 Melissa's Pro Plan Pointer:
There may come a time when the only way to travel with your pet is to fly. Many dogs are small enough to fly in the cabin, but some are not.
For those who are not, here's what you need to bring:
- Purchase an airline approved plastic crate. (make sure crate is properly assembled)
- Bedding to put inside the crate. (newspaper, towels, etc.)
- Water container
Before taking off, it is essential to take your pet to the vet for a check up. Here they will provide you with a certificate for your pet to fly. Also, make sure your loved one has eaten no less than two hours before the flight.
Follow these tips and you'll be on your way...and up in the air in no time.
 Bring the sunscreen.
The rally continues in sunny California where we're working on our tan, and more importantly...saving pets. We're set up in San Diego for the always fun, always exciting Pacific Beach Festival - right next to the ocean!
Talk about fun in the sun. Folks, the city is beautiful and we couldn't be more excited to be here. The weekend was great! A multitude of money raised and numerous adoptions made it a success. The crowds came out in full swing to help find our furry companions a new family. As always, our local ambassadors made us feel right at home, and made our time in the Golden State that much more enjoyable.
 "All things pet" was the theme for this event. Rally Across America made waves for pet rescue. Dogs, cats, the Pacific Ocean...what more could you want? This is truly a pet lovers town. Thank you San Diego for making our day at the beach absolutely amazing.
 Utah promotes pet rescue…happiness ensues.
Pet Super Adoption Weekend has come to a spectacular close with more adoption than you could throw a bone at. Pets were finding new homes all weekend long thanks to the incredible rescue groups – or heroes, as we like to call them.
We came, we saw, we rescued pets. The grand total for this event: 350 adoptions! Way to rally around some rescue. Our stats weren’t too shabby either. Great voting turnout followed by 14 hours and 30 minutes walked made this weekend a success. That’s $870.00 raised for our local ambassadors! Viola continues her reign as “top dog” of the tour. People flock to see her. Our Pro Plan trainer, Melissa Heeter, played an important role too. She helped multitudes of those interested in adopting choose the right pet for their family.
Ah, people helping pets…it a beautiful thing. This weekend was phenomenal. Congrats to all of the pet rescue groups who graced us with their presence this weekend. We applaud you. Words cannot express the impact you have made, the lives you’ve touched and the love you’ve shared. Thank you.
Melissa’s Pro Plan Pointer:
Owning a pet is privilege indeed. Owning two…even better.
There are certain steps to take when introducing a second pet into your home. If you’ve decided to welcome a new dog:
- Take the new pet to meet your original pet on neutral ground.
- Let them pass by each other once or twice. Be sure to watch carefully in case of a negative reaction. Each dog should be on a leash. Proceed to let them sniff and greet each other.
- Once in the house, make sure each dog has their own individual space.
- Spend individual time with each dog.
- After all of these steps have been taken, let them start to play with each other.
If you’ve decided to welcome a new cat:
- Pair social cats with other social cats, dominant cats with independent cats and shy cats with shy cats. (see our personality profiles)
- Have independent litter boxes in separate areas of the house. Have separate feeding areas too.
- Be sure to give each cat one-on-one time.
- After these steps have been carried out, feel free to incorporate interactive toys.
 Total number of adoptions this weekend, thus far: 265! Folks, it's only just getting started.
Salt Lake City has put the "super" in Pet Super Adoption Weekend. The beautiful weather here continues, as do the good times. Here, the dedication of the pet rescue groups is second to none. The 21 groups who have come out to do what they do best have truly humbled us. Do we need to say it again? 265 pets have found new homes! Amazing.
The crowds also know how to spread the love. People have been coming out by the hundreds to show their support. Strong voting and participation in our virtual walk have added to our event's festivities. This is turning out to be a great weekend for pet rescue.
Join us tommorrow. Our goal: no more homeless pets in Utah.
We're here in Salt Lake City, Utah the Petsmart Super Adoption Event. Turns out the folks here take their pet rescue seriously! There are 21 local groups working to find these animals a new home. How exciting! This weekend is gonna be huge for the cause. We'll be set up at Petsmart, September 14-16. Come on down and experience the festivities first-hand. The goal this weekend: every pet finds a home!
 Nashville has been nothing short of extraordinary. The rain keeps falling, but we’ve never let a little water get in our way, have we?
