Purina's Dog Chow brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a special float called Salute to Service Dogs at the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, honoring PTSD service dogs for veterans and the brand's commitment to supporting the human-animal bond.
- Dog Chow's Salute to Service Dogs float will feature large dog sculptures with moving tails and three oversized dog puppets depicting a service dog graduation ceremony.
- Navy veteran Andy Canning and his service dog Arkum, matched through Got Your Six Support Dogs, will appear on the float.
- From October 26 through Thanksgiving, Dog Chow will donate $1 for each social media post using #DogChowThanksgiving (up to $30,000) to six partner organizations supporting PTSD service dogs.
- Dog Chow first appeared in the Macy's parade in 1983 and has been supporting the bond between people and dogs for 100 years since its 1926 founding.
- The parade airs on NBC and Peacock at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones on November 26.
Purina’s Dog Chow brand will mark its 100th anniversary with a float in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 26. The float, Salute to Service Dogs, recognizes the brand’s history since its founding in 1926 and its Service Dog Salute program, which focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) service dogs for veterans.
The float depicts a service dog graduation, in which a PTSD service dog completes training and is matched with a veteran. It includes large dog sculptures with moving tails and three oversized dog puppets.
Service dog Arkum and Navy veteran Andy Canning of Collinsville, Illinois, will appear on the float. The pair was matched through Got Your Six Support Dogs in Maryville, Illinois.
“For 100 years, Dog Chow has helped build the bond between people and dogs, and there is no bigger stage to honor that connection than Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” said Brent Gleckler, chief marketing officer at Purina. “As Dog Chow begins its second century, we’re proud to spotlight the life-changing impact of service dogs for veterans and their families while celebrating the countless ways dogs bring companionship, comfort and joy to our lives.”
Dog Chow first appeared in the parade in 1983.
“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has served as a beloved holiday tradition for generations of families across the country,” said Jordan Dabby, producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “As we celebrate our centennial march, we’re proud to welcome Dog Chow as a partner and bring its Salute to Service Dogs float to the parade, honoring the extraordinary dogs who bring comfort, companionship and support to veterans and families every day.”
Social media donation campaign
From Oct. 26 through Thanksgiving Day, Dog Chow will donate $1 for each eligible photo or video shared with the hashtag #DogChowThanksgiving and tagging @dogchow, up to $30,000. The donations will be divided equally among the brand’s Service Dog Salute partner organizations:
- Got Your Six Support Dogs in Maryville, Illinois
- K9s for Warriors in Ponte Vedra, Florida
- Northwest Battle Buddies in Vancouver, Washington
- Semper K9s in Catlett, Virginia
- Dog Tag Buddies in Billings, Montana
- Operation Freedom Paws in San Martin, California
The parade will air on NBC and Peacock beginning at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones. Parade information is available at macys.com/s/parade/, and information on Dog Chow’s history and the Service Dog Salute campaign is available at dogchow.com.
According to Petfood Industry's Top Pet Food Companies, Nestlé Purina PetCare was founded in 1894. Its brands include Dog Chow, Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Friskies and Tidy Cats. The company employs more than 11,000 people in the U.S., including nearly 500 scientists, veterinarians and pet care experts. Purina reported contributing more than $150 million over the past five years to organizations that support people and pets, communities and the environment.
