Pets Gifts and Accessories Store Launches National Stop Dog Fighting Campaign

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Recent news accounts of the horrific cruelty of dog fighting shocked and outraged animal lovers across the country. While many were sickened by the years of irreparable and senseless torture which has been inflicted on countless innocent dogs, few knew what to do about it. Moochie & Co., an Ohio-based pet gifts and accessories retailer (http://www.moochieandco.com.com), is offering the public an opportunity to help stop dog fighting through the launch of a new "Dog Fighting Bites" initiative.

Beginning September 29, all nine Moochie & Co. mall-based stores, as well as the Moochie & Co. pet gifts and accessories web site at MoochieAndCo.com (http://www.moochieandco.com), will offer the official Dog Fighting Bites dog toy. The toy is a glow-in-the-dark, bouncy, ultra durable ball approximately 2.5" in diameter with the Moochie & Co. logo on one side and the words "Dog Fighting Bites" emblazoned on the other. The Dog Fighting Bites dog toys will retail for $10 and for each toy purchased through the end of the year, Moochie & Co. will donate all profits from each sale to humane agencies responsible for handling animal cruelty cases, including finding and dismantling dog fighting rings.

Proceeds from store purchases of the Dog Fighting Bites toy will benefit local humane agencies. Proceeds from purchases made from the Moochie & Co. pet gifts and accessories (http://www.moochieandco.com/moochie/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=3019) website will go the ASPCA's legislative program, which is lobbying to increase the criminal penalties for animal abuse and dog fighting nationwide. Higher penalties are hoped to provide a more severe deterrent to offenders and thereby help to eliminate the practice altogether.

"Dog fighting goes against everything we believe in," stated Moochie & Co. CEO Al Bell. "Moochie & Co. is all about treasuring dogs and celebrating the joy they bring to our lives. The Dog Fighting Bites program lets the public join us in sending a message loud and clear that cruelty in any form is unacceptable -- and that dogs are not disposable."

The Dog Fighting Bites program endeavors to educate the public as well. The toy's tag encourages, "If you see something, say something," and refers readers to a special Moochie & Co. web site at DogFightingBites.com (http://www.moochieandco.com/moochie/product.asp?s_id=0&pf_id=PAAAIAEDMCCJPJFD). The site provides information on how the public can identify potential neighborhood signs of dog fighting and who to contact if the practice is suspected. It also provides links to all the humane agencies benefiting from the proceeds of the Dog Fighting Bites program.

The front window of each Moochie & Co. store, as well as the online pet gifts and accessories store at Moochie & Co.'s web site, will display an image of the official poster dog of the Dog Fighting Bites program, a six-week old, black and white male pit bull puppy named Tank with the Dog Fighting Bites toy between his paws. A pit bull was chosen to represent the program as this is the breed most often exploited by those involved in dog fighting.

Bell added that the recently launched Moochie Community (http://moochieandco.ning.com/) would also feature an online forum discussing dog fighting awareness and events. "We invite every one to become part of this online community and participate in raising awareness around this issue," he said.

Each Moochie & Co. store will also be holding an event to celebrate the launch of the Dog Fighting Bites program. Visit MoochieAndCo.com (http://www.moochieandco.com/moochie/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=3049) for details on events in your area.

About Moochie & Co.

Recipient of the 2007-2008 Merchandising Award from Pet Product News International, Moochie & Co. is an upscale pet gifts and accessories retailer offering over 3,800 functional, well-made and creatively designed pet products in nine mall-based stores in Ohio and Michigan as well as an online store at moochieandco.com (http://www.moochieandco.com/). Moochie & Co. features a wide variety of pet products from dog beds and cat toys to rhinestone collars and gourmet treats, in addition to unique, chic and high fashion pet attire such as jackets, sweaters, t-shirts and boots. Moochie & Co. donates 25 cents from the sale of each package of "Moochie brand" dog treats to non-profit animal rescue and support groups. Visit Moochie & Co. at moochieandco.com (http://www.moochieandco.com/).

Note: Images available upon request.

Contact:

Lara Kretler

Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations

Phone: 614.825.1792

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