Friskies Partners for Pets Program Aims to Raise a Quarter of a Million Dollars for the American Humane Association With the Public's Help.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 1999--

Pet Owners Encouraged to Join Friskies PetCare Co. and the American Humane Association to Help Animal Shelters Across the Country

Pet owners, retailers and the American Humane Association (AHA) are joining Friskies PetCare Co. in the fourth annual Friskies Partners for Pets(TM) Program.

Beginning Oct. 3 and running through Nov. 15, Friskies will donate 5 cents for every Friskies cat food and dog food product purchased -- up to $250,000 -- to AHA's Animal Protection Program which promotes responsible pet care and ownership to families and children.

Since 1996, Friskies has donated $800,000 to AHA with this year's aim to reach total donations of over $1 million. Pet lovers interested in participating in this year's donation program can visit www.Friskies.com for complete details.

"AHA believes that one step toward responsible pet care is to reach out to children. Kids can take an active role in the life of a happy family pet," said Carey Wiggins, AHA spokesperson. "We are extremely excited to join forces with Friskies, for the fourth consecutive year, through the Friskies Partners for Pets(TM) Program.

"This partnership helps us build awareness on a national level while funding vital programs at local shelters to promote responsible pet ownership."

According to AHA, research shows that young people who are cruel to animals in their childhood are more likely to become aggressive and violent toward other people as adults(a). Studies suggest that in communities that encourage children to learn about responsible pet care and teach them how to be loving to pets, those children will, in turn, more likely grow up to be responsible pet owners and caring members of society.

The Friskies Partners for Pets(TM) Program also supports children's education with an in-school interactive curriculum offered to elementary schools nationwide. The free educational program, titled "Cats, Dogs & Kids!" was distributed to 75,000 elementary school teachers across the country in April.

These educational materials introduce activities for kids in grades K-6 to learn pet safety and responsibility, proper feeding and nutritional habits and the importance of exercise for their pets.

Established in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national welfare organization that protects both children and animals. AHA's Animal Protection Division is a national federation of concerned individuals, animal shelters and humane agencies dedicated to the prevention of cruelty, neglect, abuse and exploitation of animals.

Its Children's Division is devoted to eliminating the causes of child abuse and neglect, through national and community efforts to better protect children.

Friskies' nutritional expertise and commitment to enhancing the well being of cats and dogs has enabled the company to develop innovative products with the taste pets like and the nutrition pets need to be healthy, happy and full of life.

For over 65 years, Friskies has manufactured some of America's leading brands of cat and dog foods, including Fancy Feast(R) canned cat food, Friskies(R) canned and dry cat food, ALPO(R) canned dog food, ALPO(R) Complete dry dog food and Mighty Dog(R) canned dog food. For more information, visit www.Friskies.com, the online resource for better pet care.

a. For more information on these studies, contact Michael Kaufmann,

American Humane Association, at 303/792-9900 or visit

www.americanhumane.org.