Purina Unites with Other Top Pet-Friendly Companies to Celebrate their Shared Passion on "National Take Your Dog to Work Day"

Glassdoor, Petco, Onion, Inc., The Nerdery and Outward Hound join with Purina to attempt to break the world record for Most Pets in the Workplace in One Day

ST. LOUIS, June 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Nestlé Purina, a global leader in pet nutrition, health and wellness, joined with five other pet-friendly companies to attempt to break the world record for "Most Pets in the Workplace in One Day" by inviting their associates to bring their pets to work on "National Take Your Dog to Work Day."

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7857751-purina-most-pets-in-workplace/

To celebrate #petsatwork Purina and partners attempted to break the world record for Most Pets in the Workplace in One Day. This was originally set by Purina in 2015 with 281 pets.

The participating companies include:

Glassdoor
Petco
Onion, Inc.
The Nerdery
Outward Hound

Purina first set this record in 2015 with RecordSetter.com when associates brought 281 pets to work last June. Purina hopes to significantly break the current record this year thanks to their pet-friendly partners, who share their appreciation for the many benefits of allowing pets in the workplace.

For more than 18 years, Purina has encouraged its associates to bring their pets to work and the program has provided numerous benefits for employees and their pets. Eighty five percent of employees of companies with pets in the office say that pets at work policies are beneficial, according to a survey conducted in 2015 by Purina in conjunction with Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.ⁱ Some of these benefits include reduced blood pressure, a decrease in loneliness, lower cholesterol levels, higher employee morale, increased productivity and a boost in physical activity.

The pets also benefit from being with their owner throughout the day.

"At Purina, we are guided by our motto, 'Your pet, our passion,' and our belief that when pets and people are together life is truly better. We're excited to collaborate with other companies that share our belief, particularly regarding pets in the workplace," said Purina veterinarian Dr. Kurt Venator, DVM, PhD, and director of Veterinary Strategy and Programs. "We encourage our associates to bring their pets to work every day so they can experience the benefits—whether it be exercise from a dog walk during the lunch break or having a calming companion nearby during stressful times. This is why we see hundreds of pets at our St. Louis campus every week."

To help future pet-friendly companies Purina and partners have also created a digital toolkit with tips and tools to help employers who are considering developing a pets at work program. The free toolkit is available for download at www.purina.com.

Purina is also helping celebrate "National Take Your Dog to Work Day" with fun-filled activities among employees at the Purina headquarters in St. Louis such as puppy portraits, mobile grooming performances by the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Team and a Yappy Hour with Frosty Paws and ice cream for associates and their pets.

"Apart from promoting the many companies that have pet-friendly policies, we take pride in the fact that we allow our employees to bring their pets to work so they can enjoy the benefits every day," said Kirsten Davidson, head of employer brand at Glassdoor. "Like Purina, we celebrate pet-friendly workplaces and encourage other companies to join us in this pets-at-work movement."

Purina, along with the other pet-friendly companies, are encouraging employees and other pet-friendly organizations to share their pets at work photos using the hashtag #petsatwork. For more information about Purina's efforts to celebrate pets in the workplace, visit www.purina.com.

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

ⁱ Penn Schoen Berland. 2015 Purina Pet at Work Survey. 2015.

Purina helped celebrate #petsatwork with fun activities at the Purina headquarters in St. Louis such as puppy portraits, mobile grooming and a Yappy Hour for associates and their pets

Petco partnered with Purina to celebrate #petsatwork by encouraging employees to bring their pet to work in attempt to help break the world record for Most Pets in the Workplace in One Day

“Pets are part of our everyday lives, and it excites us to collaborate with other companies who share our belief that pets and people are better together” said Dr. Kurt Venator, Purina veterinarian.

Onion, Inc. partnered with Purina to celebrate #petsatwork by encouraging employees to bring their pet to work in attempt to help break the world record for Most Pets in the Workplace in One Day

The Nerdery partnered with Purina to celebrate #petsatwork by encouraging employees to bring their pet to work in attempt to help break the world record for Most Pets in the Workplace in One Day

SOURCE Purina

For further information: Bill Etling, Nestlé Purina, 314.982.4825, William.etling@purina.nestle.com; Kate Mitchell, Burson-Marsteller, 312-596-3526, Katherine.Mitchell@bm.com