Today, the company continued its notable corporate citizenship by allowing cargo division employees to go a bit more casual, while also supporting the joint efforts of ADR and Nowzad. The suggested donation for this "corporate jeans day" is $5 per employee. Just imagine how many more dogs can benefit from the donations they'll collect!

Thanks to American Airlines for your valuable support!

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (December 8, 2011) – Delray Beach Executive and philanthropist Arthur E. Benjamin and American Dog Rescue (ADR), also headquartered in Dallas and Salt Lake City, with various projects spread coast-to-coast, quickly reacted from Fort Lauderdale to yesterday morning’s TODAY Show Segment where the Humane Society of the United States exposed retail establishments whose inventory is supplied by puppy mills. Drawing attention to America and its worst offending states, the program highlights the unfair treatment of animals sold throughout retail stores and several hundred internet websites.

While revealing the heartbreaking deception behind puppy mill dogs, ADR plans to implement massive efforts uncovered by the HSUS in cracking down on an industry which perpetuates a cycle of animal cruelty. The much needed spotlight was made possible by HSUS and Benjamin continues to emphasize that Congress needs to act immediately. Divulging the grim connection between puppy mills and pet stores and all retail outlets throughout the United States are the focus of concern that keep puppy mills thriving.

The Humane Society of the United States released the results of its 3-month-long investigation into Purebred Breeders LLC, thought to be the nation’s largest online seller of puppies. The investigation highlighted the connection between Purebred Breeders and inhumane commercial breeding facilities known as puppy mills. Undercover HSUS investigators obtained photographs and video footage of several large-scale commercial puppy mills that supply dogs to Purebred Breeders for re-sale. This footage reveals dogs in stacked wire cages, empty water bowls, excessive build-up of feces under cages, and other unsanitary conditions typical of puppy mills.

The HSUS investigation found that Purebred Breeders owns nearly 800 Web domains designed to mislead consumers into believing that they are dealing with local breeders when they shop online for a puppy. Whistleblowers working for the company told HSUS investigators that the company sells approximately 20,000 puppies every year, using hard-sell, deceptive tactics encouraged by company executives. Puppies purchased through Purebred Breeders are never seen by sales personnel even though they routinely guarantee the health of these animals who are often flown long distances directly from the breeding facility to the consumer.

“It’s devastating to know that we live in a country that allows these establishments to continue to feed our economy at the expense of defenseless animals,” said Benjamin. “ADR works tirelessly to stop businesses that contribute to puppy mills and the suffering of countless dogs, and bring awareness to states like Florida who are among the worst offending states.”

With an estimated 10,000 puppy mill facilities in the U.S., hundreds of thousands of dogs are bred and housed in unsanitary conditions with little or no medical care, exercise, socialization, or human interaction; countless animals have died. Benjamin’s mission remains to educate the American people not to buy, but to adopt a pet.

For more information about the ADR efforts throughout the United States and worldwide, please visit www.americandogrescue.org.

American Dog Rescue (ADR) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to finding a home for every adoptable dog in the United States.  American Dog Rescue is committed to placing healthy dogs in permanent homes that are the right fit for the animal and its family.  Donations can be made by visiting www.americandogrescue.org/donate or calling (888) 262-4753.
 

Two of my favorite charities, Nowzad Dogs, which has brought more than 250 dogs home to their soldiers and American Dog Rescue, which got American Airlines involved, were part of the fun at JFK, where 10 dogs were reunited with their soldiers.

It was quite a scene as dogs and their soldiers bonded together at the American Airlines terminal. “Bringing their pets home to them from overseas is an important way to recognize the sacrifices made by our soldiers, and American Airlines is glad to be able to help make it happen,” said Captain Steve Blankenship, Managing Director – Veterans and Military Initiatives for American Airlines.

I have five rescued dogs, but would have scooped up any of these Afghanistan dogs in a minute.  I particularly loved Gus, a husky/collie mix who came home to Petty Officer Second Class Zach Henning.  Officer Henning was emotional when he talked about how these dogs took the soldiers’ minds off the war. “They did so much for us when we were overseas, now it is important to give them a good home here in the States,” he said. 

