Camp Bow Wow® Donates $18,000 to the Cesar & Ilusion Millan Foundation “Spay and Neuter is Nothing to Whisper About” Campaign

Camp Bow Wow, Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow, Bow Wow Buddies Foundation and Cesar & Ilusion Millan Foundation

March 8, 2010
For Immediate Release:
For Further Information Contact:
Susan W. Morgan, 804.359.2979, 804.405.5685
or susan [at symbol] fultzmarketing[dot]com

Camp Bow Wow, Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow, Bow Wow Buddies Foundation and Cesar & Ilusion Millan Foundation

Camp Bow Wow® Donates $18,000 to the Cesar & Ilusion Millan Foundation “Spay and Neuter is Nothing to Whisper About” Campaign

Boulder, CO: In just two months, Camp Bow Wow and Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow® franchisees across the country, along with the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation raised over $18,000 for the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation’s “Spay and Neuter is Nothing to Whisper About” campaign. Over 100 Camps and Home Buddies franchises across the country held fundraisers to raise money for the campaign. The largest donation by a single Camp came from Camp Bow Wow New Orleans.

Diane Cooke, owner of Camp Bow Wow New Orleans and her staff developed two unique events to raise $3000 for the campaign. The first, “Hogs for Dogs,” a Poker Hand Motorcycle Ride and raffle was held in conjunction with the Cookes’ Harley Davidson franchises. Funds were raised from the entry fee, a raffle and “Wild Cards” purchased by the riders with the hope of improving their poker hand. The ride kicked off at Camp Bow Wow New Orleans with a pancake breakfast, a tour of the Camp and a briefing on the importance of the spay and neuter initiative. The riders then toured New Orleans stopping at each Harley Davidson location to pick up a new card for their hand. At the last stop, the riders were treated to a Crawfish feast and partied to the music of a local band. The rider with the best poker hand was declared the winner.  The Camp also organized a 1-mile Dog Walk to add to their donation. Walkers paid an entry fee and received a special T-shirt, a Camp Bow Wow bandanna for their dog and a bottle of water. The walk started and ended at Cooke’s Camp with snow cones for the humans and puppy games for their canine companions. All proceeds from the events were donated along with contributions solicited at Camp.

Cesar & Ilusion Millan

“One of my priorities is to help educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering our animals,” said Cooke. “For many, the problem was brought to light when hurricane Katrina devastated our city and left many pets homeless. At the time, humane organization reached out to help us. Now the current economic downturn has exacerbated the problem across the country. Many pups that had good homes are being left at shelters because their families can’t afford them. The shelters are over-crowded and having trouble finding homes for all of the animals in their care.”

“My congratulations to Diane and her staff. Their creativity and dedication to finding a solution is inspiring to us all. I’m particularly impressed with the fact that they incorporated an educational component in their fundraising effort,” said Heidi Ganahl, founder and CEO of Camp Bow Wow and Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow. “Everyone involved with Camp Bow Wow, Home Buddies and the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation should be very proud. We raised over $18,000 in a very short time. It’s my hope that our efforts helped to emphasize the importance of spaying and neutering among the general public. Whether you’re an animal lover or not, we’re all affected by the overpopulation of domesticated animals. Kudos should also go to our Camps and Home Buddies for their work with local humane organizations. Camp Bow Wow New Orleans is currently fostering 4 dogs at Camp and are working with a 5th pup, to help socialize him and increase his chances of adoption.” Since opening in May 2009, Cooke’s Camp has helped 10 pups find new homes.  Camp Bow Wow and Home Buddies franchises have found over 3,000 animals homes since it was launched!

The Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation was established in 2007 with the mission to aid and support the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of abused and abandoned dogs. “Many thanks to Camp Bow Wow, Home Buddies and the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation for the generous donation to our campaign. It will go a long way to help educate thousands about the importance of addressing the overpopulation of domestic animals,” said Millan. The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, Camp Bow Wow and Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow are partnering with the Millan Foundation on this initiative.

About Camp Bow Wow®
Where a dog can be a dog®
In just 10 years, Camp Bow Wow, the premier doggy day care and overnight camp in North America, has grown to include over 100 Camps across North America. The company was recently ranked as the 447th fastest growing private company on the INC magazine 500 for 2009 list.

The Camp concept provides the highest levels of fun, safety and service for its campers, and peace of mind for their parents. Since the Boulder, Colorado-based Company started franchising in 2003, Camp Bow Wow has sold more than 250 franchises in 39 states and Canada. As Camp Bow Wow grows, our simple philosophy remains the same: It’s all about the dogs.
www.campbowwow.com

Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow®
New In-Home Pet Services Franchise Backed by the Camp Bow Wow® Brand
The latest brainchild from Camp Bow Wow creator Heidi Ganahl, Home Buddies, builds upon the Camp Bow Wow mantra, “It’s all about the dogs,” and applies it to all family pets. The service was created in response to Camp Bow Wow parents who have other pets needing care at home – new born pups, elderly or infirmed dogs, cats, birds and fish – who aren’t eligible to attend camp. Each locally owned Home Buddies provides pet owners with a menu of services so clients can customize care and services to meet their pet family’s needs. Home Buddies services include dog walking, daytime and overnight care and poop scoop cleanups and administering care to special needs pets. Pet parents, who can’t bear to be away from their brood, can rent Home Buddies CamsTM,, similar to the Camper CamsSM used at Camp Bow Wow locations, and have them installed in their homes so they can look in on their family by logging on to the internet. Complimentary services include small, but necessary tasks, such as bringing in newspapers and mail.
www.myhomebuddies.com

The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation®
Bettering the lives of our furry friends
The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives and health of dogs everywhere, through supporting foster and re-homing programs, spay and neuter efforts, disaster assistance, canine cancer research, animal welfare education and shelter improvements. Inspired by her passion for dogs and desire to give back to the communities that made Camp Bow Wow so successful, Camp Bow Wow CEO and founder, Heidi Ganahl, established The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation in 2007.
www.bowwowbuddies.com

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