Talk about southern hospitality! The folks here had a fun-loving, laid back attitude that went along great with pet rescue. Here’s how it turned out: 13 hours and 25 minutes walked for a total of $805.00 for our local ambassadors. Not to mention strong t-shirt and collar / wristband sales. Record high voting and potential adoptions made this event a huge success. Viola had the crowds hooked on Rally Across America. This weekend, she truly was “the next Nashville star”.
Tennessee proved that you can take the pet out of the country…but you can’t take the country out of the pet. We’d like to thank Nashville and our local ambassadors for a great weekend as Rally Across America rides off into the sunset.
Melissa’s Pro Plan Pointer:
Well, it’s that time. School is back in session. Many would describe this time as, well…BUSY!
During this hectic time of the year, it may be hard to give your pet the time and attention they deserve. Don’t forget to set aside time to spend with your loved one. Here are a few suggestions:
- Set aside at least 15-20 minutes of play time. This could include grooming, brushing, walking, etc.
- Perform monthly “pet checks”. This includes examining your dog or cat from head to paw for anything out of the ordinary that would otherwise be unhealthy.
- Fall is a great time to take your pet out and about. This could mean going for a run in the park or even going to the ball game.
- Daylight Savings Time is a prime opportunity to schedule a pet’s annual check-ups and vaccinations.
Remember, it’s up to you and yours to make it a priority to spend quality time with your family friend.
 “We love Rally to Rescue. This event is great for us. Thanks for everything you do.”
And that ladies and gentleman, is why it’s worth it. It’s why we do this. Besides, giving these animals an opportunity to find a new home is the least we can do.
So, we’ve kicked off the weekend with a bang. It rained fairly hard early this afternoon, but it couldn’t keep the crowds away for some good ol’ country pet rescue - Nashville style. Steady voting, walking and donations have given the weekend its great start. Viola has been up to her usual antics too. The people can’t get enough! Turns out the music capital of the U.S.A. has a passion for pets we didn’t know about…and we couldn’t be happier.
Join us tomorrow as we rally on at the Tennessee State Fair! (Check out the pig races too. It’s unusually funny
Pigs, mules, cows...dogs and cats? That's right. Rally Across America has made its way to the great state of Tennessee. We're here in Nashville at the Tennessee State Fair. We'll be set up near the family fun area during the evening of September 7th, and from 10am-6pm on September 8th-9th with pets for adoption.
So, mozy on down to the state fair for some pet rescue and experience all the cow milking, pig racing and mule pulling you can handle! See ya there!
 The special today is pet rescue with a side order of generosity and caring. Sounds good doesn’t it?
Well, it was a great weekend and anyway you looked at it, everything served here went well with Pro Plan. Here’s what was on the menu:
- A healthy portion of voting and product sales
- 13 hours and 15 minutes walked
- An assortment of potential adoptions
Viola continues to draw the crowd’s attention and raise funds. This weekend she truly was the “dog de jour” as we raised money for homeless pets.
Beautiful weather, great people and most importantly, pet rescue. What more could you want?
Melissa’s Pro Plan Pointer:
During the holidays, people travel. It's great, if the oppurtunity is there, to take you pet on vacation with you and your family. When traveling:
- Take plenty of water and food.
- Make sure to walk your pet at designated areas and always make sure you clean up after them.
- Bring your animal's crate, leash, collar and chew toys.
- Bring your animal's vaccination records.
- Never leave your pet in a hotel room or car alone.
- Make sure to locate a pet-friendly hotel before you start your journey and try to keep to the same routines your animal is used to.
Also, most importantly, look up vets in the area of your final destination in case of an emergency. Follow these few guidelines for a safe and happy vacation with your pet.
 Cleveland rocks!
The beautiful weather continues here in Cleveland where everything tastes great. The food at the Taste of Cleveland is delicious, but, as it turns out, Rally Across America is giving Cleveland a taste of what it's like to rescue. It's only the second day of the event and things are looking unbelievable.
The local ambassadors are something special too.
Their passion and courage continue to impress us. Heaven Can Wait, a local pet rescue group, saves dogs from the pound the day before they are euthanized. WOW! It truly is a beautiful thing to be able to give an animal a new "leash on life."
Join us tomorrow as we continue to dish out large orders of pet rescue.
 Welcome to Ohio!
We’re at the Taste of Cleveland where these next few days promise to be an all-you-can-eat buffet of excitement and pet rescue. We’re set up riverside and will be here from 11am-7pm, August 31 through September 3. Come experience the flavors, fun and beautiful weather as we continue to rally and find these pets a new home.
It's time to celebrate!
As many of you probably know, August 26th is National Dog Day. Today, we honor our furry friends and recognize them for being such special companions.
It's a day of showing our pets how much of a difference they make. We let them know how much their loyalty, friendship, humor and most importantly, LOVE, have impacted our lives. Let them know that your life is better because they are a part of it. After all, the bond between man and his best friend is a special connection that mere words cannot express.
So, show your four-legged family member how much you care. Today would be a prime oppurtunity to donate to pet rescue or rescue a pet. Maybe even spoil them a little more than normal...if you don't already.
The Rally Across America tour has arrived in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the Uptown Art Fair. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those involved in the 35W bridge collapse.
Our seventh stop on the tour so far has been another good one. Although it rained for most of the day Saturday, our site still managed to stay busy.  It never gets old hearing people walk by and say "ohhh look its a dog treadmill". Our treadmills have been busy. A few members of the rescue groups walked on the treadmills not only to raise money for their pets, but to keep warm on this chilly Saturday. So far we have logged 7 hours and 30 minutes which means Pro Plan will be donating $450 to local pet rescue organizations. One of the top ten finalist in our Doing More for pets Rescue Stories contest stopped in to meet us. Bandit, a beautiful Collie, who has survived being hit by a car stopped in and was loved by consumers who were touched by his incredible story. Hopefully the rain will go away and Sunday will be a day filled with people playing and finding homes for our wonderful pets on hand.
 It was a dog-day-afternoon at the mall. Doing more for pets has never been so sweet. The temperature in the Sun Valley State gave the crowd rally fever as people poured into our event.
What a weekend! Exceptional t-shirt and collar / wristband sales followed by 14 on-site pet adoptions made this weekend a blast. One of our ambassador groups even ran out of pets and their entire stock of literature! In addition, we have a new tour record. Are you ready? The grand total of our virtual walk time came to twenty hours and thirty-five minutes! This shatters the old record of eighteen hours. Pro Plan will be giving $1235.00 to our local ambassadors! The biggest donation yet!
The attitudes of those attending our event and the local media coverage was great. We were overwhelmed by the attendees kindness. Voting was steady too. Every ambassador group commented on how much they love Pro Plan Rally Across America and how successful it's been. They can't wait to see us next year and we can't wait to come back!
This weekend, we spell pet rescue T E M P E.
Melissa's Pro Plan Pointer:
Our Pro Plan trainer, Melissa Heeter, has a few tips for you and your pet to beat the heat this summer.
- Make sure to give your pet plenty of cool, fresh water daily
- Provide adequate shade
- Feed you pet when it's cool, such as in the morning and in the evening when the temperature is cool. (An additional tip would be to soak dry food in water. This provides better hydration. Or, if your pet isn't a good drinker, put a bit of canned food in their water.)
If you and your animal are active during the summer months, make sure to exercise in the early morning of evening and bring some type of water along with you. Also, be aware of the warning signs of heat exhaustion: excessive panting, glazed over eyes and lack of coordination. If your pet exhibits any of these warning signs seek a vet immediately, douse the pet's head, belly and paws with cool water and if near air-conditioning...use it.
Follow these tips and your guaranteed a happy and healthy summer with your pet!
 Tempe is a pet-lovers paradise.
We’re chillin’ at the mall as the heat rages outside. It’s dry as a bone in the Grand Canyon State where the only thing hotter than the sun is pet rescue!
Rally Across America has made the Tempe Mills Mall the place to be. Attendees packed our event to see what all the hustle and bustle was about. It feels like you’re at a rock concert with the way the crowds are rolling in.
We’ve had an unbelievable amount of media this weekend. In addition we’ve already logged 9 hours on the treadmill along with 8 adoptions…and it’s only the first day of our event!
Wow! Great publicity, great location and great people. What more could we ask for? We’re looking forward to tomorrow and hope to “fetch” even more positive rescue-worthy results for our noble cause.
 The sixth stop on our tour brings us to Tempe, Arizona. Summertime in Arizona means one thing - heat. Temperatures during our event are predicted to be upwards of 110 degrees! Thankfully, we'll be indoors. Oh yeah...and we've found a new appreciation for air-conditioning!
We haven't even begun our event yet and we've already had great media coverage. This weekend looks promising for pet rescue!
We'll be set up on Saturday, July 14th from 10am-9pm and Sunday July 15th from 11am-7pm. So, swing on down to the mall and join us for an exciting weekend!
 Our second trip to Texas was twice as nice.
We were hot-doggin' it at Katy Mills. T-shirt and collar/wristband sales were great. Pets were the hot item at the mall. Thirteen adoptions in just 2 days! A total of 11 hours and 20 minutes walked, followed by multitudes of people made this weekend the "cat's meow".
Voting was at an all-time high during the event. Over 1000 votes! Tons of people came out to show their support for our cause. Viola continues to draw the crowds and our Pro Plan Trainer Melissa Heeter's training demonstrations continue to educate. Especially when her Border Collie, Esa, did her version of the "Texas Two-Step." Attendees couldn't get enough.
People helping pets...it's a beautiful thing. We weren't going to let a little rain get in our way. Rally Across America bit back in style at the bad weather and came out on top. Houston has been good to us and saving pets has never been so enjoyable! Melissa Heeter's Pro Plan Pointer:
When it comes to answering the door at your home a pets behavior can vary. Are they calm and collected or do they become defensive? Melissa has 3 techniques to help with door etiquette.
- Have a leash by the door. Put the leash on your pet before opening the door, then proceed to step on the leash.
- Teach your pet to go to their "special place". This could be in a certain room in the house, bed, etc. If your animal doesn't stay in their place, train them to do so through repitition. If problems persist, tie your pet's leash up somewhere close to their place so they learn to stay there.
- Teach your dog to get back from the door by using the noise-deterent method. Empty a soda can and refill with some spare change. Then duct-tape the top. When the door-bell rings pick up the can, tell your pet to get back, then shake the new noise-maker accordingly.
Rain? A little rain - or a lot for that matter - can't hold us back. We rally on.
So, it's been raining cats and dogs ever since we arrived in Houston. No problem. People continue to "pour" into our event. An astonishing number of people have shown up to cast a vote for their favorite Doing More for Pets Rescue Story and it looks to be a promising weekend for our virtual walk, collar wristband and t-shirt sales. In addition, Melissa, our Pro Plan trainer, continues to impress and educate multitudes of people with her training demonstrations.
The dedication of our consumers continues to astound us. One patron even walked for an amazing 2 hours today. That's $120 donated to pet rescue!
In addtion to kicking off our event to a great start...Rummy is here! That's right. The humble Siberian Husky from our Doing More for Pets Rescue Stories struted his stuff in style. Truly a hometown hero, Rummy makes this weekend that much more exciting for pet rescue.
Saving pets is our business and business is good. Join us tomorrow as we beat the heat at the Katy Mills Mall and find these loving animals new homes.
The road leads back to the Lonestar State. We're back in Texas ya'll! This time were in Houston and ready to do what we do best...rally to rescue!
As we all know, everything is bigger in Texas. We didn't know this included the mall! The crowds will be rollin' into our event. Looks like a great weekend for finding these animals a new home.
We'll be set up at the Katy Mills Mall on Saturday July 7th from 10am-9pm and on Sunday July 8th from 11am-7pm. Come see us and maybe while you shop for that new wardrobe - you can shop for a new pet!
The barbeque battle rages on and Rally Across America is cookin’!
People continue to roll in to our event to see what the buzz is about. Washington, D.C. has been a stellar stop on our tour. Generous contributions by the public, both fiscal and physical, made it possible. T-shirt and collar / wristband sales were excellent. Our pet rescue stories continue to grow in popularity. A substantial number of applications were filled out to adopt the rescued pets at our event. It’s a great feeling to help find these animals a new home. On top of that, the virtual walk logged just over twelve hours. The combination resulted in over $1000 raised for our local ambassadors!
 Melissa’s training demonstrations continue to dazzle. Oh, and did I mention Viola? This little bundle of joy was more popular than ever. She draws people to our table by the hundreds and continues to be one of the hottest additions to the tour.
We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. People came for the barbeque and stayed to rally. Our nation’s capitol was a wonderful place to campaign for pet rescue. The sights were beautiful and the people were amazing. Join us as we rally on!
Melissa Heeter’s Pro-Plan Pointer:
Once you’ve decided on the pet that is right for you, be prepared for their arrival.
You can set up a successful relationship between you and your pet by taking your new loved one to the vet when they arrive at your home. Good nutrition, exercise, proper training and of course, lots of love, are a great way to start off on the right foot.
Things you’ll need:
- Leash
- Collar
- Crate
- X-pen
- Name-tag
- Dog-brush
- Stainless-steel bowls
Also, one of the most important things you can give your new friend is time. Remember to be patient when training your pet. Follow these tips and you’ll have a successful, loving relationship with your animal in no time.
