Nestlé Purina pet food company and local pet shelters have launched the Consider a Shelter Pet campaign to promote adoption of shelter pets.

The 2016 multimedia campaign, which showcases shelter pets, will feature a single-day Purina Better Together adoption event Saturday, October 15. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Soulard Park in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Approximately 20 local pet shelters and rescue organizations and dozens of adoptable pets are expected to be on hand. For any adoption made at the event, Purina has offered to subsidize US$50 toward individual adoption fees.

Purina’s campaign to inform people of the benefits of shelter pets is entering its third year in 2016. During the first year of the campaign, Petfinder.com, a pet adoption website, saw a 27% increase in local web traffic.

Sheler pet adoption event history

Last year, more than 2,000 people attended the inaugural Purina Better Together adoption event where 47 cats and dogs were adopted.

“Purina’s support has been invaluable through the years,” said Sarah Javier, executive director of the APA of Missouri, in a press release. “They understand the unique issues faced by shelter organizations and work shoulder-to-shoulder with us to find innovative solutions to drive awareness and adoption throughout our community.”

“Countless studies have found a link between personal interaction with pets and emotional well-being in people,” said Zara Boland, DVM, Purina veterinarian, in a press release. “Studies have also shown that something as simple as petting a dog or cat can release feel-good hormones in people and their pets, and spending time with pets can reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Clearly pets and people are better together, and finding homes for more shelter pets is a win for the pets, their owners and our community."