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About Pet Hug Fund™ |
About the Pet Hug Fund™
Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) established the Pet Hug Fund™ with Purina’s help, to mobilize animal therapy teams nationwide in an effort to spread as many pet hugs as possible to those in need, from senior citizens in assisted living centers to hospital patients, children with disabilities and troubled youth.
These non-profit Pet Hug Fund™ groups, test, screen, place and insure their teams to provide high quality pet interactions. Funds raised go to each group to support the work they do in their own communities.
Meet the 2007 Pet Hug Fund Therapy Pets
Two members of the ARF visiting animal therapy team were chosen this year to represent Pet Hug Fund™ and all of the hundreds of animals that visit people daily.
For more than eight years, Beemer, a rescued schnauzer mix, has provided tens of thousands of pet hugs to those in need. Whether it is at-risk kids, assisted living residents or students traumatized by an unfortunate event, Beemer has never met a person he didn’t make smile with a pet hug.
Two-year-old Ducati is a remarkable tabby cat walking on leash through schools and hospitals to spread soft warm hugs. He enjoys nothing more then curling up on a lap and being petted.
Beemer and Ducati’s likeness were made in to the mini pets that will help support the Pet Hug Fund™.
Find out about Pet Hug Fund™ groups in other areas around the country and read about the great work they are doing.
The Pet Hug Fund™ honors a network of visiting therapy animal teams Thank You from Nestlé Purina Petcare!Those of us who work with and have pet families know that at the end of the day when we open the door, that the best antidote for a hard day at work, a bad report card, quarrel with a spouse or simply the blues is the four-footed jump-into-your-arms, curl-in-your-lap, lick-your-tears-away greeting that we can get from our furry friends. Who loves you more? Who demonstrates that love with boundless enthusiasm? Who loves you regardless of how you look, how old you are, or how you feel? It is your dog, or cat or other companion animal. That is why we helped ARF create The Pet Hug Fund™. We want to help bring the healing touch of pets to people…people of all needs. Nestlé Purina Petcare has a mission: Enriching the lives of pets and the people who love them. Helping ARF establish and grow The Pet Hug Fund™ is a natural fit! And at Purina, we are thrilled to help! This May 2007 promotion directs all designated Purina and Build-a-Bear Workshop donations to the Pet Hug Fund™ and distributes them to pet therapy groups throughout the country. A great deal of pet training, team evaluations, veterinary care, insurance, and time goes into the creation of these great programs. How You Can HelpNow everyone who has ever been touched by a pet personally or who has witnessed the magic that occurs during a pet visit can help ARF spread Pet Hugs in two ways.
Pet therapy groups from coast-to-coast visiting people in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living centers, schools, libraries and more will benefit from our working together. We look forward to sharing the Pet Hug Fund™ stories and bringing hugs to people everywhere. The Purina Pets for People Team |