TurfMutt Encourages Families to Get Outside for "National Walk Your Dog Week"

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- National Walk Your Dog Week (October 1 to 7), which aims to address canine behavior issues and canine obesity, is a great opportunity for you and your pup to get outside and enjoy the green spaces around you – a message Lucky the TurfMutt shares year-round.

Lucky is the super-hero spokesdog for the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)'s environmental education and stewardship program, TurfMutt. Through materials focused on backyard science and STEM (science, technology, education and math) principles, TurfMutt teaches students in grades K-5 and their families how to save the living landscapes in their family yard.

"Getting outside to play in my yard and taking a walk in nature are two of my absolute favorite things in the world to do," says Lucky the TurfMutt. "I'm fortunate to live with a human who understands the importance of being outside on walks, and I hope all pet parents will use National Walk Your Dog Week as an opportunity to jump start a new routine and bond with their dog."

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 54 percent of U.S. dogs (41.9 million in total) are overweight or obese. Extra weight can lead to health problems for a family's furry friends, including chronic inflammation, orthopedic disease, skin problems, decreased mobility and cancer, not to mention reduced life expectancy and diminished quality of life. Dogs who don't get enough exercise are also more likely to act out by barking, chewing or raiding the garbage can.

"I know from personal experience that Lucky is a much happier, content and well-behaved dog when he's getting the proper amount of exercise – whether we're walking through his own family yard, our neighborhood or in the community park," says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI who rescued Lucky off the streets and gave him a home. "TurfMutt needs to stay fit and connected to nature in order to accomplish his mission of saving the planet one yard at a time, but it's not just superdogs that need exercise – all dogs do."

Spending time outside isn't only good for our canine companions, it also benefits us, as well. A systematic research review (Annual Review of Environment and Resources) concluded that "the balance of evidence indicates conclusively that knowing and experiencing nature makes us generally happier, healthier people." Being in nature reduces stress (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), improves memory function (Charlie Hall, Ellison Chair in International Floriculture) and decreases depression and anger (BioMed Central Public Health). And since the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. are obese, National Walk Your Dog Week is a positive step in the right direction for both pups and people.

Find out more about how living landscapes in the family yard benefit pets and people by visiting www.savelivinglandscapes.com. Learn more about TurfMutt at www.turfmutt.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. TurfMutt's personal, home habitat also is featured in the 2017 and the upcoming 2018 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars.

About OPEI
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing more than 100 power equipment, engine and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry, and a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in the development of safety and performance standards. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry's annual international trade show, and the creative force behind the environmental education program, TurfMutt.com. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces. For more information, visit www.OPEI.org.

Media contacts
Ami Neiberger-Miller, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 703-887-4877, [email protected] 
Suzanne Henry, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 434-972-7278, [email protected]

SOURCE Outdoor Power Equipment Institute