Author: Kathy Mandell

Animal Magnetism: Subaru Announces Sponsorship of the ASPCA
Cherry Hill, NJ, March 23, 2009 — Subaru of America, Inc. today announced the Company’s inaugural sponsorship of the nation’s oldest humane organization, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). A key component of the sponsorship includes Subaru’s support of three ‘Go Orange for Animals’ festivals in celebration of April’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. The festivals, which will include mobile adoptions and opportunities to get advice on pet care from animal behaviorists, will take place in three cities across the country – New York, N.Y. (Union Square Park, April 7, 2009); Austin, Texas (Zilker Park, April 18, 2009) and Los Angeles, Calif. (Venice Beach, April 25, 2009).

“We’re very happy to sponsor the good work of the ASPCA, especially since many Subaru owners are also pet owners,” said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “Subaru has a long history of supporting organizations that are good stewards of our environment – including our animal friends – so this sponsorship is a terrific fit with our ideals as a company. In fact, earlier this year, the ASPCA was one of five charities which shared in a donation of more than $4.6 million by Subaru of America, the results of our 2008 year-end “Share the Love” marketing campaign in which our buyers were able to designate a $250 gift from Subaru to one of the charities.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Subaru on board this year as we gear up to celebrate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month,” said Jo Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Development & Communications for the ASPCA. “The outpouring of support we received throughout the ‘Share the Love’ campaign from the Subaru faithful has shown us how truly dedicated they are to supporting the vital work of the ASPCA, and we hope they will continue their support by pledging to ‘go orange’ for us this April.”

The sponsorship also provides colorfully-wrapped, co-branded Subaru vehicles, local support, and additional events, in six communities (Austin, Texas; Charleston, S.C.; New York, N.Y.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Spokane, Wash.; and Tampa, Fla.). These cities have been selected as part of ASPCA Mission: Orange™ – a focused effort to improve animal welfare and education in these target communities by partnering with regional animal welfare and community organizations.

Beyond the six cities targeted for of ASPCA Mission: Orange, Subaru dealers in communities across the country will have the opportunity to partner with ASPCA-recommended local animal welfare organizations to host Subaru Adoption Days – at an animal shelter, a Subaru dealership, or a local mall or park. The collective goal of the adoption days is to put the spotlight on animal shelters as the best places to adopt, while finding loving homes for adoptable pets.

For more information about the ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month and its ‘Go Orange for Animals’ campaign, please visit www.ASPCAApril.org.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the Company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru makes the best-selling All-Wheel Drive car sold in America based on R.L. Polk & Co. new vehicle retail registration statistics calendar year-end 2007. In addition, Subaru boasts the most fuel efficient line-up of all-wheel drive products sold in the market today based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy standards. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first humane organization established in the Americas, and today has more than one million supporters throughout North America. A 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides local and national leadership in animal-assisted therapy, animal behavior, animal poison control, anti-cruelty, humane education, legislative services, and shelter outreach. The New York City headquarters houses a full-service, accredited animal hospital, adoption center, and mobile clinic outreach program. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York’s animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.

PRODUCERS FROM DOG WHISPERER HOLD AUDITIONS
IN HOUSTON, TEXAS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 25

Don’t miss your chance to meet with the producers of Dog Whisperer to audition to be on the show! Be prepared to describe your dog’s issue and bring video footage which shows the problem behavior to submit to the producers. Submissions cannot be accepted without a video.

Dog Whisperer is looking for a wide variety of dog problems, including unusual phobias, obsessions, fearful behavior, aggression, or any other unique situations that Cesar could help transform.

Dogs are welcome, but your dog does not need to attend to be considered. For safety reasons, the producers ask that you leave your aggressive dog at home. In order to capture footage of aggression, they recommend keeping the dog on a leash, behind a fence, or in a muzzle. Please do not put yourself or your dog in danger while trying to film the behavior.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25th

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
PETCO
22511 State Hwy 249,
Houston, TX 77070-1532

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
PETCO
2410 Bay Area Blvd, Ste B,
Houston, TX 77058-1520

Can’t make it to the audition? Submit a video application. In the video, we would like you to introduce yourself and your dog. Give us your name, age, and occupation, as well as the dog’s name, age, and breed. Tell us the problems your dog is having and how these issues are affecting your life. Also, let us know what you love about your dog. We would like you to capture at least three instances of your dog’s bad behavior.

For details on how to submit a video or for further information about the auditions, please visit http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/dogwhisperer/submissions.php

A few nights ago, I nearly hit a black dog who was darting out in front of cars on a pitch black road in the dark. I sat outside of the closest house and honked my horn for nearly 10 minutes, but no response from anyone. I managed to coax the dog into my car, brought him home where he played with my dogs for an hour, and called the dog officer who promptly came and picked him up. The dog had on a makeshift collar appearing to be made from a cut leash, with the leash clip clipped to a loop in the leash material. Absolutely no ID.

I learned today that the owner was found and very grateful. The dog, a 4 or 5 month old puppy, belonged to a person who was visiting a neighbor. This dog could have been killed because he was darting out in front of cars (obviously bored, and trying to entertain himself). He also could have been lost forever, since the owner does not live around here, but was visiting.

National Pet ID Week starts today. Please help us get out the word that pets should always wear an ID. Whether that’s a traditional hanging tag, a microchip or some other product or method, everyone should do it. Here’s what Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan has to say about National Pet ID Week: http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/newsletter/archive/2009/200904_2.html

I use Boomerang tags. They are inexpensive, hold up to 5 lines of text, and slid onto the dog’s collar instead of hanging. Hanging tags can get caught on something, can easily be taken off by a person, and make a lot of noise. I get lots of comments on the Boomerang tags. For more information, visit their web site. www.boomerangtags.com

Take care of your pets, and have a great day

Tune in to National Geographic Channel tonight at 9:00 p.m. eastern.
for a very special episode of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.

