PEDIGREE(R) Food for Dogs and Hallmark Channel Team Up to Help Raise Awareness for Homeless Pets

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and LOS ANGELES, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Hallmark Channel and the makers of PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs have shaken paws over a new partnership to help raise awareness of the issue of homeless pets in conjunction with Hallmark Channel's original movie You Lucky Dog.  The movie, starring Harry Hamlin, Natasha Henstridge and a border collie named Lucky, premieres on Hallmark Channel June 26th with a hopeful and heart-tugging message about rescuing pets and making them a celebrated part of the family.

The PEDIGREE® Brand seemed the perfect partner for Hallmark Channel on this endeavor given their outstanding advocacy for homeless dogs that's best illustrated through the annual PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive. A national awareness and fundraising campaign that began in 2005, The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive has generated millions of dollars for dogs in shelters and breed rescue organizations.

"The PEDIGREE® Brand is committed to the cause of dog adoption and we've made it our mission to lend a helping hand to the four million dogs that end up homeless each year," said John Anton, marketing director for PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs. "The opportunity to partner with Hallmark on this film was one we didn't want to pass up, as it gives us an additional – and high-profile – platform to help raise awareness for our four-legged friends in need and encourage dog lovers everywhere to adopt, volunteer or donate."

From on-air Public Service Announcements and advertising as well as program tie-ins including celebrities involved in You Lucky Dog targeted media and publicity efforts, all involved in the effort will help bring attention to the pet adoption message through the premiere of the movie and beyond.

"Hallmark Channel embraces pets as part of the family, and with the story told in You Lucky Dog, it was natural to extend our love of pets beyond the television screen to make a difference for adopted animals and families who bring them into their lives," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Hallmark Channel.  "Working with PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs has helped ensure the message behind our movie rings true, and we're proud to be a part of such an effort."

It's important to note that adopting a pet is a decision that should not be taken lightly.  Caring for a pet is a big responsibility, but most dog lovers will tell you that adding a dog to your family will bring a great deal of joy and happiness.  For a wealth of information from how the adoption process works, to guidelines for everyday care and nutrition, to finding a local shelter near you, log onto www.pedigree.com.  

About Hallmark Channel

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming available in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to a national audience of 90 million subscribers.  The top tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country.  Hallmark Channel consistently ranks among the highest-rated cable networks and is the nation's leading network in providing quality family programming.  Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, which focuses on the greatest family movies of all time. For more information, please visit www.hallmarkchannelpress.com.

About PEDIGREE® Brand

PEDIGREE® Brand is the number one brand of dog food in the world, offering a wide variety of products for different dog life stages. As an innovative market leader, PEDIGREE® Brand is at the forefront of pet nutrition and understands pet owner needs by providing a range of innovative products and resources. ®/™ Trademarks © Mars, Incorporated 2010

SOURCE PEDIGREE Brand