Philly Residents Launch "Save Buddy" Campaign to Address City's Crisis of Homeless Pets  
Community Rally in Opposition to Monster Pets’ Policy of Selling Animals

October 25, 2008 – Philadelphia, PA – This Saturday, local residents are celebrating Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and launching a new campaign by rallying in front of the new Monster Pets store in West Philadelphia.  The “Save Buddy” campaign features a photogenic terrier-mix named Buddy, available for adoption from the city’s largest shelter, PAWS, and will raise awareness of the city’s pet overpopulation crisis.

What:    “Save Buddy” Rally
When:    Saturday, October 25, 1:00 pm
Where:   Public Entrance to Monster Pets, 52nd and  Jefferson Philadelphia PA

Besides Buddy, there are nearly 400 homeless dogs waiting in city shelters – many of these dogs are sitting on "death row" as dozens of dogs are killed each week in Philadelphia.  According to Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association (PACCA), the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA), and the Morris Animal Refuge, there are approximately 370 dogs awaiting homes.  PACCA, the city-funded shelter, is at capacity with dozens of dogs arriving every week.  Dogs who would otherwise have a chance of being adopted are being killed due to a lack of space.  Countless hundreds of additional dogs are in foster care with local rescue groups. 

“With so many wonderful animals dying every day in shelters, we need everybody to play their role in helping to address this crisis plaguing Philadelphia, says Rachel Ogden, organizer of the “Save Buddy” campaign.  “We are asking everyone to boycott Monster Pets until they stop selling animals.  Like most pet stores, Monster Pets probably makes the majority of money on its supplies - not animals, and so featuring pets for adoption rather than sale should have little effect on its bottom line.” 

For more information, please visit www.BoycottMonsterPets.com.