 BBQ and pet rescue. What more could you want?
We’ve kicked off the weekend in our nation’s capital with a bang. The only thing hotter than the barbeque is Rally Across America. The virtual walk and Doing more for Pets Rescue Stories are the most popular items on the menu. There was a steady wait to participate at both the voting booth and to walk on the treadmills.
People gathered around to see Melissa’s training demonstrations and to learn what our campaign is all about. There was a certain sense of intrigue and generosity in the air. Our attendees couldn’t be happier to help in the real battle to find these pets a new home.
We also witnessed our Pro-Plan trainer Melissa Heeter’s border collie, Esa, learn a new trick…skateboarding. Believe it. She just got up and went. Is there anything these dogs can’t do?
We’re off to a hot start, and hope to turn up the heat tomorrow.
Here, we will "capitolize" on our opportunity to help homeless pets. We'll be set up downtown on Saturday from 11am-9pm and on Sunday from 11am-7pm. We're helping celebrate the Safeway 15th Annual 2007 National Capital Barbeque Battle!
Rally Across America and our local ambassadors will not only be feeding our need to rescue, but wraping our lips around some of the best BBQ around.
Smells like a good time...
So, join us and come feed YOUR need to rescue. We'll save you a spot at the table. We're absolutely starving to help find a new home for these special animals.
The rally continues at the third stop on our tour. We're here at the Three Rivers Art Festival in the heart of steel town.
Pet rescue thrived this weekend. Attendees were buying t-shirts and collar / wristband sets faster then we could put them out. Thirteen hours and thirty-five minutes were logged on the virtual walk. All this resulting in fourteen hundred and fifty dollars donated to out local ambassadors.
 Melissa's rescued dog, Viola, stole the show. What a cutie. We can't even begin to tell you how many times we were asked if she was up for adoption. "Can I take her home right now?" asked one woman. People flocked to our table just to pet her.
From the funds raised to the beautiful weather, to Viola struting her stuff, this weekend in Pittsburgh has been the most exciting and inspirational yet. It just keeps getting better and better.
Melissa's Tip: When adopting a new pet, make sure to match your personality with your new loved one. Owning a pet is committment with a great deal of responsibility.
Make sure to identify and be aware of your animal's personality profile.
Is your new-found loved one unconfident, independant or dominant? An unconfident pet will be shy, an independant pet will be confident and a dominant pet tends to be over-confident.
So, choose a dog or cat according to your character and level of experience
We've headed east and the tour continues in Pittsburgh, PA. We're located in the heart of steel-town at the Three Rivers Art Festival. The U.S. Open is here and the city is buzzing with activity. Our event was packed with people and pets...all ready to rally!
This weekend couldn't have been more exciting for pet rescue. Collar / wristband and t-shirt sales were better than ever. In addition, there were over 13 and a half hours walked on our treadmills. When the event was over, we couldn't believe it...over 1500 "bones" raised for our local ambassadors!
Melissa's rescued dog, Viola, was a hit. What a cutie. Attendees flocked to our table just to pet her. "Can I take her home right now?" one woman asked. Viola, who has become quite a celebrity, has made a habit of stealing the show at our events. She loves the attention and plays an important role in helping us raise funds and promote awareness for pet rescue.
The tour just keeps getting better and better. It was truly an inspiring weekend and the most successful so far. The weather was beautiful and the people were amazing. The combination was a winning one and together we made it a dog-gone-good-weekend!
Melissa's Tip: When adopting a new pet, make sure to match your new loved one's personality with your own. Identify your animal's personality profile:
unconfident = shy
independent = condfient
dominant = over-condfident
An unconfident pet will be shy in new situations. A independent pet will be confident and may tend to be overly-friendly. Finally, a dominant pet will be pushy or demanding and want to control certain situations.
So, when bringing a new cat or dog into your home, take these things into consideration. They will help in choosing the pet that is best for you and your family.
 Pet rescue. It's what we do...and today we experienced it first-hand.
Rachel from the Cat Adoption Team happend to run into a gentleman who just found a small black kitten abandoned in the downtown Portland area. Without a moments hesitation, she took the hungry kitten under her wing. The cuddly feline now has a new "leash" on life and an oppurtunity to find a loving home. The dedication of our local ambassadors continues to astound us.
