THE POWER OF PETS™ by Mars Petcare Hosts Woof Walk Fun Run in Portland

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Oct 13, 2011, 12:00 ET

Event Will Feature a Community Dog Walk and Fun, Family-Friendly Activities

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, Oct. 15, Mars Petcare and the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette will host the first west coast "Woof Walk" Fun Run to help promote dog walking as a way for families to increase their physical activity levels while spending more time together and outdoors.

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The event, part of THE POWER OF PETS™ by Mars Petcare 2011 program, will feature a 2k community dog walk, free pet wellness checks by veterinarians from Banfield® Pet Hospital, dog obstacle course demonstrations, pet caricaturist sessions, live music and dance party and other family-friendly activities.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the northwest corner of Greenway Park, at the corner of the Greenway and Parkview Loops. Admission is free and open to all well-behaved pets and pet owners in the community.

"THE POWER OF PETS™ helps people view dog walking as an easy and affordable way to celebrate dogs, get outdoors and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle," said Debra Fair, vice president of corporate affairs, Mars Petcare US. "The program helps introduce people to the benefits of dog walking, which can help them keep their families, their friends and their pets fit."

Research suggests that regular walking can lower the risk of blood pressure and may help combat obesity in both humans and pets. Dog walking can be a gateway to a healthier and more active lifestyle for the nearly 40 percent of U.S. households that own a dog. A recent Mars Petcare survey found that nearly two-thirds of dog owners engage in exercise on a weekly basis because of their dog and that dogs are the driving force behind two-thirds of the walks their owners take each week.

"At the YMCA we believe that exercise and health education are important to people of all ages, incomes and abilities," said Corinn deWaard, senior development officer of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette. "Through partnering with Mars Petcare, THE POWER OF PETS™ enables us to encourage the people in our community to improve their health and well-being while building a stronger sense of community by encouraging neighbors to walk together with their pets."

THE POWER OF PETS™ Program
THE POWER OF PETS™ by Mars Petcare, a community-focused initiative that celebrates the health benefits of pet ownership, is focusing its 2011 program on dog walking as a way for families to increase their physical activity levels while spending more time together and more time outdoors. Mars, the largest global petcare company, owns some of the world's most beloved brands including, CESAR®, PEDIGREE®, NUTRO®, WHISKAS®, ROYAL CANIN® and Banfield® Pet Hospital.

For more information, please visit THE POWER OF PETS™ fan page at Facebook.com/powerofpets. This page will be regularly updated with upcoming event information, tips for exercising with your pet and facts about the benefits of human-animal interaction.

About Mars Petcare
Mars is the world's largest petcare manufacturer producing some of the world's most beloved brands such as PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR®, ROYAL CANIN®, NUTRO®, GREENIES®, KITEKAT®, CHAPPI®, and CATSAN® Food for Pets. Mars Petcare is also home to Mars Fishcare, Mars Horsecare, and Banfield® Pet Hospital. The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition provides the science behind our leading petcare brands. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars, Incorporated has net sales of more than $30 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience. More than 65,000 associates worldwide are putting our Mars Principles in action every day to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance. For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

SOURCE Mars Petcare