ASPCA Dogs Vie for "Best in Show" at 6th Annual Talent Competition

Event Kicks Off Valentine's Day Adopt-a-thon During "I Love NYC Pets Month"

WHAT: Precocious pooches of all shapes and sizes will strut their stuff at the ASPCA®'s (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) 6 th Annual "Best in Show" talent competition on February 11 at the ASPCA Headquarters in Manhattan. First, second and third place winners will be judged on several criteria, including overall presentation, attentiveness to handler, and creativity of the commands learned.

The talent show celebrates "I Love NYC Pets Month," a city-wide adoption celebration sponsored by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and features adoption events by various New York City animal welfare and rescue groups throughout February, including the ASPCA's Valentine's Day adopt-a-thon this weekend, February 12-13.

WHO : Eleven shelter dogs, all of whom will be available for adoption at the ASPCA, will showcase their soon-to-be unhidden talents for a panel of celebrity judges that includes columnist and author Cindy Adams, Grammy® Award-Winning singer Roberta Flack, Grammy® Award-Nominated singer Debbie Harry, Emmy® Award-Nominated actress Aida Turturro and the ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement assistant director Joseph Pentangelo.

A special half-time surprise performance will be hosted by legendary New York club promoter, Chi Chi Valenti ("Jackie 60", "Night of 1,000 Stevies") with sets and props created and provided by art director Andrea Purcigliotti ("Saturday Night Live", "Top Chef", "MTV Music Awards").

WHERE: ASPCA Headquarters

424 East 92nd Street, 2nd Floor Training Room (Between York and 1st Avenues), New York, N.Y. 10128

WHEN: Friday, February 11th, 2011 at 12 noon ET (Press should arrive by 11:45 a.m.) Show ends at approximately 1:15 p.m.

HOW: If you are interested in attending the ASPCA's "Best in Show" talent competition please contact Mark Knight, (917) 675-0645 or [email protected].

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About the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals®

The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Inc., founded in 2002 and powered by Maddie's Fund, The Pet Rescue Foundation, with support from the ASPCA, is a coalition of more than 160 animal rescue groups and shelters that is working with Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) to end the killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs at AC&C shelters. To achieve that goal, the Alliance, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, helps its Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) work to their highest potential to increase pet adoptions and spay/neuter rates, with the goal of transforming New York City into a no-kill community by 2015. www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org