The Nutro Company Makes Donation to Search Dog Foundation in Response to Haiti Disaster Efforts

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- As search and rescue teams return home from Haiti this week, The Nutro Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, today announced a $50,000 donation to the Search Dog Foundation (SDF).  SDF is a California-based organization that deployed six canine disaster search teams to assist in the search and rescue operations in Haiti. SDF's search team efforts have been the most successful deployment in the organization's 14 year history with a total of 10 individuals discovered and pulled out alive from the debris.  

"We have all seen the tragic images from Haiti, interspersed with moments of hope when survivors were pulled from the wreckage," stated David Ansell, President of The Nutro Company.  "For over ten years, we have supported the Search Dog Foundation and have watched their teams work tirelessly to save the lives of people in the midst of a disaster.  We are honored to be able to support their mission."

Today's donation builds on the exclusive three-year partnership between the SDF and NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® dog food.  The NATURAL CHOICE® brand is the official dog food sponsor of the SDF and since 2008, The Nutro Company has made significant monetary and in-kind donations to the organization.  The relationship stretches back to 1998, when The Nutro Company began providing vouchers for NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® dog food.  

"We are grateful to The Nutro Company and the NATURAL CHOICE® brand for their continued support of the Search Dog Foundation," stated David Kaplan, President of Search Dog USA.  "Our dogs perform miracles in extremely difficult circumstances, and the assistance we get from The Nutro Company – including the actual food we feed our dogs on the ground – help them do that."

SDF is a non-profit based in Ojai, CA that produces canine disaster search teams trained to find victims buried alive after events such as the World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina and now the earthquake in Haiti.  The teams who participate in the relief efforts are instrumental in rescuing numerous individuals from the rubble of collapsed structures.  Anyone interested in contributing to the Search Dog Foundation can visit their website at www.searchdogfoundation.org.  

In total, the various business segments of Mars, Incorporated have donated $475,000 to the disaster relief and recovery efforts in Haiti, in both monetary and in-kind contributions.  In addition, The Nutro Company will be matching associate donations to SDF 100 percent.  Additional aid is planned as on-going needs develop.  

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® and ULTRA™ dog and cat food brands 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.

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

About Search Dog Foundation

The Search Dog Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen America's emergency response network by producing the most highly-trained canine-firefighter disaster search teams in the nation. SDF recruits rescued dogs and partners them with firefighters, providing the canines and the training at no cost to their departments.  SDF receives no government funding and relies solely on support from individuals, private foundations and companies to produce these highly-skilled teams.

Since its founding in 1996, SDF has rescued hundreds of dogs, many on the brink of euthanasia.  They have trained 105 Search Teams, 72 of which are currently active.  SDF Teams have been deployed to 66 disasters including the World Trade Center attacks and Hurricane Katrina and state and local emergencies such as earthquakes, mudslides, building collapses, train derailments and missing person searches.  Eight of SDF's teams are members of CA-TF2 and are ready at all times for immediate deployment overseas when called upon by the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.

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SOURCE The Nutro Company