America Selects Ojo, Lucy, Sandy and Casey as the New Faces of Milk-Bone Dog Biscuits®
East Hanover, NJ (November 4, 2005) - After nearly 100 years, Milk-Bone is changing the way it selects the face of its iconic Original Biscuits box by featuring consumers’ dogs, and America has picked the winners! The votes have been tail-ied and Ojo from Indianapolis, IN; Lucy from Durham, NC; Sandy from Anthem, AZ; and Casey from Homer Glen, IL, have been voted the new faces of Milk-Bone Original Biscuits! Ojo, Sandy, Lucy and Casey will grace the cover of more than one million Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large Milk-Bone boxes, respectively, from coast to coast beginning in the spring of 2006.
The search for the new Milk-Bone dogs began in March 2005, when Pet Parents began to submit photographs of their beloved pooches via mail, online, and at events in 34 cities across America where Milk-Bone toured its "Canine Cruiser." Nearly 47,000 dogs were entered into the Milk-Bone Make Your Dog Famous Search, but only 20 were selected as finalists - five in each of four size categories that correspond with the four varieties of Milk-Bone Original dog biscuits (Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large) -- by a panel of judges. The 20 finalists were chosen based upon photogenic appeal, cuteness, and personality as evidenced by each photograph. America selected the winners, registering more than 30,000 votes on www.milk-bone.com from September 13 through October 4.
"America’s response to the Milk-Bone Make Your Dog Famous Search vote has been outstanding and we’re thrilled to have Ojo, Lucy, Sandy and Casey serve as the new faces of Milk-Bone," said David Contract, Milk-Bone Brand Manager.
"We understand that Pet Parents treat their dogs as members of the family and what better way to show off their furry friends than by having their face on more than one million Milk-Bone Original Biscuit boxes. It’s like displaying your family photo album to the entire country!"
Ojo, who will appear on Milk-Bone Small Biscuit boxes, is owned by Laurie and Scott Herbst. The three-year-old Jack Russell/Parson Russell Terrier was born on an Amish farm in Indiana. She spends her days playing with her tennis ball - anyplace, anytime - she loves it! She had a fan club that supported her during the contest and her parents are going to throw a party for her loyal boosters - her canine friends and their Pet Parents!
Lucy, who will appear on Milk-Bone Medium Biscuit boxes, is owned by Janet George. She is a five-year-old dog who enjoys going for walks and hikes, playing with her sister, Callaway, a shepherd mix puppy, and has play dates with her boyfriend Fenway, a Border Collie, at least once a week. To celebrate Lucy’s big victory, Janet George and Lucy’s friends are going to throw an "I Love Lucy" party where they are going to create T-shirts with the dogs’ picture.
Sandy, who will appear on Milk-Bone Large Biscuit boxes, is owned by Nicole Stillbert of Anthem, AZ. She is a four-year-old yellow Labrador who loves being a daddy’s girl. She also loves to swim, hunt lizards, catch butterflies and hang out with her family, especially their other dog, Bear. Ever since she has been named one of the new faces of Milk-Bone, her mother says that she has been acting like a movie star.
Casey, who will appear on Milk-Bone Extra Large Biscuit boxes, is owned by Cheri and Bob Hollis. She is a three-year-old Bernese Mountain dog who spends her days napping, tormenting her Golden Retriever brother, Roman, and chasing birds and rabbits from the yard. Casey is the official "taste tester" in the Hollis household and loves to guard the kitchen when dinner is being prepared. Cheri and Bob Hollis plan to donate a portion of the contest prize money to a local shelter. They will also treat Casey to a brand new toy, which they hope she will share with her brother!
In addition to staring out from one million Milk-Bone boxes in supermarkets nationwide, the winners will also receive a professional photo shoot, $250 and a year’s supply of Milk-Bone dog snacks. The 16 first-place winners will receive a customized Milk-Bone cookie jar personalized with their dog’s photo, along with a free one-year supply of Milk-Bone dog snacks.
Milk-Bone is a leading and trusted dog snack brand and markets a complete line of dog biscuits, chewy treats and crunchy treats. Since 1908 when the first Milk-Bone Original Dog Biscuit was sold, Milk-Bone has made high-quality dog snacks that excite dogs and their Pet Parents! Today, dogs wag their tails for Milk-Bone Original Biscuits, Milk-Bone Grillin' Bites chewy treats, Milk-Bone Bakery Bites Cookies for Dogs, Milk-Bone Mar-O Snacks crunchy treats, and Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats. For more information about Milk-Bone, visit www.milk-bone.com.
Milk-Bone is a trademark of Kraft Foods, the largest food and beverage company in North America and the second largest worldwide. Kraft markets many of the world's leading food brands, including Kraft cheese, Maxwell House and Jacobs coffees, Nabisco cookies and crackers, Oscar Mayer meats, Philadelphia cream cheese, Post cereals and Milka chocolates in more than 155 countries.
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Contact:
Rachel Max/Jennifer Lilly
Coyne PR
(973) 316-1665
rmax@coynepr.com
Larry Baumann
Kraft Foods
(973) 503-3261
larry.baumann@kraft.com