SAN DIEGO, July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco will host a National Adoption Weekend at stores nationwide July 5-6, 2014, where animal lovers can find their future best friend and very own potential star. Many famous four-legged silver screen and social media pet stars were once housed in a shelter; but through pet adoption, these amazing animals found their fairy tale ending in a forever home.
Here's a list of some famous pups and cats that were adopted before the world knew their name:
- Benji: The first dog to play Benji was a shelter dog named Higgins who was adopted from the Burbank Animal Shelter. The movie "Benji," released in 1974, is the first film in a series of nine about the golden mixed breed dog with an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time.
- Grumpy Cat: Arguably one of the most famous cats on the Internet, Grumpy Cat, whose real name is actually Tardar Sauce, has over five million Facebook friends and more than 300,000 Instagram followers.
- Uggie: Born in 2002, Uggie is a Jack Russell Terrier famous for his roles in "Water for Elephants" and "The Artist." Before his big screen debut, Uggie was rejected by his first two owners for being "too wild."
- Tuna Melts My Heart: Left abandoned on a San Diego road, Tuna was found by a rescuer, traumatized and afraid. The rescuer brought him to a local farmer's market and Courtney Dasher adopted him. Now Tuna has almost 800,000 Instagram followers and is an advocate for pet adoption.
- Baxter: Before playing Will Ferrell's dog in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," Baxter, whose real name was Peanut, was adopted from the Los Angeles Animal Services East Valley Shelter. An animal trainer rescued Peanut after his life of abuse, injury and neglect, and turned him into one of Hollywood's funniest pet sidekicks.
For those ready to welcome their very own pet star into their life, Petco and Unleashed by Petco locations nationwide will be hosting adoption events the weekend of July 5-6, 2014. Pet adoption times may vary, so it's recommended to contact the nearest location for adoption hours. For more information on adoption events in your area, visit www.petco.com/adoptions.
About Petco and the Petco Foundation
Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that focuses on nurturing powerful relationships between people and pets. We do this by providing the products, services, advice and experiences that keep pets physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,300 Petco locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, including more than 100 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop; 10 Pooch Hotel destinations for pet daycare, boarding and spa services; and petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has raised more than $125 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 400,000 animals every year.
CONTACT: Allie Maltese, 619-501-2756, amaltese@west-pr.com
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SOURCE Petco
