Iams Home 4 the Holidays

As we get into the Christmas spirit and start thinking about the perfect gifts for our family and friends, Iams is heading into it's 14th year of the Iams Home 4 the Holidays program. This is a very special program, a pet adoption drive that is focused on raising awareness of pet adoptions while also ensuring proper nutrition for more homeless pets.

The Iams Home 4 the Holidays program runs from October 1,2012 to Jan 2, 2013. It celebrates over 7 million pets that have been adopted out since the beginning of the program. This program educates potential pet owners about the animals available at local shelters and rescue organizations.

Iams is working in conjunction with founding partner Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and more than 4,000 animal organizations worldwide to encourage pet adoption.

"Last year a tiny, starved dachshund was brought into a shelter, weighing maybe one pound soaking wet, and very cold and miserable. The shelter helped nurse her back to health and she was adopted by a wonderful couple that fell in love with her and named her Baby. Stories like these show us the importance of promoting pet adoption and how a program like Iams Home 4 the Holidays can make a huge difference in the life of a pet.” said Mike Arms, founder of the adoption drive and president of Helen Woodward Animal Center.

I know just from our local shelter that they are overflowing with wonderful adoptable animals that are looking for that forever home. These beautiful pets need your help all year round. I have had many adoptive cats through the last 10 years and wish we had more room for a few more. Right now we have 2 rescue cats, one kitten was just going to be abandon if she didn't come home with me one night.

There are many ways to help out with this program. You can help by:

Donating through Bags 4 Bowls – For those who are already pet parents, Iams will donate one bowl of food to a participating Iams Home 4 the Holidays animal organization for every specially marked package of Iams pet food purchased during the campaign
Adopting from a local shelter – Every day more and more animals end up in shelters or in rescue care, and more than 25 per cent are pure breeds*. This is important to keep in mind when deciding to bring a pet into your life, the animal you’re looking for is probably in your neighbourhood shelter. To find a participating animal shelter or rescue organization near you, visit iams.ca or facebook.com/iams
Volunteering – Shelters need volunteers to do everything from feeding, caring for and keeping rescue animals company, to assisting at events and fundraisers. If you can’t adopt but would still love to help do so as a volunteer
Visiting Iams on Facebook – Visit the Iams Facebook page and click to “Like” the page or various messages, photos, videos, etc. For each “Like” comment Iams will donate meals to participating animal shelters

Last year alone, 1.2 million pets were adopted during the holiday campaign and an estimated 5 million meals were donated to pets in need. In Canada alone, over 75,000 animals found forever homes during the campaign.

"With as many as 36 per cent* of animals euthanized every year in Canadian shelters, this campaign is a wonderful platform to raise awareness about pet adoption and homelessness,” said Barbara Cartwright, CEO, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. "This year we hope to debunk the myths that surround shelter animals and place deserving pets into the homes of loving families."