“A Member of the Family” is the name of Cesar’s latest best-selling
book, and also the title of tonight’s episode. This episode features some
of Cesar’s cases, both old and new, featuring the process of adopting a dog,
including introducing him/her to a new home the correct way, setting rules, boundaries and limitations, and how to handle the loss of a pet.

Check your local listings, and enjoy the show!

NEWS

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2009 AT 11:00 AM PST

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL’S DOG WHISPERER CESAR MILLAN BECOMES A U.S. CITIZEN

Popular TV Star and Best-selling Author Sworn in This Morning in Los Angeles

(WASHINGTON, D.C. — MARCH 12, 2009) Cesar Millan — star of the Emmy-nominated National Geographic Channel hit series Dog Whisperer and best-selling author — took the oath today to officially become a U.S. citizen. Cesar, who passed his citizenship test earlier this year, attended the swearing in-ceremony this morning with dozens of others in Montebello, Calif., just north of Los Angeles. Cesar was joined by his wife Ilusion and two sons, Andre and Calvin, who attended to cheer him on (they are already U.S. citizens).

“This is the ultimate culmination of living the American dream,” said Millan. “Becoming an U.S. citizen has been a goal of mine since I first came to this great country. I have much to thank this country for, and all of the success it has afforded me and my family, and now I am proud to be a citizen.”

Millan, who shot to fame in 2003 when his series premiered on the National Geographic Channel, was born in Mexico. He has a special gift for rehabilitating dogs and training their owners. His unique talent with dogs first developed on his grandfather’s farm in Mexico, where he learned at a very young age the importance of respecting Mother Nature. He chronicles his childhood in Mexico and how he crossed the border as a young man in his first best-selling book “Cesar’s Way.” He has been a legal resident of the United States since 2000.

Cesar is currently working on his fourth book, to be released this fall, and starts filming this week for the sixth season of Dog Whisperer.

Dog Whisperer — which celebrated its 100th episode last fall — is a staple of NGC’s Friday night programming. The second and third seasons of Dog Whisperer each received nominations for the Primetime Emmy for Best Reality Series. The show continues to document Cesar’s amazing rehabilitations of problem dogs, and will also include special episodes such as an upcoming look at puppy mills.

About Cesar Millan
With more than 20 years of experience working with canines, Cesar has been called a “Dr. Phil for dogs,” and for good reason. He receives as many as 100 calls a week from owners desperate for help. By the time people call Cesar, they are confronting a crisis with their beloved pets. He is their emergency responder, and often their last resort. Often, the dogs Cesar works with are “red zone cases” that trainers or veterinarians have told the owners to put down. Cesar believes every dog deserves a chance at rehabilitation before such drastic measures should even be considered. His pack of dogs are largely dogs no one thought should be left alive — and they now live in harmony as part of Cesar’s pack, and make frequent appearances on the show.

Millan was made an honorary member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and was presented The Michael Landon Award for Inspiration to Youth Through Television at the 28th Young Artist Awards.

Cesar’s most recent book, “A Member of the Family,” released in October 2008, is his third New York Times best-seller. Other things Cesar include these: The first three seasons of Dog Whisperer are available on DVD; Cesar and his wife Ilusion have founded the nonprofit Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation, providing financial support and rehabilitation expertise to shelters throughout the United States; Cesar has an exclusive product line available at Petco; and he is giving online seminars, “Sessions with Cesar,” an interactive coaching course. More information can be found at www.cesarmillaninc.com.

About Dog Whisperer
Each episode of Dog Whisperer follows dog behavior specialist Cesar Millan as he goes directly into the homes of dog owners — without any prior information about the dog’s case — and documents the remarkable transformations that take place under Cesar’s calm, assertive guidance.

The hugely popular series has grown into a pop culture phenomenon, including parodies on “South Park” and “Saturday Night Live”; references on popular shows including “Jeopardy!” and Bravo’s hit series “Work Out”; appearances on “Oprah,” “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Martha Stewart,” “Today Show,” “The View” and “Live with Regis and Kelly”; and a guest star role for Cesar on the hit series “Ghost Whisperer.”

Dog Whisperer is produced by MPH Entertainment and Emery/Sumner Productions for National Geographic Channel. Executive producers for MPH Entertainment are Jim Milio, Melissa Jo Peltier and Mark Hufnail. Sheila Possner Emery and Kay Bachman Sumner are producers. For the National Geographic Channel, senior executive producer is Char Serwa; senior vice president of special programming is Michael Cascio and executive vice president of content is Steve Burns.

# # #

National Geographic Channel
Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel (NGC) is a joint venture between National Geographic Ventures (NGV) and Fox Cable Networks (FCN). Since launching in January 2001, NGC initially earned some of the fastest distribution growth in the history of cable and more recently the fastest ratings growth in television. The network celebrated its fifth anniversary January 2006 with the launch of NGC HD which provides the spectacular imagery that National Geographic is known for in stunning high-definition. NGC has carriage with all of the nation’s major cable and satellite television providers, making it currently available to more than 69 million homes. For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Chris Albert, National Geographic Channel, 202-912-6526, CAlbert@natgeochannel.com

NGC-505-031209

Tonight, I watched the most amazing Dog Whisperer episode of them all.

The title of the episode is “Canine 9-1-1”, and it originally aired on National Geographic Channel on August 1, 2008.

If there is still anyone out there who hates Cesar Millan, I insist that you watch this episode, and then tell me you still hate him and still think he is “abusing” animals. This episode proves that I have been right all along. Cesar is a true inspiration to dog lovers everywhere, and has a very special gift with both canines and humans.