Nutrience donates $1 million in much-needed pet food to more than 40 Canadian
animal shelters

MONTREAL , Nov. 24 /CNW/ - Each year thousands of dogs and cats are brought to rescue facilities and shelters across Canada , creating an overwhelming need for food. Over the past 18 months Nutrience has generously donated $1 million worth of dog and cat food to over 40 of these volunteer-based shelters, helping to keep their doors open and providing dogs and cats with healthy, balanced nutrition.

"Giving back to communities across Canada by supporting volunteer-based organizations is extremely important to us," says Mark Hagen , Vice-President of Nutrition at Rolf C. Hagen Inc. "We truly enjoy supporting the volunteer shelters, as they believe in the education and promotion of companion animal health and well-being, which is an important part of our company's very core."

Nutrience takes the health of pets very seriously by combining the highest quality ingredients with the latest nutritional developments to create a well-rounded range of complete and balanced foods. For neglected and abandoned cats and dogs, the inclusion of premium ingredients such as chicken, lamb, brown rice, oregano and flaxseed provide the nutrition to build a healthy body.

The use of these premium ingredients provides superior health benefits such as improved brain development, better digestibility, a fortified immune system and the building blocks necessary for a lean, healthy body.

The Humane Animal Rescue Team (H.A.R.T) in Edmonton rescues about 110 dogs annually from Native Reserves in and around the Edmonton area and has been receiving donations from Nutrience for the past four years. "The dogs are so thin (when we rescue them) you can count their ribs from a distance," says Wayne Tischer , owner of H.A.R.T. "The donations that Nutrience makes to us are much appreciated, as every single bag gets used to help make the dogs healthy, strong and ready for adoption."

"Nutrience has been very good to us," says Nathalie Pinel, owner of Cat Lovers in Montreal . As one of the recipients of the generous donations that Nutrience has made this year, Pinel is extremely grateful that she is able to continue to facilitate and save hundreds of cats annually. "We have over 450 cats in our facility each year, and without the donations from Nutrience we would not be able to feed them."

Nutrience has made generous contributions to over 40 facilities from coast-to-coast in the past year, enabling thousands of dogs and cats up for adoption to lead healthier lives.

The Nutrience brand will continue to make donations to rescue facilities and shelters over the remainder of 2009. "Donating food is simply an extension of our business in order to help save and provide excellent nutrition to countless companion animals across Canada ," says Mark Hagen .

    
    About Nutrience
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Since 1988, Nutrience, a division of Rolf C. Hagen Inc., has believed in honest nutrition for every stage of a pet's life. That's why it produces its dry foods in small batches in its very own state-of-the-art facility, with stringent quality controls and regular feeding trials. Nutrience prides itself on its extensive and most recent scientific findings in dog and cat nutrition. Each product puts the pet's health and development first, ensuring brain development, increasing and building lean muscle mass and promoting a healthy skin and coat. Nutrience produces dog and cat food of unparalleled quality with no by-products, no fillers, no artificial flavours and no compromise.

    
    About Rolf C. Hagen Inc.
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Rolf C. Hagen Inc. was founded as a one-man operation in Montreal in 1955. Mr. Rolf C. Hagen nurtured his small company into what is now the largest privately run pet product manufacturer and distributor in the world. With management support from his two brothers Dieter and Horst, Mr. Hagen 's family of companies have earned more than 54 years of experience, and now counts over 2,000 faithful employees. Rolf C. Hagen Inc. continues to hold its International Headquarters in Montreal today, and now operates subsidiaries in the United States , England, France , Germany and Malaysia .

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For further information: For additional information, product images or an interview with a Nutrience spokesperson, please contact: elevator communications inc., [phone], Michelle Runch x223, [email protected]; Lori Cooper x221, [email protected]