PetSafe 'Bark for Your Park' contest launches May 1, prize money for local dog parks increases to $200,000

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Apr 02, 2013, 01:00 ET

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- PetSafe, a leading innovator in pet behavior and lifestyle solutions, is offering its third annual "Bark for Your Park" nationwide contest with more prize money and more opportunity to win funding for a local dog park. The contest launches May 1, and by the end of summer, five U.S. cities will share in $200,000 in funding for local off-leash dog parks.

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One U.S. city will be named the "top dog" and win a $100,000 PetSafe dog park, and four additional pet-passionate finalist cities will receive $25,000 to put toward their local dog park plans.

Last year, Texarkana, Ark., received the most votes of the 15 finalist cities, winning the $100,000 dog park. The city showed the importance of working together to win the nationwide contest, rallying support from citizens, elected officials, animal lovers, pet professionals and animal welfare groups, local media outlets and others.

"What began with a handful of passionate citizens grew into a community project of love for our animals, and it united both sides of our town," said Wayne Smith, mayor of the Texarkana, Ark., side of the twin cities that span the Arkansas-Texas border. "And by working together, we succeeded in winning the 2012 PetSafe 'Bark for Your Park' contest! Our community was overjoyed and grateful to win the $100,000 grand prize so that Texarkana citizens – human and canine – can enjoy a safe place to play, exercise and socialize."

Citizens and pet owners across the U.S. are encouraged to visit www.petsafe.net to nominate their hometown starting May 1 and to vote every day for their favorite city to move forward in the contest. Once the city has been nominated, PetSafe will review the availability of land and support from civic leaders. For the best chance to become a finalist, a city should excel in all three categories of land availability, civic leader support and community votes.

The nomination phase for the contest runs from May 1-May 31. On June 5, PetSafe will select 15 finalist communities to continue "barking" for their park. The finalist city with the most votes will receive $100,000 to build a PetSafe dog park. The city with the highest percentage of votes to its population will receive the "Bark from Your Heart" award and earn $25,000 toward building a local dog park.

This year, the finalist cities will also be broken into three categories according to city size based on population: large, medium and small. The top vote-earner in each size category will each receive $25,000 toward building a PetSafe dog park. "Bark for Your Park" contest winners will be announced on July 31.

"We know that dog parks are a great addition to any town – large or small – for dogs and their owners to get outside, exercise, socialize and enjoy the pet-friendly offerings in their communities," said Randy Boyd, CEO and president of Radio Systems Corporation, makers of the PetSafe brand. "We're looking forward to cities across the nation whose residents love their pets as much as we do to jump at this opportunity; let's hear you 'bark' for you park!"

For more information, visit www.petsafe.net or check out PetSafe on Facebook.

About PetSafe®
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, PetSafe leads the industry in the development of innovative pet behavior, containment, lifestyle product solutions and services. Visit: www.petsafe.net.

SOURCE PetSafe