For more information on the Mutt-i-grees Movement, visit www.animalLeague.org/muttigrees.

ABOUT NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA

The Animal League has saved almost 1,000,000 lives.  As the world's largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization, we understand that a rescue isn't complete until each animal is placed into a loving home.  Our innovative programs provide education to reduce animal cruelty, and advance standards in animal welfare.  Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly in the pursuit of our vision of a world where all companion animals find permanent homes to end euthanasia. For more information, visit www.animalleague.org.

ABOUT THE MUTT-I-GREES® MOVEMENT

The Mutt-i-grees® Movement generates awareness of the plight of shelter animals, elevates their status and reduces animal cruelty through education and innovative programs.  An estimated 8,000,000-10,000,000 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens enter U.S. shelters annually, and tragically, over 4,000,000 of these wonderful animals are destroyed to control pet overpopulation.  Millions of lives could be saved when potential pet parents make the simple choice to adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue group, instead of purchasing a pet from a pet store.  You can find any type of healthy, vibrant and wonderful dog, cat, puppy or kitten at a shelter near you.  Become part of the Mutt-i-grees Movement by adopting a pet today.  When you adopt a pet – you save a life and help reduce animal cruelty.  Learn more at www.animalleague.org/muttigrees.

SOURCE North Shore Animal League America