PetSmart Canada and Celebrity Chef Donna Dooher cook up a culinary adventure at Woofstock

Pets and people nosh on the hottest food trends, including super fruits, root vegetables and doggie ice cream

TORONTO, June 8, 2013 /CNW/ - This weekend, PetSmart Canada and acclaimed Canadian Chef Donna Dooher from Mildred's Temple Kitchen broke new culinary ground during a four-legged foodie event at Toronto's Woofstock festival, the largest dog festival in North America, by showcasing how premium pet food trends are staying in-step with food trends practiced at restaurants across the country.

Chef Dooher was on hand to share her perspective on the latest food trends and serve up some of the dishes that have made her so well-known, while PetSmart Associates demonstrated how these very same trends are reflected in today's premium pet food formulas and the selection of food brands available at PetSmart.

"We're proud to offer the largest selection of pet food in Canada, including premium brands such as Nutro and Blue Buffalo that often feature ingredients such as chicken as the first ingredient, followed by such super fruits as blueberries and cranberries," says Peter Due, PetSmart Canada Spokesperson. "Just as it's important for us to eat quality foods with wholesome ingredients like the dishes that Chef Dooher creates and serves at Mildred's Temple Kitchen, it's also important to choose healthy, natural foods for your pets' health and well-being based on age, size, breed and lifestyle. This event shows just how these trends come to life in restaurants how they can be easily enjoyed at home by everyone in the family, including pets."

At the PetSmart booth area at Woofstock, crowds of pet parents were treated to a food demonstration by Chef Dooher featuring signature dishes, including grain-feed free range chicken, pan roasted with tomatoes and yam mash, followed by homemade granola with toasted oats, oat bran, dried cranberries and blueberries, toasted coconut and a hint of ginger and cinnamon.

"More than ever before, people are paying attention to what they eat. My customers look for dishes that feature ingredients they can appreciate or that pique their interest, including those that are natural, local and wholesome. They look for these same ingredients when they're making meal to serve their families, including those for their pets." said, Chef Donna Dooher. "Working with my friends at PetSmart, we identified delicious ingredients, such as nutrient-rich root vegetables, super fruits and lean proteins,  that I serve in my restaurant everyday and that are also found in quality pet food."

In addition to the tasting event, PetSmart Associates, Groomers and Trainers hosted demonstrations for festival attendees, including a series of puppy and dog training seminars, as well as summer grooming tips and Q&A. Also, throughout the weekend, pet parents and their dogs stopped by the booth to enjoy a delicious summer treat of ice cream specifically made for four-legged foodies. PetSmart exclusive summer apparel by Martha Stewart and Tommy Bahamas was also featured in Woofstock's fan favourite fashion show.

About PetSmart Canada®

In Canada, PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets, which employees approximately 2,900 associates and operates over 80 pet stores across Canada, 7 in-store PetSmart^® PetsHotel^® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading provider of pet supplies and pet care information (www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides the largest selection of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp^SM day care services and pet adoption services.

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Image with caption: "Andrea and her dog Ollie look on as Chef Donna Dooher of Mildred's Temple Kitchen and Peter Due, PetSmart Canada, break culinary ground at Woofstock in Toronto, June 8, showcasing how today's natural pet food features many of the same wholesome, natural ingredients used by top chefs across the country. (CNW Group/PetSmart Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130608_C6245_PHOTO_EN_27779.jpg

SOURCE: PetSmart Canada

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images and/or to speak with a PetSmart spokesperson, please contact:

Patrick Martins, GolinHarris
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