While the military doesn’t permit soldiers to have pets, they wisely turn the other way when these dogs become a unit’s mascot. Nowzad Dogs has more than 100 dogs in a shelter in Kabul, Afghanistan, just waiting to be transported to the States. It costs nearly$4,000 to bring a dog home. Through his organization, American Dog Rescue, my friend Arthur Benjamin is working tirelessly to raise money so more dogs can enjoy a new life in the United States with the soldiers.  “This is a vitally important part of our mission” he said. “Soldiers don’t want to leave their dogs behind and we believe that it is our duty to bring them together again, considering the enormous sacrifices these servicemen and women make every day in Afghanistan.”

In the midst of speeches and barking, my friend Sarah, Duchess of York, arrived to lend her support, particularly to Pen Farthing, a former British Royal Marine, who founded Nowzad Dogs. With military precision, Pen (pictured with Arthur and myself, above) arranged to transport all the dogs on American Airlines to the United States. Some of the dogs he brought over are still waiting for their soldiers to finish their tour of duty in Afghanistan. So, Pen is driving around the country dropping these dogs off with families who miss their son, daughter, father or mother and now have his or her dog. We pray that all these soldiers will return home safely.

I hope that you will consider supporting Nowzad Dogs by going to the American Dog Rescue website (www.americandogrescue.org) and donating even a small amount.  We want to bring all of these wonderful dogs home to live a life away from war and turmoil.  They have made a difference and so can we with just the click of your mouse – making you part of thanking our troops and saving these valiant dogs.

Animal News Desk Column
Written by Cathy Kangas
CEO of PRAI Beauty and Animal Activist

NEW YORK, NY (November 16, 2011) Arthur Benjamin, executive, philanthropist and founder of American Dog Rescue (ADR); Cathy Kangas, CEO and Founder of PRAI Beauty in New Canaan, CT; and American Airlines have joined forces to help Nowzad Dogs, the first and only animal rescue organization serving the dogs and cats of Afghanistan.

Nowzad Dogs’ chief mission is to bring back to the U.S. the dogs and cats that brought comfort and support to soldiers in Afghanistan so they can live with their owners. Since 2009, Nowzad Dogs has transported more than 250 dogs to the United States, Canada and the UK. The organization was started by Pen Farthing, a former British Royal Marine who served in Afghanistan and witnessed firsthand the extraordinary bond forged between soldiers and the dogs they befriended.

Today, American Airlines announced that it is assisting Nowzad Dogs American Dog Rescue and PRAI Beauty with reuniting soldiers with the dogs they cared for while on military duty.

The announcement was made at JFK where the soldiers were united with their dogs. (See attached list of soldiers, their hometowns and the name of the dogs.) “Bringing their pets home to them from overseas is an important way to recognize the sacrifices made by our soldiers, and American Airlines is glad to be able to help make it happen,” said Captain Steve Blankenship, Managing Director – Veterans Initiatives for American Airlines.

The nonprofit organization, American Dog Rescue, was founded by Arthur Benjamin in 2009 as an all-volunteer group for which he underwrites all administrative costs. Because Nowzad Dog is not a recognized 501(c)3 in the United States, ADR contributes donations designated for Nowzad on the American Dog Rescue website for its work, adding those to its own support of Nowzad Dogs as a partner organization. Donations can be made by going to www.americandogrescue.org or calling 888-262-4753.

Arthur Benjamin is passionate about animals and has worked tirelessly to save and expand animal shelters, rescuing abandoned pets in the aftermath of the disasters in Haiti and New Orleans, and closing down puppy mills nationwide. American Dog Rescue, his philanthropic organization for animals, has contributed more than $250,000 to animal welfare in 2011 and $5,000 to Nowzad Dogs in the past month.

PRAI Beauty is a global high-end skincare company sold on home shopping networks in the United States, Canada, the UK, Italy and Australia.  Through its philanthropic arm, Beauty with a Cause, PRAI Beauty has provided more than $50,000 of support to Nowzad Dogs over the past three years. Cathy Kangas is a member of the National Council of the Humane Society of the United States and an ardent supporter of animal welfare activities ranging from stopping the Canadian seal hunt to rescuing retired thoroughbreds.
 
ADR and PRAI Beauty are also supporting a shelter in Afghanistan along with a spay and neutering program.

Today, Arthur made the rounds in New York City, beginning with an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" morning show. He then witnessed the emotional reunions of soldiers with their pets – including 14 dogs and one cat – at JFK Airport.

For more on this story, please see the YouTube video embedded below, as well as the Fox & Friends website.