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Underdogs No More, Mutts Take Center Stage as American Mutt-i-grees Club Debuts Online

Pet Savers Foundation’s New Venture Extols Value of Adopting Mixed Breed Shelter Dogs

Focusing on changing the way dog-loving Americans perceive mixed breed canines, The Pet Savers Foundation today unveiled the American Mutt-i-grees Club. The web-based initiative, (http://www.muttigrees.org/), targeting owners of America’s 50+ million mixed breed dogs, offers membership that includes a registry for mixed breeds and looks to educate the public on the benefits of adopting a Mutt-i- gree from a shelter.

American Mutt-i-grees Club organizers hope to direct potential pet parents away from retail and online sellers offering canines from puppy mills that engage in questionable breeding practices. The American Mutt-i-grees Club’s key message is that any type of dog is readily available at a shelter, and that adopting, rather than shopping at a puppy-mill supplied store, is the responsible way to obtain a pet. The Pet Savers Foundation also seeks to correct misconceptions, so that people understand that shelter dogs are not sick or abused animals, and that you can find any type of dog, puppies or adult Mutt-i-grees, in shelters.

J. John Stevenson, Managing Director of the foundation, and President of North Shore Animal League America, of which the Pet Savers Foundation is the development arm, says that the program, while elevating mixed breed dogs, has no issue with dog lovers that prefer purebreds, as long as those animals are obtained through reputable breeders.

“Our issue is with backyard breeders and puppy mills that recklessly employ irresponsible and often terribly cruel and inhumane practices, to breed innocent animals, and then market them in pet stores or on the Internet. They are motivated by greed and profit, not the love and value of the breed and each individual animal. We are educating the public that any kind of wonderful, healthy and loving dog can be found in a local shelter,” says Stevenson, who points out that each year approximately 4 million pets are euthanized. Purebred animals account for a significant percentage of shelter pets, yet a relatively small number of those are euthanized.

The American Mutt-i-grees Club is debuting with two components. An adult site offers expert pet advice, dog adoption referrals, shopping and travel services and other member benefits. In late September, the site will offer a social networking component where Mutt-i-grees owners can mingle and post pet profiles, blogs, and other pet-themed content. Acting as spokesperson is Katherine Erbe, who plays detective Alexandra Eames on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Ms. Erbe, recently adopted a Mutt-i-gree from a shelter, and will spread the word that animal cruelty is a crime and that a shelter adoption is the right choice.

For children, a Mutt-i-grees Clubhouse will launch in early September, where a parent or guardian can logon with their child to access pet-centric games and light-hearted humane education content. The children’s site will also empower children by showing them simple ways to get involved and make a difference close to home.

A comprehensive school curriculum, Pre-K -12, is being developed in partnership with Yale University’s School of the 21st Century, operating in over 1300 schools around the country (Yale.edu/21C.com) and is set to roll out in 2009. The school curriculum will concentrate on humane education, delivered in the context of core subjects, such as literacy, social studies and math and is being guided by a 14-member Innovative Curriculum Advisory panel of teachers, administrators and librarians from several states. A National Advisory Board, comprised of experts in the field of child development, education and interactive-programming is being convened to direct curriculum strategy.

There will be two paid membership levels for mixed breed owners, including Mutt-i-grees registry, an American Mutt-i-grees Club certificate and other member-values, and there is a free introductory membership tier for Mutt-i- grees owners too. So that no one is excluded, there is also a membership option for non-dog owners, or people who own purebred dogs.

For more information about the America Mutt-i-grees Club, visit http://www.muttigrees.org/.

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