Love Unleashed: Lucky the TurfMutt to be Featured in National Geographic Book

"To be included in this book is quite a milestone for Lucky the TurfMutt, a rescue dog I found on the side of an Indiana highway a few years ago. We're proud he is featured alongside so many other heroic dogs from around the world," said Kris Kiser, Lucky's rescuer and the President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. Lucky is the official spokesdog of the TurfMutt program, champion of our urban and home habitats, and a proud supporter of the many rescue and adoption organizations across the U.S.

Kiser adds, "I love what Rebecca is doing with her dog-inspired series. TurfMutt is a strong proponent of animal rescue, and we're happy to lend his celebrity to encourage others to adopt rather than shop for their next furry family member. Rescue animals make wonderful family additions. They will be grateful for the forever home you give them, and by remembering that nature starts at your backdoor."

Along with supporting animal adoption, the TurfMutt program encourages people to make wise decisions around their family yards, lawns and landscapes for the health of pets, wildlife and the environment.

"TurfMutt inspires people to take better care of our living landscapes and our animals through the program's environmental education and stewardship program," said Kiser. "Lucky has been 'cartoonized' and animated as part of an educational curriculum for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. He's appeared on television and been to elementary school classrooms. And, while Lucky will likely retire soon, through his story we've been able to inspire people to want to do better by our living landscapes friends—so we can actively enjoy our backyards and the green spaces around us—with our families and our pets."

The TurfMutt program has reached more than 68 million children, educators and families, since 2009, showing them how they can "save the planet, one yard at a time." To learn more about the TurfMutt program and get free e-books, online games, lesson plans and more to inspire students in grades K-5 to take care of green spaces, visit www.TurfMutt.com. To learn more about caring for our living landscapes, visit www.SaveLivingLandscapes.com.

About TurfMutt
TurfMutt was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute's (OPEI) Research and Education Foundation and has reached more than 68 million children, educators and families since 2009. Through classroom materials developed with Scholastic, TurfMutt teaches students and teachers how to "save the planet, one yard at a time." TurfMutt is an official USGBC^® Education Partner and education resource at the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. TurfMutt's personal, home habitat is featured in the 2017 and 2018 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. More information at www.TurfMutt.com.

Photo/Media contacts:
- Ami Neiberger-Miller, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 703-887-4877, [email protected]
- Debbi Mayster, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 240-988-6243, [email protected]

SOURCE Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)