PET FIT CHALLENGE - Author: The Banfield Animal Hospital 

Banfield Hospitals Nationwide Will Offer Complimentary PetFit(TM) Kits to Portly Pets Throughout January PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 67% of dogs and cats that received nutritional advice at Banfield, The Pet Hospital in the last two years were noted as heavy. If left untreated, this could lead to a variety of debilitating health conditions, which includes diabetes, osteoarthritis, respiratory distress, liver disease, heart disease and possibly a shortened life span. To help combat obesity in Pets, Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the nation's largest private veterinary practice, is teaming up with Hill's(R) Pet Nutrition, the maker of Science Diet(R) and Prescription Diet(R) brand Pet foods, to unleash the PetFit(TM) Challenge on January 1 in Banfield hospitals across the country. The program will run the entire month of January in 2007. "Pet obesity is a very serious, yet common health threat to millions of Pets across America," said Karen Johnson, DVM, Banfield, The Pet Hospita Vice President and Client Advocate. "Fortunately, weight issues are usually treatable through diet and exercise and Banfield hopes that our PetFit(TM) Challenge helps Pets get to a healthy body weight so that Pets across the country can have the best opportunity to live a long, healthy life." All Pets interested in taking the PetFit(TM) Challenge will receive a physical exam before starting the challenge. If it is deemed that the Pet needs to shed a few pounds, the Pet parent will meet with their Banfield doctor for in-depth nutrition and exercise counsel and they will also receive a complimentary PetFit(TM) kit. What is a PetFit(TM) kit? Throughout the month of January, portly Pets across America will be invited to take the PetFit(TM) Challenge in Banfield hospitals nationwide. The first 15,000 Pets to sign up for the challenge will receive a mesh Pet gym bag containing a pedometer, food measuring cup, a coupon for a free bag of Hill's Diet Canine or Feline r/d(R), m/d(R), or w/d(R) Pet food, and a complimentary copy of "Fitness Unleashed," by Marty Becker, D.V.M. and Robert Kushner, M.D., who found in their ground-breaking study with Hill's Pet Nutrition, People and Pets Exercising Together, that exercising with adog not only provides benefits for the canine, it also gives their human owners confidence, motivation, and tangible weight-loss results. Client educational materials will also be included about weight loss for Pets, and every kit will also have an entry form for Pet parents to send their success stories in to Banfield to win great prizes! As Pets shed pounds, Banfield is encouraging Pet owners to send in their success stories to try and win the Banfield Fittest Pet of the Year award. In August 2007, two grand prizewinners will be selected -- one dog and one cat. The most inspiring canine and feline fitness stories will win grand prize packages including a brand new refrigerator valued at $1,000, packed with Hill's Pet food, and a 1-year Optimum Wellness Plan(R) for both winners. Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield has become the largest privately owned veterinary practice in the world, with more than 550 locations across the U.S., in the U.K. and in Mexico. More than 1000 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving Pets the same level of care that their human family members receive. Banfield hospitals offer a full-range of comprehensive, medical services, computerized medical records, Pet preventive care plans, extended operating hours, and is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the lives of more than 3.5 million Pets each year. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. manufactures Science Diet(R) brand Pet foods, sold through veterinarians and finer Pet specialty food stores, and Prescription Diet(R) therapeutic Pet foods, available only through veterinarians. Founded more than 50 years ago by one veterinarian's unique commitment to Pet nutrition and well being, Hill's follows its mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their Pets by producing the most scientifically advanced, highest quality Pet foods available. The Hill's P-PET study demonstrates that both people and their Pets are more successful at staying with a weight loss program when they exercise together. Over the course of the 12-month study, both people and dogs lost weight and kept it off: People lost an average of 11 pounds (approximately 5 percent of their initial body weight) and dogs lost an average of 12 pounds (approximately 15.6 percent of their initial body weight). The maximum weight loss for dogs was 35 pounds; for people, the maximum loss was 51 pounds. For More Information Contact: Jody Schreffler (503) 922-5414 Jody.Schreffler@banfield.net SOURCE Banfield, The Pet Hospital

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