CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings to help man's best friend

Published on December 12, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Southaven, MS --- Many people acclaim dogs to be man's best friend. At Saturday's RiverKings match up against the Colorado Eagles, 7:05pm at the DeSoto Civic Center, the RiverKings look to help some of their four-legged, furry friends find homes just in time for the holidays. Area adoption, rescue and animal shelters will be featured on the concourse throughout the game, seeking good homes for the dogs they represent.

"Home 4 The Holidays is an event we have spotlighted for several years," Maggie Biedenharn, coordinator of the Home 4 The Holidays event with the RiverKings, said. "Each year our goal is to help find homes for the dogs as well as raise awareness and funds for the local participating organizations. Participating again this year is: Save 1 Pet, West Tennessee Border Collie Rescue Society, DeSoto Animal Rescue Society, Mid-South German Shepherd Rescue and Sunny Meadows Rescue."

Animal shelters and pet rescue groups worldwide have signed up to participate in this year's Iams Annual Home 4 The Holidays program. The Home 4 The Holidays program hopes to find good, lifelong homes for over 350,000 pets this year. Home 4 The Holidays all began in 1999 when Helen Woodward Animal Center organized 14 San Diego area shelters to find homes for 2,563 orphaned pets. Each pet adopted went home with an Iams holiday meal. In 2005 the program saw its 1-millionth pet adopted.

"Our goal is to see that every dog from every rescue group participating gets a good home this holiday season," said Denise Novak, representative of Save 1 Pet. "There are many more dogs sitting in shelters that we would like to find happy holiday homes for as well. Our purpose is to direct people away from puppy mills and steer them towards shelters and rescue groups."

Novak and Save 1 Pet participated with the RiverKings and Home 4 The Holidays last season as well. "We had a wonderful time at last year's event," Novak said.

Save 1 Pet will be bringing Nemo, a 2-3 year old Labrador Retriever, to the RiverKings game on Saturday. Nemo is a compact, active dog. He weighs about 25 pounds, is heartworm negative, neutered, housetrained and current on his vaccines. Nemo has a wonderful temperament and is a ribbon winner. Nemo will be dropping the ceremonial puck and riding the zamboni on Saturday night.

"Nemo competed in the Waggin' Tails Contest and won first place," Novak explained. "He also placed second in the fastest doggie fun zone contest. He will be one excited dog Saturday night."

DeSoto Animal Rescue Society hopes to also bring a dog on Saturday night.

"We are hoping to reach the 400 mark on adoptions this year," Wendy Badarello, with the DeSoto Animal Rescue Society said. "We participated last year and are excited to participate again. This event is a great way for us to get exposure, not having a shelter for people to visit, a place to see the animals we are helping."

"Our group fosters animals in our own homes," Badarello, explained. "Because we foster we know a lot about these animals. We know any problems they might have, living arrangements that would be best for them, their personality traits, etc. All of which help us, because we are looking for forever homes for these pets."

The Iams Home 4 The Holidays adoption drive attributes its success to families bringing pets into their homes for the holidays. Iams Home 4 The Holidays works together with area shelters and rescue missions to match the needs of pets with the desires of families, so that everybody wins.

The Iams Home 4 The Holidays adoption drive will continue through December and end January 3, 2008. For further information regarding the Iams Home 4 The Holidays pet adoption drive visit www.animalcenter.org/home4theholidays.

"We really want people to think adoption first," Novak explained. "There are full breed's at local rescue shelters, available to good homes. Visit www.petfinder.com for more information."

For more information on the RiverKings Home 4 The Holidays event contact the RiverKings office at 662.342.1755 or www.riverkings.com.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2007


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