Paula Abdul has teamed up with Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance®, Petco® and Independent Pet Stores to help raise money for Guide Dog Organizations across the country.

State Governors are now in the process of declaring May National Guide Dog Month.

DID YOU KNOW IT TAKES MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND OVER FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO TRAIN ONE GUIDE DOG FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T HAVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT?

A potential guide dog puppy is raised with a trainer for 18-20 months, then the dog is given to the school for formal guide dog training which consists of actual guide dog work with a harness. This takes 4-6 months. Then the dog is matched with a blind person, who is sent to the guide dog facility to learn how to handle their dog, and this training takes 28 days. Guide dogs are given to the blind for free.

All pets bring a special kind of joy to their human companions, but Guide Dogs can really make a difference in a person’s life by providing mobility and independence to someone who cannot see.

With your help, we can place more of these life-changing dogs with visually impaired people who need them.

Money will be raised in the following ways:

• Petco® & Independent Pet Stores will participate in a Round Up Program, for example, when a customer makes a purchase for $5.55, at the register they are asked if they would like to round up to $6.00, and the 45 cents will then be donated to Guide Dogs.

• For Independent Pet Stores that are not able to do the Round Up Program, the customer will be asked for a one dollar or more donation to Guide Dogs at the register, or the store can create their own collection program.

• Natural Balance will have specially marked bags of dog food, and 50 cents of the purchase will be donated to Guide Dogs.

Click the button below for the latest Natural Balance Press Release associated with National Guide Dog Month.
You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free HERE

100% of the proceeds from National Guide Dog Month will be donated to Guide Dog training facilities across the country. There are no administration fees.

Los Angeles, CA, May 11, 2009 --(PR.com)-- American Idol singer Scott MacIntyre received an incredible gift from Paula Abdul, as she presented him with a guide dog in honor of May being National Guide Dog Month. Paula, Natural Balance Pet Foods, Petco and Independent pet stores nationwide are teaming to raise funds and awareness for guide dogs, with over 2 million dollars to be raised during May.

An emotional MacIntyre was both thrilled and surprised to learn he would receive a guide dog. He had been told he was at the ceremony to perform, but instead, Paula informed him that he would be receiving a dog after his upcoming tour. Many people openly wept during the ceremony.

"Being part of this important cause is truly special and very close to my heart,” said Paula Abdul. “Most people have no idea how much time and money it takes to train these beautiful animals to give such a precious gift to those who need it most. It can take more than two years and $40,000 to properly train a guide dog. Together, we can help guide dog schools provide more of these life-changing partners to people who are blind.”

Throughout the month of May, pet parents can visit any of PETCO’s more than 950 locations nationwide, as well as many independent pet stores, and buy specially marked bags of Natural Balance dog food with Paula Abdul’s picture on them, to donate 50 cents of the purchase price to participating guide dog schools. PETCO shoppers can also “round up” their purchases at the register to donate the difference to the cause, or make donations directly online at PETCO.com.

“Having Paula Abdul, a huge animal lover, as our spokesperson will help us get the message out to raise money to match people who are visually impaired and in need of these amazing guide dogs", said Dick Van Patten of Natural Balance Pet Foods.

Stores across the country, just like in this photo of Pet Supermarket in Springhill, FL,
are helping to raise money for National Guide dog Month.

Guide Dogs Program
Natural Balance® provides food for Guide Dog Associations. Click on the links below for more information about each program: