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Halo Spot's Stew Aids in Weight Loss for Fat Cats; Halo Becomes the Path to Health, Adoption for Bideawee Felines
NEW YORK, APRIL 19, 2009 – Halo, Purely for Pets announced today the final results of a weight loss challenge conducted in partnership with acclaimed New York area shelter, Bideawee. The holistic pet care products company teamed with the long-established humane organization in an effort to improve the quality of life and health of eight overweight but very adoptable cats housed in Bideawee shelters in the New York area. The goal was to provide a model all cat owners can learn from.
Bideawee and Halo partnered to create the Cat Weight Loss Challenge as both cat and dog obesity are on the rise. 50% of pets in the US are considered obese, and since pet owners tend to over feed and over treat their pets, it’s extremely important to be careful when feeding.
The weight loss challenge used a combination of Halo Spot’s Stew, dry and wet recipes, to maintain consistency with the type of food the Bideawee cats were familiar with. Halo Spot’s Stew includes nutritional calories from lean meat proteins, vegetables and fruit, not empty calories from corn, fillers or added sugar or molasses. The cats had a one week food transition period prior to the start of the study to ensure they were adapted to the new food slowly and were eating well.
The four-week dieting program, led by Bideawee veterinarian Dr. Robin Brennen, and Halo veterinary advisory Dr. Donna Spector, began on February 6th with an assessment of the cats’ weight and body condition, and a new diet consisting exclusively of Halo all natural products. Six out of the seven cats on the plan lost body fat within in the targeted range of 1-2% of their body weight each week, totaling an average of 6.8% weight loss. This equals a loss of at least ¾ of a pound in every case, and reaching 2 pounds in some cases. In just four weeks, this is a strong showing which started a healthy new path for their lives.
All cats were considered obese at the start of the study. On average, they were 28% overweight. As a comparison, this would be similar to an extra 42 pounds on a 150 pound woman.
Results can be seen at http://www.bideawee.org/programs_&_services/halo_contestants.php. The energy levels of each of the cats was much improved, as evidenced by their increased activity and interaction with other cats and Bideawee staff. Additionally, out of the eight cats, six have been adopted into new homes, with the remaining two becoming residents of the new Bideawee location on Long Island.
Pet obesity is a growing epidemic in the US, and almost directly mirrors the human obesity epidemic. And the epidemic is even more prevalent for cats, with 57% of the country’s felines considered obese.
Obesity in cats is often an overlooked health issue, as pet owners don’t realize there are specific steps that can be taken to help. And, in a growing trend, many cat owners believe their felines are even cuter when pudgy, adding significantly to health issues for cats. It’s one of the reasons cat obesity has risen 4% from 2007 to 2008.
“Health and fitness have been put into the national spotlight,” said Alan Kerzner, President of Halo. “Americans are working to keep themselves and their loved ones in shape. There has been much progress with many dog owners recognizing the need for proper nutrition and exercise. This is the perfect opportunity to show the benefits of healthy living for our feline friends as well.”
Through their partnership on the weight challenge, Halo and Bideawee have made it clear that the risks of cat – and dog - obesity are real. It is the #1 cause of preventable disease and death in pets, according to studies preformed by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Pet obesity leads to increased risk of serious medical conditions including diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and heart disease -- and to shorter life spans. However, these conditions are easily addressed with the right preventative care and a holistic approach to pet health.
About Halo, Purely For Pets®
For twenty years, Halo, Purely for Pets® has created holistic pet products of uncompromising quality. At Halo, we believe nutrition is the single most important factor in the quality of a pet’s life. With it, good health follows. By staying as close to nature as we can, we have seen phenomenal changes take place in the lives of thousands of pets and the owners who love them.
Since Halo’s inception, the company has been an active advocate helping conscientious pet owners better understand how nutrition plays a role in their pet’s health and vitality. Named for our belief that pets are our little angels, Halo continues to develop innovative and high quality pet products which help pet-owners better love and care for their “extra member of the family.” In 1986, Andi Brown founded Halo, Purely for Pets® after her cat “Spot” was plagued by digestive problems, skin irritations and excessive shedding. Andi soon learned that all of Spot’s symptoms were a direct result of nutrients lacking in his diet. Finding “premium” cat foods seriously lacking, she created a “stew” made from all natural ingredients and Spot was soon cured of his ailments and healthy again.
Unlike other companies who keep their formulas under lock and key, the original Halo Spot’s Stew recipe is made available for all pet owners, along with recipe suggestions for other pet meals and treats that can be made at home. Halo recipes can be found at www.halopets.com/recipes.
In March 2008, award-winning talk show host and comedienne, Ellen DeGeneres, became a part-owner of Halo, Purely for Pets®. At the same time, the company also expanded its line of all-natural pet food and pet care products. The company also expanded distribution with a variety of major retail chains such as Whole Foods and Petco, as well as thousands of independent pet specialty and natural outlets.
Pegasus Capital Advisors, a private equity fund manager with offices in New York and Cos Cob, CT, holds majority ownership in Halo, Purely for Pets. Founded in 1995, Pegasus provides capital to middle market companies across a wide range of industries, and has particular interest in businesses that make a meaningful contribution to society by positively affecting the environment, contributing to sustainability and enabling healthy living. www.pcalp.com. For more information, please visit: www.halopets.com.
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