Beneful® Brand Unveils Its First Dream Dog Park!

$500,000 Renovation of Atlanta-area Dog Park Inspired by Local Resident and His Dog;

Helped Brought to Life by TV Host and Design Expert Jason Cameron

JOHNS CREEK, Ga., June 16, 2011 – Every dog has his day. And yesterday, Atlanta-area dogs sure had theirs, as its first Dream Dog Park was unveiled by Beneful® brand dog food in Johns Creek, Ga.

The entire Johns Creek dog-loving community has awaited this day since last September, when their community dog park was awarded a $500,000 renovation from the Beneful® brand after local resident Pat McNeely and his Siberian Husky Koda were named Grand Prize Winner in the Beneful® WagWorld® Dream Dog Park Contest. Since then, Pat and Koda’s dream ideas have served as inspiration for the renovation that was managed by the Beneful Dream Team, led by TV personality and design expert Jason Cameron and pet expert and bestselling author Arden Moore. The Dream Team duo have worked together to transform the Newtown Dog Park into an enviable adventure destination for dogs and owners. Some of the park’s most interactive and unique elements include a giant bone-shaped ramp with tunnels, two water splash pads and a running trail, all of which were put to good use yesterday as local dogs and their best buddies turned out to celebrate at a special unveiling event.

“There’s nothing I love more than spending time with my dog CJ, and one of our favorite places to go is the local dog park, which is why I was excited to team up with Beneful to create its first Dream Dog Park,” said Jason Cameron, TV personality and head designer for the Beneful WagWorld Dream Dog Park Contest. “For years to come, the Newtown Dog Park – and all of its larger-than-life elements – will provide area dog owners and their four-legged companions a space where they can take a break from everyday life and focus on celebrating the time they have together.”

“At Beneful, we truly believe that life is better together with our four-legged friends, and that is why we launched the Beneful WagWorld Dream Dog Park Contest, which culminated at yesterday’s unveil event,” said Allison Boland, Beneful assistant brand manager. “We hope the unveil of the first Dream Dog Park in Johns Creek, Ga., will inspire dog owners across the country to share their own dream dog park ideas and possibly win a $500,000 renovation of a dog park in their area.”

Now in its second year, the Beneful Dream Dog Park Contest invites dog owners to get creative and Dream Big from now through June 21 as they answer the question: If you had $500,000 to spend to create the ultimate dream dog park, what would you do? Functional or just plain fun, one lucky Grand Prize Winner’s idea will help serve as inspiration for a half-million dollar makeover of a dog park that the entire community can enjoy.

In addition to having his or her idea(s) help serve as inspiration for a $500,000 makeover of a dog park in their area, the Grand Prize Winner will receive a $10,000 cash award and one year supply of Beneful® brand dog food. Nineteen runners-up will each receive a year’s supply of Beneful® brand dog food. The Beneful Dream Team, which will once again include Jason Cameron and Arden Moore, will serve as judges to help select the winner. Cameron will manage the transformation of the park, with Moore providing expertise from the dog’s point of view. For more information on the contest, official rules and to enter, visit BenefulDreamDogPark.com.

About the Beneful® Brand

Manufactured by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Beneful brand dog food offers a full line of wet and dry formulas that offer a perfect balance of taste and nutrition. Introduced in 2001, Beneful is one of the most successful dog food brands in the Company’s history. The North American headquarters for the Nestle Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina Company was founded more than a century ago. Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestle S.A.- the world’s largest food company.