A Good Deed For Our Furry Friends is a Good Thing as Animal Planet Announces Top Ten Finalists for HERO OF THE YEAR

A Good Deed For Our Furry Friends is a Good Thing as Animal Planet Announces Top Ten Finalists for HERO OF THE YEAR

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Sometimes, helping out those of the fur variety -- or feathery variety for that matter -- can earn more than the reward of helping a creature in need. For some people, that reward just got a lot closer. Today, Animal Planet announced the top ten finalists for its HERO OF THE YEAR campaign, a nationwide search and celebration of animal advocates who invest their time, talent and spirit to help animals in their community. In partnership with the makers of Fresh Step(R) Litter, the 2007 HERO OF THE YEAR campaign will honor one deserving recipient. In addition to the overall animal category recognized last year, this year's campaign spotlights the "Fresh Step(R) Litter Cat Hero Award" for someone who has dedicated extraordinary service and time to the welfare of cats.

This year's contest yielded an amazing array of animal-loving people and their commitments to our furry friends. From a woman in North Carolina who started a sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center in memory of her daughter to an 18-year-old in Maine who has raised over $50,000 to provide bulletproof vests to police dogs, these animal lovers are truly heroes to animals everywhere. The breadth of their animal activism ranges from helping domestic animals to exotics, from admirable community efforts to notable scientific breakthroughs. And, people of all ages make a difference in animals' lives as finalists ages range from 18 to 96-years-old.

Starting today, the finalists' names and stories will appear online at http://www.animalplanet.com/.

Viewers can vote for their favorites between today and October 8. HERO OF THE YEAR will be announced on November 1 during the 10PM broadcast of Animal Planet's ANIMAL COPS HOUSTON. The recipient of the "Fresh Step(R) Litter Cat Hero Award" will be announced online on November 1 as well.

The HERO OF THE YEAR recipient will receive a $10,000 donation to his/her organization as well as a trip for two to Hawaii. The winner of the "Fresh Step(R) Litter Cat Hero Award" will receive a $5,000 donation from the makers of Fresh Step(R) Litter to his/her organization. Both winners will be honored with a "certificate of appreciation" for their dedication to improving the lives of animals.

HERO OF THE YEAR is an eight-month initiative which kicked off Monday, March 19, when the general public became eligible to nominate candidates via the Animal Planet Web site at http://www.animalplanet.com/.

To nominate a hero, viewers needed to submit an essay (250-word maximum) which described the cause the nominee supports, the activities and actions that demonstrate the nominee's commitment to the cause, the impact of the actions and how the nominee's actions may have inspired others to get involved with the cause. There were over 2,500 entries this year.

HERO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
Jean Beasley, Topsail Turtle Project; Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Wynifred Burns, Creature Safe Place; Fort Pierce, Florida
Karen Clark, Lovely Lita's Sheltering Tree Foundation; Plant City, Florida
Kelly Davis, Maine Vest-a-Dog; West Bath, Maine
Palena Dorsey, Sanctuary Animal Refuge; Clewiston, Florida
Yleana Escobar, Pre-Vet Program at Felix Varela Senior High School; Miami,
Florida
Shirley McGreal, International Primate Protection League; Summerville,
South Carolina
Karyn Moltzen, Animeals; Missoula, Montana
Kim Williams, Organization for Bat Conservation; Bloomfield, Michigan
Linda York, Founder, Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center; Indio, California

CAT HERO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
Pam Eader, S.A.F.E. Haven for Cats; Raleigh, North Carolina
Maryanne Farrell, Animal Care and Welfare, Inc.; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mark Kittleson, DVM, University of California School of Veterinary
Medicine; Davis, California
Lynea Lattanzio, The Cat House on the Kings; Fresno, California
Kay McElroy, Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary; Caledonia, Mississippi
Norma Milton, Caribou Pet Rescue, Inc., Central Aroostook Humane Society;
Caribou, Maine
Cimeron Morrissey, Project Bay Cat, Homeless Cat Network; Foster City,
California
Harold Sims, Catman2, Inc. Cullowhee; North Carolina
Gina Stefanides, Feline Rescue; Lighthouse Point, Florida
Gertrude Maxwell, Save-A-Pet, Inc.; Illinois, Save-A-Pet Florida, Inc.;
Florida, National Save-A-Pet Foundation, Inc.; Florida

Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, connects humans and animals with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for entertainment, information and enrichment. APM consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 91 million homes in the US; online assets http://www.animalplanet.com/, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; Petfinder.com, the #1 pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; PetsIncredible, a major producer and distributor of pet-training videos and includes web service PetVideo.com; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.

Fresh Step is a part of The Clorox Pet Products Company, which is a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif. The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2007 revenues of $4.8 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Armor All(R) and STP(R) auto care products, Fresh Step(R) and Scoop Away(R) cat litters, Kingsford(R) charcoal briquets, Hidden Valley(R) and K C Masterpiece(R) dressings and sauces, Brita(R) water-filtration systems, and Glad(R) bags, wraps and containers. With 7,600 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in 25 countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $66 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges; and in fiscal year 2007 alone made product donations valued at $6 million. For more information about Clorox, visit http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/. For more information about Fresh Step, visit FreshStep.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Animal Planet Network

CONTACT: Jennifer Marburg of Animal Planet Network, +1-240-662-3225,
jennifer_marburg-cw@discovery.com

Web site:

http://www.animalplanet.com/
http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/
http://freshstep.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photography available by visiting the Press Web site at http://www.press.discovery.com. Please click onto Animal Planet, then artwork and photography; scroll down to Hero of the Year. If you need assistance, please contact Jennifer Marburg, jennifer_marburg-cw@discovery.com.

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