NEWS RELEASE

Contact:

Julie Perez=

Dearborn Animal Shelter

Director of Public Relations<= o:p>

Tel: (734) 837-6057

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LAST = CHANCE FOR SPONSORS TO PARTICIPATE IN DEA= RBORN ANIMAL SHELTER’S STRAY CAT STRUT

DEARBORN, Mich., January 21, 2005 -- Friends for the <= st1:City w:st=3D"on">Dearborn Animal S= helter (Friends) announces last call for spon= sors or artists who would like to participate in a citywide, public art event th= at will showcase the talent and creativity of local artists while helping to promote area businesses and organizations for the summer of 2005. Proceeds = from the event will go towards the construction of the brand new 15,000-square-f= oot Dearborn animal a= doption and education center.

The fund-raising event, which has been steadily gaining momentum, is called Stray Cat Strut. It is modeled after Chicago’s wildly successful CowParade, in whi= ch uniquely decorated, life-size cow sculptures were placed throughout the cit= y.

The Stray Cat Strut will feature 4-feet by 5-feet, fiberglass cat sculptures that have been painted and adorned by prominent l= ocal artists. The sculptures can be sponsored by an individual, family, business= or organization. Additionally, several businesses may choose to partner and co-sponsor a cat. The names of the sponsor(s) and artists will be engra= ved on a plaque that will be displayed with the cats.

The larger-than-life felines will make their first = public debut as participants in Dearb= orn’s 2005 Memorial Day Parade. After the parade, the cats are scheduled to make appearances throughout the summer at many local attractions including Dearborn’s = Art on the Avenue and the Oakwood Common Garden Walk. The finale will occur in September when the cats are sold at auction.

Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido is supportive of the Stray Cat Strut project and the= Friends efforts= to construct the new facility.

“T= he Stray Cat Strut is an innovative way to raise money for this worthy cause a= nd this fun event will bring even more excitement to our city streets,” = said Guido.

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The event has attracted many local businesses and organizations as sponsors including the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers will be unveiling its cat, which will be signed by all the players, on May 22 in a ceremony at Comerica Park.

Additional sponsors include: Affiliated Veterinary Emergency Service/Downriver Veterinary Associates; An= imal Emergency Center and Veterinary Cardiology Consultants; Cats Radio-Iodine Treatment Center; Century 21-Curran & Christie; Community Bank of Dearb= orn; Dearborn Family Pet Care; Dearborn Press & Guide Newspapers; Entertainm= ent Express; Fairlane Town Center; Friends’ Volunteers; John Gumbs, D.V.M and his wife Janet Grant; Non-Pr= ofit Personnel Network, Inc.; Oakwood Common Retirement Center & Medical Sys= tems; Passageways Travel; Pet Suite Retreat; Village Ford; Westborn Fruit Market = and Westborn Mall Merchants Association.

Those interested in becoming a sponsor should contact Nanette LeFevre, project leader, at (313) 350-0640. Sponsorship= costs begin at $3,000 and a deposit is due by February 25. Artists interested in participating should contact Tom Clark, artist committee chairman at (313) 278-4870. Artists whose designs are selected will receive an $800 stipend.<= o:p>

Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter (Friends), is a non-profit 501(c) (3), volunteer organization that was organized and incorporated in 1993. The mission of Friends is to provide loving care and sanctuary to animals, encourage adoptions and reuni= ons and promote respect, responsibility and compassion for all animals. = Friends care for more than 2500 animals every year and have one of the highest adoption rate= s in the country. For more information visit Friends online at www.dearborn-animals.com.

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Editor’s note: A digital image of the cat sculp= ture with Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido; Stevie Cote, Friends’ president= and chief executive officer; Linda Padgett, Stray Cat Strut project co-leader; = Bob Wheat, general manager of Village Ford; and Tom Clark, owner of Village Fra= ming & Art Gallery and Stray Cat Strut artist committee chairman, is availab= le by calling Julie Perez at (734) 837-6057.