National Survey Finds Dog Owners Need Their Four-Legged Best Buddies More Than Their Morning Cup of Coffee, TV and Cell Phone

BENEFUL® LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE DESTINATION THAT CELEBRATES EVERYDAY ADVENTURES WITH YOUR DOG

WagWorld.com Shares Dog-Friendly Spots and Searches for Top 10 "Togetherful" Cities

ST. LOUIS, MO, August 4, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Dogs have always been man's best friend. But, according to a new national survey of dog owners, our four-legged companions are playing an increasingly important role in many Americans' lives.

According to the survey, which was conducted on behalf of Beneful® brand dog food, 95 percent of dog owners agree that spending time with their dog lifts their spirits and 92 percent say their dog helps them enjoy life's simple pleasures. Nearly half of the dog owners surveyed (48%) say they could not live without their dog on a daily basis – more than their morning cup of coffee (35%), television (35%), car (26%), cell phone/BlackBerry (23%) or even best friend (15%). And, nearly two-thirds of the dog owners surveyed choose their dog as an ideal travel companion, more so than their siblings, parents, co-workers and in-laws.

To celebrate the joyful life people share with their dogs, Beneful today launched WagWorld.com, an interactive, online destination where dog lovers can find and share everyday adventures with their dogs. WagWorld offers visitors the opportunity to find new dog-friendly places to visit, add their favorite places to go with their dogs, write reviews, upload pictures of themselves with their dog and pass along their favorite posts to friends and family.

In celebration of the WagWorld launch, Beneful is announcing its search for the Top 10 Togetherful Cities in America, the dog-friendly locations where dog owners and their dogs can enjoy daily adventures together. Dog owners are invited to visit WagWorld to "buzz" about their favorite dog-friendly places. The 10 cities with the most activity on WagWorld.com, including postings, reviews and photo uploads, between July 27 and September 27 will make the list of Top 10 Togetherful Cities in America that will be announced in October 2009.

"Dog lovers know that life truly is better together with their four-legged friends. Our dogs are our best friends and help make every day full of play and adventure," said Matt Ferch, Beneful® assistant brand manager. "We created WagWorld to celebrate the relationship between dog owners and their best buddies and to provide them with a place where they can discover and share dog-friendly places wherever their adventures may take them."

Additional survey findings include:

The Perfect Sidekick

Many dog owners surveyed noted that it is the everyday activities in life that they enjoy doing with their dogs such as going for a walk or a run (59%), driving (44%), running errands (27%) and taking their dog on vacation (22%). In addition:

• Nearly a third (31%) of American dog owners spend at least eight waking hours with their dog; women are nearly twice as likely as men to say they spend the majority of their day with their dog

Life is Better Together

As Americans refocus on life's simple pleasures, they are taking more comfort in the companionship of their dogs.

• Over nine in ten dog owners say that they take comfort in coming home to their dog during these uncertain times
• Nearly 91% say that their dogs make their life more fulfilling
• When asked what it is about their dogs that makes life better when they are together, 80% of dog owners said it is that they are always happy to see them; 75% said it is their unconditional love; and 63% note that it is their reliability and always being there for them.

To find out more about WagWorld.com and the search for the Beneful Top 10 Togetherful Cities, visit www.WagWorld.com.

About Beneful

Manufactured by the Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Beneful brand dog food offers a full line of wet and dry formulas that offer a perfect balance of taste and nutrition. Beneful was introduced in 2001 and is one of Purina's most successful dog food brands in the Company's history. The North American headquarters for the Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina Company was founded more than a century ago. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestle S.A. – the world's largest food company.

Survey Methodology

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted June 1-3, 2009. For the survey, national samples of 797 dog owners aged 25 and older from Ipsos' U.S. online panel were interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the U.S. adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of 797 and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20 of what the results would have been had the entire adult population of dog owners aged 25 and older in the United States been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error.