Wanted: Canada's Picture Perfect Pooch!

Fido launches search for Canada's top dog in support of Dog Guides

To view the Enriched Media Release, click here: http://smr.newswire.ca/en/fido/wanted-canadas-picture-perfect-pooch

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Your dog could be famous! Fido is searching for Canada's top dog to star in a future Fido ad. From October 6th to November 17th, Canadian dog owners are invited to enter their dazzling dog online or in person into the Fido Casting Call™ in support of a great cause. Dog owners and dog lovers alike are encouraged to vote for their preferred pooch at www.FidoCastingCall.ca and $200,000 will be donated to the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.

"People are passionate about their pets and we want to give Fido fans a fun and unique opportunity to make their dog a star," said Steven Sarfin, Senior Director, Marketing, Fido. "We also want to encourage Canadians to unleash their votes to help make a difference in our community. Our partnership with Dog Guides Canada will support this great organization's efforts in enriching the lives of Canadians with disabilities."

For each vote, Fido will donate $1.00 to Dog Guides Canada, up to a maximum of $200,000. Dog Guides will use the funds donated by Fido to train and place 10 Dog Guides with Canadians with disabilities.

"We are thrilled to be partners with Fido for this unique dog casting call. With the demand for Dog Guides rapidly increasing, this event and generous donation from Fido helps ensure that we can continue to help more people with disabilities," says Sandy Turney, Executive Director, Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.

Fido Casting Call entry sheets can be submitted on the Fido Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fidomobile or in person at a live Fido Casting Call event during the month of October in six Canadian cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. All casting sheets will be posted for voting on the Fido Casting Call website. Voting closes on November 17th.

The dog that obtains the most votes will be declared the "Winning Dog" and will be flown with its owner to Montreal for a VIP puppy pamper experience that will include:

• VIP spa treatment for the Winning Dog;
• Professional photo shoot for the Winning Dog;
• An LG Optimus 2X Fido phone for the Winning Dog's owner;
• Air travel and/or limousine service to the VIP photo shoot;
• Hotel accommodations;
• $500 spending money;
• Dog collar with a personalized 2011 Fido Casting Call winner's medal; and,
• A Fido ad displayed in public featuring the Winning Dog.

About Fido:
Fido gives low prices a good home by offering Canadian consumers simple, high-value low price wireless voice and data products and services with excellent customer care. Operating on the global standard GSM and HSPA technology platforms, Fido customers can roam in over 200 countries/areas.

Since its launch in 1996, Fido continues to provide new programs and services to meet and reward the needs of its customers. The new FidoANSWERS™ service allows customers to easily speak to live customer service representatives at the touch of a button. With the FidoTRADE™ program, new or existing customers can trade-in their used device towards the purchase or upgrade of a new device. Additionally, Fido customers automatically earn FidoDOLLARS™ every month which can be used to try new products and services or reduce the price of a new phone. To date, more than $336M FidoDOLLARS have been given to Fido customers.

About Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides:
Each Dog Guide costs approximately $20,000 to raise and train. Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides does not receive any government funding, yet all Dog Guides are provided at no cost. The Lions Foundation of Canada trains five types of Dog Guides - Canine Vision Dog Guides, providing assistance to people who are blind or visually impaired; Hearing Ear Dog Guides, for people who are deaf or hard of hearing; Special Skills Dog Guides, providing assistance to Canadians with physical disabilities; Seizure Response Dog Guides, helping Canadians with epilepsy; and Autism Assistance Dog Guides, helping children with autism. These Dog Guides have the ability to make a difference in the lives of Canadians with disabilities.

Additional Links

• www.fido.ca
• www.facebook.com/fidomobile
• www.twitter.com/fidomobile
• www.dogguides.com
• www.FidoCastingCall.ca

SOURCE Fido

Image with caption: "Wanted: Canada's Picture Perfect Pooch! (CNW Group/Fido)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111006_C9933_PHOTO_EN_4186.jpg

Video with caption: "Video: Fido Casting Call". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ivAErQWTE