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On Saturday May 14th, 2011 ten Pet Food Express stores will be hosting the California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) for a fundraiser geared toward helping CARDA search dogs continue their life-saving work. All the proceeds from pet wash tokens sold at participating stores on May 14, 2011, will be donated to CARDA. A portion of the proceeds from Natural Balance pet foods sold at the participating stores on the day of the event will also go to CARDA.
The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
CARDA is an all-volunteer organization that provides trained search and rescue dog teams to help locate missing people. All funds raised will go directly toward the costs associated with the training and deployment of CARDA search and rescue dogs. Search dogs and their handlers will be at all ten stores to meet the public.
Founded in 1976, CARDA is the largest K-9 search and rescue organization in the U.S. CARDA has over 120 highly trained and certified search dog teams at the ready plus more than 70 teams in training. CARDA deploys teams 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist in the search for missing persons throughout California. Teams are provided at no cost to the requesting agencies.
CARDA teams respond to over 300 searches per year, either in their capacity as a direct resource for the California Emergency Management agency (the State agency that local police and sheriff departments call when they need search dogs) or as members of their County search and rescue teams.
In a typical year CARDA provides over 7,000 hours of service on search and rescue missions. It is not uncommon for an individual handler to contribute over 800 hours per year training, mentoring and searching.
CARDA handlers choose, train, and own their own dogs. Members train weekly in CARDA groups, have assigned mentors during their initial development, and respond to call-outs throughout California. Currently, CARDA has operational dogs from 21 pure breeds and eight mixed-breeds.
CARDA President Eric Sheets stated that “While many people are aware of the dogs that deploy to major disasters far fewer are aware of the teams that do the day-to-day work of looking for the missing child, wandering dementia patient, or hiker who has lost his way.” Sheets noted that “CARDA works closely in partnership with CalEMA (California Emergency Management Agency) to provide search-and-rescue services throughout the State. Volunteer service makes it possible for California to provide search and rescue services at unmatched levels, which would be impossible without this partnership.”
CARDA members pay for nearly every cost associated with this volunteer work: the dog, dog food, routine and emergency veterinary care, equipment, gas, vehicle maintenance, outside training, and time lost from work. Additionally CARDA members pay roughly half of CARDA’s organizational expenses. The Pet Food Express Fundraiser will help with the cost of dispatching teams to searches and, if enough funds are raised, will be used to help teams with emergency veterinary expenses and the cost of driving to searches. Since CARDA has no paid staff, every dollar raised goes directly to helping the organization continue its life saving work.
Pet wash tokens can be used at any Pet Food Express store that has a self-serve pet wash. All but two of the current 35 Pet Food Express stores have a pet wash. The tokens do not have to be used on the day of the event. Self-serve pet washes are popular because the store provides a back-saving raised tub, shampoo, towels, air dryer, apron, and after-bath tub clean-up. Pet owners wash their own pets.
Natural Balance Pet Foods is supporting the event by contributing a portion of its sales at the participating stores. Natural Balance has also donated gift bags which will be given as thank-you gifts to people who buy at least 4 pet wash tokens until the supply of thank-you gifts is gone.
The ten Pet Food Express stores participating in the May 14th Dog Wash fundraiser are:
| Antioch East | Clayton | Concord | Pleasanton |
| Pleasant Hill | Walnut Creek | Dublin | Livermore |
| Lafayette | Danville |
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Media Contact:
CARDA President: Eric Sheets at (510) 868 4444 ext 6, President@CARDA.ORG
Pet Food Express, Director of Community Relations: Mike Murray at (510) 924-3309
Natural Balance Pet Foods: Lindsay Kirschner (800) 829-4493 lindsayk@naturalbalanceinc.com
***Search Dog demonstrations can be arranged in advance of the event***
