THE POWER OF PETS™ by Mars Petcare and the Lake View YMCA Host a Woof Walk Fun Run in Chicago

Event Will Feature a Community Dog Walk and Fun, Family-Friendly Activities

CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, Sept. 24, Mars Petcare and the Lake View YMCA will host the first in a nationwide series of "Woof Walk" Fun Runs to help promote dog walking as a way for families to increase their physical activity levels while spending more time together and outdoors.

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The event will feature a 2k community dog walk led by U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05). The event, part of THE POWER OF PETS™ by Mars Petcare 2011 program, will also feature free pet wellness checks by veterinarians from Banfield® Pet Hospital, dog yoga demonstration, pet caricaturist sessions, live music and dance party, face painting and other family-friendly activities.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  at Hamilton Elementary School, located at 1650 West Cornelia Avenue in Lake View. Admission is free and open to all well-behaved pets and pet owners in the community.

"THE POWER OF PETS™ helps people view dog walking as an easy and affordable way to keep their families and their pets fit," said Debra Fair, vice president of corporate affairs, Mars Petcare US. "The program helps introduce people to the benefits of dog walking, which can have a positive effect on the health and the neighborly bonds of a community."

Research suggests that regular walking can lower the risk of blood pressure and may help combat obesity in both humans and pets.  Dog walking can be a gateway to a healthier and more active lifestyle for the nearly 40 percent of U.S. households that own a dog. A recent Mars Petcare survey found that nearly two-thirds of dog owners engage in exercise on a weekly basis because of their dog and that dogs are the driving force behind two-thirds of the walks their owners take each week.  

"At the Lake View YMCA, we believe that healthy, active families are the key to building strong and vibrant communities," said Katy Leclair, executive director of the Lake View YMCA. "Through partnering with Mars Petcare, THE POWER OF PETS™ enables us to encourage the people in our community to be more active by encouraging neighbors to walk together with their pets."

THE POWER OF PETS™ Program
THE POWER OF PETS™ by Mars Petcare, a community-focused initiative that celebrates the health benefits of pet ownership, is focusing its 2011 program on dog walking as a way for families to increase their physical activity levels while spending more time together and more time outdoors. Mars, the largest global petcare company, owns some of the world's most beloved brands including, CESAR®, PEDIGREE®, NUTRO®, WHISKAS®, ROYAL CANIN® and Banfield® Pet Hospital.

For more information, please visit THE POWER OF PETS™ fan page at Facebook.com/powerofpets. This page will be regularly updated with upcoming event information, tips for exercising with your pet and facts about the benefits of human-animal interaction.  

About Mars Petcare
Mars  is the world's largest petcare manufacturer producing some of the world's most beloved brands such as PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR®, ROYAL CANIN®, NUTRO®, GREENIES®, KITEKAT®, CHAPPI®, and CATSAN® Food for Pets. Mars Petcare is also home to Mars Fishcare, Mars Horsecare, and Banfield® Pet Hospital. The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition provides the science behind our leading petcare brands. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars, Incorporated has net sales of more than $30 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience. More than 65,000 associates worldwide are putting our Mars Principles in action every day to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance. For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

®/™ Trademarks Mars, Incorporated

SOURCE Mars Petcare