Twelve hours and 10 minutes walked. Steady voting. 2 adoptions and several potential adoptors. This is what made our time at the Rose Festival a success. Melissa's frisbee demonstrations were amazing. People flocked to our event just to watch her dogs perform.
Portland. What a city, not to mention one of most pet friendly in the nation. We couldn't be happier to be a part of pet rescue in a more beautiful place.
Melissa's Tip:
Pet lovers owning both cats and dogs in the same household have their hands full most of the time. Sometimes their pets might get into each others food. It's important to understand that when a dog eats cat food or vice versa, it's not good. Each type of food is formulated for that particular species. To avoid this make sure the different pets' eating areas are seperated. For instance, place cat food on top of the counter where the dog can' eat it.
 The road to Oregon was a long one, but we're finally here. One word...beautiful. That's the best way to describe everything from the mountains on the way in, the city of Portland, the people and the lovely weather we're experiencing. Wish you were here. We'll be set up on Saturday and Sunday from 11pm-6pm during the 100th annual Rose Festival. Swing by and visit our rescue groups and help us find these pets a home.
"We're excited to be here," said Wanda from Pet Lovers Rescue, "it's great to give these animals a second chance at being happy."
And so it begins. We've officially kicked off the tour in beautiful Grapevine, Texas. Let's look at the highlights: 6 pets found new, loving homes. Participants logged eighteen hours on the virtual walk for a total of $1,080.00 raised for pet rescue, not to mention donations obtained through t-shirt and collar and wristband sales. Melissa's training demonstrations packed the house and her free-style canine dancing-dog-show was a hit. The voting area was bustling with activity. One woman was even moved to tears after reading the "Doing More For Pets" rescue stories. "Are you sure I can't vote twice?" she asked. 
We heard it through the grapevine that Texas is known for its southern hospitality. It couldn't be more true. The ambassadors made us feel right at home with their enthusiastic attitude and passionate demeanor. It's what makes the job all the more worthwhile. When you see the smiles radiating from the faces of those adopting pets, it's immediatley followed by a sense of joy.
It's looking like a great year for pet rescue, and we've only just begun our journey...
Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls...cats and dogs. Welcome to the 2007 Pro Plan Rally Across America Tour! It's great to be back. There are some exciting new features on the road with us this year. Professional dog trainer Melissa Heeter will be rallying with  us by demonstrating tips and techniques to help consumers better train their pets. She will be joined by Viola, a cattle-dog mix, showcasing her special talents. This year will also feature our "Doing More For Pets" rescue stories. Participants will have the oppurtunity to vote for one of the 10 finalists nominated. The pet with the most votes will win $5,000 worth of Pro Plan® pet food!
We are looking forward to working with the local ambassadors and helping these animals find a home. We kick off the tour in Grapevine, Texas. Follow along with us as we rally to rescue across America!
The maiden stop of the 2007 Rally Across America tour will be in Dallas, Texas, for the 23rd Annual Main Street Days Festival. This three-day festival is an all-out celebration of the great outdoors and western tradition. There will be arts and crafts, street dances, exciting rides at the carnival, non-stop entertainment featuring everything from classic rock to country bands.
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Friday, May 18th from 10:00am – 8:00pm, Saturday, May 19th from 10:00am – 6:00pm and Sunday, May 20th from 11:00am – 5:00pm. Please stop by and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
The second stop on the 2007 Rally Across America tour is the Portland Rose Festival in Portland Oregon. This festival’s Grand Floral Parade is one of the nation's top two all-floral parades. For ten days, more than 2 million people converge in Portland to celebrate all things flowery. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure our puppies don’t eat the daisies!
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Thursday, May 31st from 5:00pm – 11:00pm, and 11:00am – 11:00pm Friday, June 1st through Sunday, June 3rd. Please stop by and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
Rally Across America will next be in Pittsburgh, PA for the Three Rivers Arts Festival. For the duration of this festival, Pennsylvania’s artists invade the streets of downtown Pittsburgh to create this large outdoor festival celebrating visual arts. The Festival has been held annually since 1959.
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event (dates & times TBD). Please stop by and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
On June 23rd and 24th, Rally Across America will be at the The Safeway 15th Annual 2007 National Capital Barbecue Battle® in Washington D.C.. Please stop by our booth at the event (on Pennsylvania Ave. NW, between 9th and 14th Streets) and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
What better way to honor our forefathers than with All-American barbecue. Feed yourself from the best barbecue around. Take part in interactive cooking displays and let the kids have their own fun with our special children's activities. But the festival does not only celebrate your stomach, it is a feast for the ears as well. Experience the best in top national and regional Rock, Reggae, Jazz, and Blues.
