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Start spreading the news …

November 03, 2009, 2:1PM MT

By Best Friends staff

Best Friends launches a big holiday promotion in New York City.

Best Friends has taken its message of No More Homeless Pets straight to the epicenter of New York City —Times Square.

The enormous Geoffrey Tron screens displayed on the square have begun airing a Best Friends’ public service announcement that reads, “12,000 homeless pets will die in America’s shelters today. Help achieve No More Homeless Pets. Text ‘Pets’ to 90999 to donate $5.”* To see the PSA, click here.

That donation will go to Best Friends in its mission to zero out the euthanasia rate in America’s shelters and bring about a time of No More Homeless Pets. (Of course, you don’t need to be in New York to participate. Anyone with text messaging capability on a cell phone can donate.)

The PSA began showing Nov. 3 and will appear 2,880 times by December 1. With 1.5 million people passing through the square every day, we could not ask for a more conspicuous platform in New York to spread our message.

And that’s not the only Best Friends’ PSA New Yorkers will be seeing this holiday season.

Starting December 1 and ending January 1, 2010, the Geoffrey Tron screens will be airing a PSA featuring actor Rachelle Lefevre, star of the soon-to-released blockbuster “New Moon” and a new spokeswoman for our Puppies Aren’t Products campaign. In the PSA, Lefevre urges those thinking of buying a dog to “adopt, don’t shop.”

Both PSAs are part of a general Best Friends’ promotion afoot in New York. In conjunction with the PSAs on the Geoffrey Tron, Best Friends will also have several chalk stencils on the sidewalks in and around Times Square showing our logo, our mission and our website.

“We could hardly ask for a better opportunity in New York,” says Amber Ayers, senior manager of marketing at Best Friends, “We’ll be reaching not just New Yorkers, but a multitude of tourists from all over the country who pass through Times Square every day. And we’ll be reaching them at a crucial time of year — the holiday shopping season. Hopefully we can compel people considering buying a pet to make the humane, responsible choice — adoption.”

In addition to the activity in Times Square, Best Friends will also have, on November 12, an advertisement in The New York Times’ annual “Giving” section. The advertisement encourages readers to join Best Friends and support our No More Homeless Pets mission.

*A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of Best Friends Animal Society by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mGive.com/A. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 90999.

Comments

Posted November 04, 2009, 8:58AM by ssowada

Woo Hoo! Let's hope that this will prove to be the tipping point in spreading the word world wide:)

Posted November 04, 2009, 11:23AM by cpapciak

Great idea....spreading the world nation wide. I know those jumbo-trons draw attention, so what better way to advertise and get the ideas out. Best Friends, you guys are truly remarkable at all that you do. I am proud to say I donate and have volunteered at your shelter.

Posted November 04, 2009, 11:29AM by marla702

I'll be in NYC next week. Can not wait to see the PSAs larger than life in Times Square. Way to go BF - another huge success in spreading the word about kindness towards animals!

Posted November 04, 2009, 12:34PM by Presleysmom

This is awesome! What a great way to educate people on how many animals die in our shelters every day. hopefully, these people will see this and choose to adopt a new pet rather than buy one, especially during puppy buying season. I'll be in NYC next week and can't wait to see it!

Posted November 04, 2009, 2:26PM by sdrd1031

Absolutely marvelous idea--compelling ad and compelling message. How can anyone say no at this time of year? Maybe the next ad will include cats, too!

Posted November 04, 2009, 4:7PM by rnhjr

You should put that great image for "no more homeless pets" on a t-shirt! I'd buy one for sure. Great way to get the word out.

Posted November 05, 2009, 7:43AM by tigifred

I also would love to know more about that graphic, it would make a fabulous poster and t shirt as someone has pointed out...who did this image?

Posted November 05, 2009, 1:15PM by aed

I live 3 blocks from Times Sq. and avoid it at all costs. But now that I know there's a big sign there I'll have to head over there to check it out.

Posted November 05, 2009, 1:31PM by jmuhj

Great effort -- but once again, why are the only animals pictured, dogs? CATS need adoption in far greater numbers than dogs, and they are far and away the more popular companion animal nationwide, so why not replace the dog photos with cat photos? and the dog copy with cat copy?

Posted November 06, 2009, 11:3AM by ownedbypets

@ jmuhi - in the video ad, a cat is the second shown.

Posted November 06, 2009, 4:45PM by

This PSA in Times Square furthers the mission of Best Friends to spread the word about the plight of animals in need of homes. Their national conference in Vegas the end of Oct. was so motivational that I have returned to SC committed to trying to promote the no-kill equation in my area.

Posted November 09, 2009, 9:54PM by plimley

Also, there are a higher percentage of "dog people" than "cat people" as well as a greater number of puppy sellers than kitten sellers. The profits, unfortunately, are on the dogs. This is why they are usually the first shown-they capture more attention.