Share Your Sunday Night Spread With Shelter Dogs Via #tweetforbowls

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Let's be honest – Sunday has gone to the dogs. From pitching products to Puppy Bowls to ten seconds of fame in pulled commercials, dogs seem to be as much a part of game day as the halftime show.

But what's in it for the dogs?  Aren't we just leveraging their natural cuteness to sell more products, win ad awards and drive ratings? Isn't it time we throw them a bone … or more specifically a bowl?

This Sunday, PEDIGREE® Brand is empowering Americans to help give shelter dogs a new "leash" on life. Every time a dog appears during the Sunday night broadcast just Tweet the hashtag #tweetforbowls and PEDIGREE® will donate a bowl of food to a shelter dog in need – up to 100,000 bowls. The brand will kick-start with a donation of 100,000 bowls.

"The reality is, every year more than four million dogs enter shelters, but only two million ever make it out," said Dan Jackson, marketing director, Mars Petcare U.S. "We need America to open up their hearts and homes to more than just the dogs they see in the commercials or during the Puppy Bowl. Shelter dogs deserve their day in the spotlight too."

To further amplify the initiative, PEDIGREE® plans to run special See what good food can do™ commercials tagged with information about #tweetforbowls during the eleventh annual Puppy Bowl, which will be broadcast on Animal Planet. The campaign, which launched in 2014, showcases the brand's mission to fuel shelter dogs with its good food, as well as help shelters better care for them while they wait for their forever homes. Throughout 2014, PEDIGREE® engaged more than 1,500 volunteers who logged thousands of hours painting, cleaning and building dog runs and agility courses at 48 shelters, as well as donated 500,000 pounds of food to help provide 13,000 dogs with nutritious meals.

For more information about #tweetforbowls or the See what good food can do™ campaign, visit the Pedigree Facebook (www.facebook.com/pedigree) or Twitter page (@PedigreeUS).

About the PEDIGREE^® Brand
The PEDIGREE^® Brand is the number one brand of dog food in the world, offering a wide variety of products for different dog life stages. As an innovative market leader, the PEDIGREE^® Brand is at the forefront of pet nutrition and understands pet owner needs by providing a range of innovative products and resources. The PEDIGREE® Brand is built on an unwavering love for dogs and commitment to dog adoption. For more information, please visit www.Pedigree.com.

About Mars Petcare US 
Mars Petcare US is the U.S. operations of the world's largest petcare company at the privately-held Mars, Incorporated. Mars Petcare US produces some of the world's most beloved pet care brands, including PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs, CESAR® Canine Cuisine, SHEBA® Entrée for Cats, WHISKAS® Food for Cats, GOODLIFE™ Food for Cats , and TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats, as well as exclusive brands products for some of the leading retailers in the U.S. Headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., more than 2,100 Mars Petcare US associates make, sell and distribute its high-quality pet food from 13 manufacturing facilities located in communities across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

SOURCE Mars Petcare US