The GREENIES® Brand Teams with Freedom Service Dogs to Promote The WAG & WALK 4 LIFE™ Pledge

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The GREENIES® Brand is teaming up with Freedom Service Dogs (FSD), a Denver-based nonprofit organization that provides canine helpers to military veterans and others with physical or psychological disabilities to promote the WAG & WALK 4 Life™ Pledge in celebration of the launch of GREENIES® JointCare Canine Treats.

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The WAG & WALK 4 LIFE™ Pledge is a challenge to pet owners to realize the health benefits of regularly walking with their dogs and to motivate them to get moving by pledging a weekly walking goal. As cumulative pledge goals are met, The GREENIES® Brand will provide monetary donations to fund a training camp to place up to 12 FSD service dogs with veterans. The GREENIES® Brand will also provide each dog a year's supply of GREENIES® JointCare Canine Treats, designed to help maintain dogs' healthy mobility.  

Pet owners can learn more about healthy pet mobility, GREENIES® JointCare Canine Treats, FSD and as important -- take the pledge -- on the brand's Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/greenies.

Veterinarian and author Dr. Ernie Ward said, "What could be easier than taking a walk with your dog? It's good for you and it's good for your pet. Plus, when you take the WAG AND WALK 4 LIFE™ Pledge, you know that your efforts are helping a disabled veteran who sacrificed for our country."

"Freedom Service Dogs is very honored to be a partner with GREENIES® Joint Care Canine Treats," said Sharan Wilson, FSD Executive Director. "It's very important for us to take care of the joints of all of our dogs, because they are working dogs. It's a great product and we're happy to be the recipient of their generosity."

All FSD service dogs are rescued, trained and provided to clients in need, free of cost. FSD has strong affiliations with veterans' affairs groups and active wounded warrior divisions, and provides substantial support to war veterans who have disabilities as a result of physical or psychological traumas suffered during tours of duty.

GREENIES® JointCare Treats contain Green-Lipped Mussel, a species indigenous to New Zealand. A very low incidence of mobility issues in NZ natives, for whom Green-Lipped Mussel is a regular part of their diet, caught the attention of researchers. Applying that to dogs, The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition performed clinical studies that demonstrated that certain nutrients contained in Green-Lipped Mussel, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins E and C, glucosamine, chondroitin and other amino acids and minerals have a beneficial effect on canine joint health. GREENIES® JointCare Treats help to protect the mobility of adult dogs of all ages and sizes by nourishing healthy joints. The daily treats should be given to pets as part of a complete joint health program that includes diet, exercise and, if needed, medications prescribed by the veterinarian. GREENIES® JointCare Treats are available in two sizes for small/medium and large dogs at pet specialty products retailers and at many veterinary clinics.

About Freedom Service Dogs

Freedom Service Dogs (FSD), founded in Englewood, CO in 1987, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by rescuing unwanted or abandoned dogs and custom training them for individual client needs.   FSD provides lifetime support to its client/dog partners to encourage increased independence and the loving, therapeutic bond between canine and human. FSD's Operation Freedom is a program that provides specially trained FSD service dogs and places them with military veterans at no charge. For more information, please visit www.freedomservicedogs.org.

About The Nutro Company

The Nutro Company is a leading manufacturer of natural* pet food products sold exclusively at pet specialty stores.  The company has been making "The World's Best Pet Food" for more than 80 years and is dedicated to quality, excellence and innovation in dog and cat nutrition offering healthful formulas for every pet's life stage, activity level and size.  The Nutro Company's family of brands includes MAX®, NATURAL CHOICE® dog and cat foods and ULTRA™ food for dogs in addition to the GREENIES® brands, which include the #1 vet recommended pet specialty dental chews** and PILL POCKETS® treats.  For more information, please visit www.thenutrocompany.com and www.greenies.com.

®/™ Trademarks (C) The Nutro Company 2010

U.S. Pat. No. D614,830

*Natural fortified with vitamins and minerals

**Among veterinarians that recommend dental chews for at home oral care

Related Links

Visit Greenies Facebook page and click the "Wag & Walk 4 Life" tab!

Learn more about how GREENIES JointCare helps protect healthy mobility.

SOURCE The Nutro Company