Betsy Saul to speak during Summit Session II: The Pet Dilemma

In 1996, Betsy Banks Saul co-founded Petfinder.com, the first online system presenting adoptable pets to prospective pet owners. 

Fifteen years and some 25 million adoptions later, Petfinder has seen consistent and steady growth. At any given time the site lists over 300,000 adoptable pets from nearly 14,000 animal welfare organizations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and beyond. 

Well-known and respected in the global pet industry, Saul is considered an expert on adoption strategies and the pet-owner experience. Her commitment and compassion secured her post as one of Women's Day Magazine's "50 Women Who Are Changing the World".  

Saul recognizes an urban animal industry increasingly focused on moral dilemmas. Can we now put aside beliefs that have kept us apart? Can we recast dilemmas into new opportunities? Can we partner with pet owners to create a more positive pet experience? Can we draw outside the historical lines? These are the quandaries Saul will present during the 2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies Facts & Evidence Session II: The Pet Dilemma.

As the industry strives to create healthy communities for people and pets, her knowledge and understanding will help connect the urban animal industry with pet owners to break down the barriers to a positive pet experience. 

2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies

16-19 October

Lake Louise, Alberta

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Nestle Purina Agrees to buy PetFinder

Sources in the US said earlier today that Nestle Purina has agreed to buy Petfinder, the online pet adoption website from Discovery Communications LLC.

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This would be the first major digital acquisition for Nestle and a divestiture for Discovery Communications that shows the communications company is committed to its strategy of refocusing on core assets and products. Sources say the deal will close in July but will see both Discovery and Nestle continuing activities which support Petfinder. 

While there has not yet been a reaction from the Humane and Rescue sector of the Urban Animal industry, the sector sees Petfinder as an important ally in adoption across North America. However, recent reports seem to show lower numbers of admissions and evidence of a need to re-factor sector involvement in urban municipalities.

The PetFinder acquisition by Nestle follows close on the heals of the sale of Purina's Petcare Insurance business to PetHealth a Canadian Company from Mississauga, Ontario.  

Here are online reports for your convenience:

CBS - St Louis

BloombergBusiness Week

St Louis Business Journal

The Joplin Globe

PetFinder Collaborates with Shelter Exchange

Shelter Exchange and Petfinder, two leading organizations in the U.S. companion animal industry, are joining forces to streamline information and communication to benefit even more homeless animals. 

Shelter Exchange provides a free online software application to animal shelters and rescue groups across the USA. Information for homeless animals can be managed, stored and shared from Shelter Exchange by the shelters and rescue groups using the application. By partnering with Petfinder, America's largest online, searchable database of pets in need of permanent homes, information about adoptable animals can now be automatically shared from Shelter Exchange to Petfinder.com and its mobile platforms.

"By partnering with Petfinder, we are ensuring that we provide the best possible solution, offer maximum exposure for homeless animals, and enable a easy way for the public to find a new pet ensuring more animals are saved," explained Claire Bokor, founder of Shelter Exchange.

BISSELL and Petfinder.com Foundation Join Paws to Support Pet Adoption in 2011

Pet Clean-Up Innovator Pledges up to $50,000 in support of Pet Charity

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the pet industry's top dogs gather in Orlando, Fla. for Global Pet Expo, BISSELL Homecare Inc., a longtime sponsor and advocate for pet adoption, announces that it will continue to support the pet community in 2011 through a series of grants to the Petfinder.com Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that works to end the euthanasia of adoptable pets by providing resources and support services to animal adoption organizations across North America.

BISSELL's research shows that almost two in five (38%) Americans would add a pet to their home if cleaning up after them were an easy job. To help spread the word that pet clean-up need not be a deterrent and rally consumers around pet adoption, BISSELL will invite pet lovers to join in the effort via its Facebook page. For each new fan