Protect-A-Bed® Launches Long Winter's Nap Campaign

CHICAGO, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the days get shorter and the weather turns colder, there's nothing like snuggling in bed with a warm, furry friend. Unfortunately sometimes, that comfortable companion can invoke coughing, sneezing and other asthma and allergy-related breathing challenges. Luckily, a new campaign launching today is designed to help educate pet lovers on the best ways to maintain a healthy sleep zone while sharing their bed with a favorite feline or canine.

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Protect-A-Bed's Long Winter's Nap 2012 "Pin it to Win it" sweepstakes encourages Pinterest users to pin photos of their sleeping pets for a chance to win prizes for them and their pets. Participants are encouraged to share cute or funny photos of Fluffy and Fido catching a "long winter's nap." The campaign launch follows National Mutt Day (Dec. 2), a day created by celebrity pet expert and animal welfare advocate, Colleen Paige, dedicated to saving and celebrating mixed breed dogs.

"Protect-A-Bed's Long Winter's Nap is a terrific campaign that facilitates the bond between pet and owner, while helping to ensure healthy, allergy-free slumber," Paige said. "The most common question I am asked by pet owners is whether it's ok to allow their pets to sleep in bed with them. My pets have always slept on my bed and I encourage pet owners who are interested in that choice to create a stronger bond with their pets. Protect-A-Bed products ensure that allowing your pets to sleep on your bed remains a healthy choice."

The sweepstakes runs on Pinterest, but Protect-A-Bed will engage social media followers by sharing a "photo of the day" from Pinterest with fans on Facebook and followers on Twitter on Dec. 5 and Dec. 7. Winners of the "photo of the day," which will be randomly selected, will receive a Premium Pillow Protector from Protect-A-Bed.

"Social media users love sharing photos of their dogs and cats, especially when they can catch them taking a snooze in interesting places or funny positions," said James Bell, CEO of Protect-A-Bed. "Not only is this campaign a fun way to engage with our social media friends, it's also a great opportunity for pet owners to learn more about protecting their sleep zones from pet allergens."

According to Bell, it's estimated that about 62 percent of all households in the United States have a pet. (Source: APPA). "Dust mites and their allergens are among the greatest causes of allergies and the bedroom contains the greatest number of dust mites and pet allergens," Bell says. "The bedroom is the most important room to allergen-proof, especially if your favorite pet is spending a lot of time in there."

The grand prize winner will be randomly selected and will receive an AllerZip® Smooth Mattress Encasement, a tool for allergy mattress protection, and a $250 gift card to a national pet retailer for their furry friend.

To enter, Pinterest users must follow Protect-A-Bed on Pinterest (www.Pinterest.com/protectabed) and create a Long Winter's Nap board where they can pin the sweepstakes rules, a post from Protect-A-Bed's Healthy Sleep Zone blog and a photo of their pet sleeping. The pins must include #Paws4ANap and #Protect-A-Bed to be eligible. To finalize the entry, links to individuals' boards must be emailed to [email protected].

The campaign begins on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (EST) and ends on Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. EST. Winners will be announced on Pinterest and Facebook around 3 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 14.

About Protect-A-Bed®:

Protect-A-Bed offers consumers a complete line of protective bedding products because "Every Mattress Needs Protection".  With over 30 years of experience in bedding protection, Protect-A-Bed products are available in 35 countries, and the company is recognized as a worldwide leader in mattress protection innovation. Protect-A-Bed products help create a dry, hygienic, bed bug free and anti-allergy sleep zone while also protecting the mattress warranty. The company developed Miracle Membrane®, a proprietary membrane, which is waterproof and protects against liquids and bodily fluids that may ruin a mattress or inhibit a mattress's warranty claim, and patented BugLock® with SecureSeal® and three-sided zipper system for encasements. Protect-A-Bed products are listed as Class 1 Medical Devices with the Food and Drug Administration, and have received the Good Housekeeping Seal. For more information, visit www.protectabed.com.

SOURCE Protect-A-Bed