Actress Kathryn Erbe of TV's Law & Order: Criminal Intent Is National Spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America's Tour for Life(R) 2009

Actress Kathryn Erbe of TV's Law & Order: Criminal Intent Is National Spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America's Tour for Life(R) 2009

National Life-Saving Initiative Celebrates Mutt-i-grees(TM)

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., March 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, and television and film actress Kathryn Erbe announce the ninth annual Tour For Life(R), the world's largest cooperative adoption event.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090306/DC80109)

Since its inception in 2001, Tour For Life, in partnership with Purina(R), has placed thousands of homeless animals with loving families. In 2009, Tour For Life will stop in 24 U.S. cities to help save pets' lives across America. It is the Animal League's month-long national cooperative initiative with animal shelters promoting the importance and advantages of adopting shelter animals as a life-saving measure. This year, the tour celebrates mixed-breed dogs under the banner of the newly launched American Mutt-i-grees(TM) Club (www.muttigrees.org).

"As a pet owner and animal lover, this life-saving tour is truly close to my heart. Adopting from a shelter is the right choice," said spokesperson Erbe, whose own mixed-breed Lilah was adopted from North Shore Animal League America. With more than 25 million mixed-breed dog owners in America, Erbe and the Tour For Life participants believe that the 2009 Tour For Life will help enhance the way animal lovers and potential adopters view mixed-breed pets, promote shelter adoptions and help reduce euthanasia rates.

For one month, beginning the last week in March, the Animal League's Mobile Adoption Units travel two cross-country routes, simultaneously, stopping at scheduled destinations, helping more than 100 shelters and rescue groups find homes for orphaned pets. All pets adopted during Tour For Life receive a free gift from Purina(R). Tour For Life ends with a "Grand Finale" event, hosted by Erbe at FAO Schwarz in New York City on Saturday, April 25, featuring celebrities posing in the world-famous toy store windows with puppies.

Tour For Life's presenting sponsor is the One Hope Network. Developed in conjunction with Purina ONE(R) brand pet food, the One Hope Network is dedicated to transforming the lives of pets and people by supporting the efforts of animal welfare organizations across the country. North Shore Animal League America is an advisory shelter for the One Hope Network. Supporting sponsors include Red Roof and Fort Dodge Animal Health(R).

To learn more about Tour For Life and how you can help North Shore Animal

League America, visit www.AnimalLeague.org, call the special Tour For Life hotline, 1-800-214-4308, or email denisez@AnimalLeague.org.

The 2009 Tour For Life schedule follows:

March 25 Haven Humane Society, Inc. Redding, CA
March 25 Palm Beach Co. Animal Care & Control W. Palm Beach, FL
March 27 City of Sacramento Animal Care Services Sacramento, CA
March 27 Humane Society of Sarasota County, Inc. Sarasota, FL
March 29 City of LA Dept. of Animal Services Los Angeles, CA
March 29 Humane Society of South Mississippi Gulfport, MS
April 1 Animal Humane New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
April 1 Southern Animal Foundation New Orleans, LA
April 3 Greater Birmingham Humane Society Birmingham, AL
April 4 City of San Antonio Animal Care Services San Antonio, TX
April 4 Florence Animal Shelter Florence, AL
April 5 Citizens For Animal Protection Houston, TX
April 5 Huntsville Animal Services Huntsville, AL
April 8 N. Little Rock Animal Shelter N. Little Rock, AR
April 8 Precious Friends Puppy Rescue Clarksville, TN
April 11 Metro Nashville Animal Care &Control Nashville, TN
April 11 Animal Protective Assoc. of Missouri St. Louis, MO
April 15 Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA Harrisonburg, VA
April 15 Cedar Valley Humane Society Cedar Rapids, IA
April 18 CT Area Rescue Event-CARE Brookfield, CT
April 19 Indianapolis Animal Care and Control Indianapolis, IN
April 22 Humane Society of Madison County London, OH
April 25 FAO Schwarz New York City, NY
April 25 Wayward Paws, Inc Jamesville, NY

Contact:
Dianne Zoppa
P 516.883.7636
M 516.232.5998
E diannez@AnimalLeague.org

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090306/DC80109
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: North Shore Animal League America

CONTACT: Dianne Zoppa of North Shore Animal League America,
+1-516-883-7636, cell: +1-516-232-5998, diannez@AnimalLeague.org

Web Site: http://www.animalleague.org/
http://www.onehope.org/Public/Default.aspx
http://www.purinaone.com/Public/Default.aspx

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