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Saturday, June 23rd from 11:00am – 9:00pm and Sunday, June 24th from 11:00am – 7:00pm.
On July 7th and 8th, Rally Across America is back in Texas for a visit to the Katy Mills Mall, a 1.3 million-square-foot retail and entertainment destination. Katy Mills Mall hosts a variety of over 200 specialty stores—such as Bass Pro Shops, American Eagle, Bath and Body Works Outlet, and Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center. People from all over Texas, the surrounding states, and international tourists come to see this mall and take advantage of the name-brand outlet shopping.
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Saturday, July 7th from 10:00am – 9:30pm and Sunday, July 8th from 11:00am – 7:00pm. Please stop by and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
You could say that the Arizona Mills Mall is so popular, that they don’t even need an event to host our Rally Across America tour. Every weekend, thousands of people converge at this mall, to fill their shopping bags. On July 13th and 14th, we’ll be at the mall to help raise awareness for pet rescue – stop by and show your support!
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Saturday, July 13th from 10:00am – 9:30pm and Sunday, July 14th from 11:00am – 7:00pm.
On August 4th and 5th, Rally Across America will be at the 2007 Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Please stop by Hennepin Avenue and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
The Uptown Art Fair provides a showcase and sales outlet for professional and amateur artists of all kinds from the Minneapolis area. Enjoy food and drinks from various vendors, children’s art activities, and evening entertainment.
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Friday, August 3rd from 12:00pm – 7:30pm, Saturday, August 4th from 10:00am – 7:30pm and Sunday, August 5th from 10:00am – 6:00pm.
For Labor Day weekend, Rally Across America is back in the Midwest for the 11th Annual Bigelow Chevrolet Taste of Cleveland, a weekend celebration that features local chefs, irresistible cuisine, ethnic performers, national musical entertainment and delectable desserts from more than 30 area restaurants, bistros, diners and cafés. Yum!
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Friday, August 31st from 11:00am – 11:00pm, Saturday, September 1st from 12:00pm – 11:00pm and Sunday, September 2nd from 12:00pm – 11:00pm, and Monday, September 3rd from 12:00pm – 8:00pm. Please stop by and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
Rally Across America rolls into Nashville September 8th and 9th for the Tennessee State Fair. This is everything you expect at a state fair, and a little more. There’s plenty of livestock, agricultural, and creative arts competitions for blue ribbons and more than $200,000 in premiums money. In addition, there are some of the best midway rides in the country, racing pigs, mule pulling, cow milking, sorghum making, grilling and cooking competitions. Phew!
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event (dates & times TBD). Please stop by and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
We’re not done with state fairs, as Rally Across America next stops in Salt Lake City, Utah for the Utah State Fair September 14th to 16th. Ten days of barn animals, fine art, Kettle Korn, stir fry, rides for the young at heart, and vendor booths for the shopper in you. Now that’s what we call having something for everyone!
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Friday, September 14th and Saturday, September 15th from 10:00am – 11:00pm and Sunday, September 16th from 10:00am – 10:00pm. Please stop by and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
Everything in this festival begins with a walk on a boardwalk overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Check out the food booths, and decide where you want to stop. Check out the music while you enjoy your food, do some shopping at the Sidewalk Sale, and cruise by to watch the sandcastle building display. As your perfect day ends, stay to watch an explosive fireworks display over the ocean.
The Rally Across America tour bus will be on location at this event Saturday, October 6th from 11:00am – 7:30pm. Please stop by and show your support for pet rescue across the country.
 This past weekend the Rally Across America Tour made it's 12th and final stop at the Pacific Beach Festival in San Diego. The Pacific Beach Festival welcomed us with a great site nearly one hundred feet from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. With this being the last stop on the tour we wanted to make sure we went out with a bang. The morning weather hindered our setup as it rained for about an hour. Once the rain passed the clouds disappeared and the California sun I was expecting finally came out. We welcomed eight rescue groups on Saturday, which all stayed busy throughout the day. The crowd was a steady stream of pet loving San Diegoans who loved playing with the friendly animals.  The treadmills were being used as well. We logged 9 hours and 35 minutes on the treadmills to help raise money to support pet rescue. One group stole the show this weekend. San Diego Animal Rescue brought a bunch of cute dogs and cats to the event. This groups tent was filled all day with people inquiring about adopting their pets. They were lucky enough to find twelve wonderful pets new loving homes. When adoptions happen at these events, it makes all the hard work worth while. This whole tour has been a great experience and I hope it will continue to be a success in the future.
