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Dog Parks to Receive Boost from Beneful’s Dream Dog Park Project

Pet Age Staff//June 7, 2016//

Dog Parks to Receive Boost from Beneful’s Dream Dog Park Project

Pet Age Staff //June 7, 2016//

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Beneful’s Dream Dog Park Project will provide a mix of financial support, hands-on volunteerism and a variety of new resources to share dog park expertise on DreamDogPark.com.

Beneful is also teaming up with crowdfunding site GoFundMe to encourage more dog lovers to seek and provide financial support for dog park improvement and building projects across the country.

“Beneful has been supporting dog parks since 2010, and in the past six years, we’ve learned a lot about the positive impact dog parks have on communities by experiencing it first-hand with our own four-legged friends,” said Brent Gleckler, Beneful brand director. “That’s why we’re thrilled to provide continued financial support, grow visibility of dog parks with GoFundMe, and share our expertise through this year’s expanded Dream Dog Park Project.”

According to a recent survey of dog owners conducted by Beneful, 78 percent of dog owners agree their local dog park is a great place to bring their four-legged best friend to provide healthy exercise with other dogs, but 73 percent of respondents agreed their local dog park could use improvements.

“Along with proper nutrition, exercise is one of the most important aspects of a dog’s wellbeing,” said Dr. Kurt Venator, Purina veterinarian. “Walking your dog is a good way to get exercise, but the freedom of being off-leash and the added socialization that dog parks offer both dogs and humans makes them an ideal place to bond with your furry friend.”

During the 2016 Dream Dog Park Project, Beneful will support new dog park projects and spotlight a GoFundMe campaign each month on DreamDogPark.com and via social media channels. Throughout the year, spotlight campaigns will receive dollar-for-dollar donations matching support from Beneful to rally local communities and help campaign organizers reach their campaign goals.

“GoFundMe and Beneful have a shared goal of bringing people together through positive causes that benefit communities,” said Rob Solomon, CEO of GoFundMe. “Our giving community has no shortage of dog lovers, so we’re excited to work together for the Beneful Dream Dog Park Project to highlight campaigns that are improving neighborhoods for everyone, canine and human alike.”

To help those who are looking to improve or build dog parks, the Beneful team has created a trove of educational resources on DreamDogPark.com. The website includes how-to articles for building and creating a dog park from start to finish, tips to galvanize the community around fundraising, as well as important safety advice from cat and dog behavior expert Arden Moore.

Throughout the year, the Beneful team will also be visiting dog parks across the country and working alongside local volunteers to get new projects off the ground. Select dog park projects will receive a financial boost from Beneful in addition to or in lieu of in-person support.

To kick off the program, for every share or post that tags @Beneful and uses the hashtag #DreamDogPark from now until June 30, Beneful will put $1 towards Dream Dog Park projects this year, up to $50,000.