 This weekend the Pro Plan Rally Across America Tour came home to St. Louis Missouri for the Great Forest Park Balloon Race. We welcomed 20 pet rescue groups from the St. Louis metropolitan area to Forest Park to help raise awareness and funds for pet rescue. This weekend marks the 11th stop on our tour and is also a homecoming for myself and the tour. This event was unlike any event we have had in the past. Instead of the usual 10 groups we welcomed 20, we invited the Pro Plan Performance Cats and also welcomed the Incredible Dog Team. I can't begin to describe how amazing these dog and cats are that perform. They are truly special and are a joy to watch. The cats perfom tricks like pushing a shopping cart and shooting a few hoops on a mini basketball goal. The dogs do a fun frisbee show that is filled with energy that gets the crowds cheering. One thing the dogs and cats have in common is they were all rescued. This proves that with the right nutrition and training any pet can be special and perform tricks just like these cats and dogs.
 This weekend our treadmills were running non stop. We logged 12 hours on the treadmills to support pet rescue. The weather was perfect and the people of St. Louis filled the park to support pet rescue and witness the launch of dozens of hot air balloons. A big hit at this event was our dog watering station. This station featured two small kiddie pools where dogs lounged and cooled off from the sunny day. Dogs big and small also walked on our canine treadmill to help raise money for their fellow rescue pets. I knew coming home would be fun, but I didn't think it would be nearly as fun as it was.
 The weekend has come to an end and the Pro Plan Rally Across America Tour has had another wonderful weekend. The Taste of Colorado was an extremely crowded event that allowed people young and old to learn a little more about pet rescue while raising funds at the same time. This weekend the people of Denver logged 23 hours and 35 minutes on our virtual walk. That means Pro Plan will donate another $1,415 to support pet rescue. We also sold 68 collar/wristband sets and all the proceeds from those sales will be donated to Denver area rescue groups. This was a very fun event to be a part of. We were kept extremely busy by the large crowds and the pets were a huge hit with everyone who attended. I believe 10 pets were adopted and given a new loving home. I wish everyone could see the joy in the face of our volunteers when they come over and tell me another pet just found a new home. This was a great weekend for everybody who came by and supported pet rescue. I know we will be back to Denver next year to help more lucky dogs and cats find new loving homes. Thank you to all the rescue groups who came out and participated this weekend you were very fun to work with.
This weekend the Rally Across America Tour is visiting Denver for the Taste of Colorado. We have ten Denver area rescue groups on hand and they were kept extremely busy today. This event is in downtown Denver and I think half the city came by our site today. We logged 11 hours and 15 minutes on the treadmills and sold over 30 collar/wristband sets. Everyone who visited us today got to play with some very fun and loving pets. We had a couple cats find new homes 15 minutes into the event. The rescue groups were very pleased with the crowd and many believe their pets will find a home by the end of the weekend. I hope tomorrow is just as crowded as today. I know this is going to be a fantastic weekend for pet rescue.
Wow! What an amazing weekend! The Rally Across America tour stopped in Tempe, Arizona this weekend at the Mills Mall to raise awareness and funds for pet rescue. This event was held indoors and the people of Tempe came in bunches to see what Rally to Rescue is all about. This weekend we received extensive coverage from the media which helped make this event one of our most successful tour stops so far. Not only did we have people walk on the treadmills for 19 hours and 50 minutes, we found new loving homes for 28 pets. That's right 28 pets were adopted during our two days inside the Mills Mall. I believe 17 dogs and 11 cats were adopted into loving families this weekend. Pets were being adopted so quickly, groups were coming up to me and saying "I am out of pets." This was an amazing event for all the groups that attended. The foot traffic in the mall was absolutely amazing, I have never seen so many people in a mall in my life. We touched an extremely diverse crowd and helped raise over $1200 for pet rescue. Nothing but good things were said about the event and I must have had 20 people ask me when the next time we were going to do another event like this. I love being part of something that touches so many lives and helps people and pets become happier. This was a rewarding weekend for everyone who was involved and I hope we can go back soon and help more pets find new homes.
The Uptown Art Festival has ended and the Rally Across America tour has had another very successful weekend. The crowds on Sunday were just as large as the previous day and the amount of people wanting to contribute their time to support pet rescue increased. |