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Take the Bite Out of Tax Day, Pet a Puppy!

AMERICAN PET PRODUCTS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL 'PETTING DAY' TO HELP LAST-MINUTE TAX FILERS 'PAWS' AND DE-STRESS

NEW YORK, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Tax Day has been extended by two days this year, and yet thousands of Americans will still wait until the very last minute to file their tax returns. They'll descend on post offices in droves feeling anxious, stressed and frustrated, with blood pressures reaching the boiling point. What could possibly take the edge off this dreaded day? Cute, adorable puppies! Yes -- cuddling or playing with a pet is a proven way to de-stress, especially on Tax Day.

This Monday, April 17th, 2000 "Tax Day," the American Pet Products
Manufacturers Association (APPMA) will host the Third Annual Petting Day at post offices in cities including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Frantic and frustrated last-minute tax filers will have the opportunity to "paws and de-stress" by petting and playing with cute cuddly puppies.

APPMA is working with the Humane Society of New York in New York City and the SPCA in Los Angeles and San Francisco to raise awareness that pets help to reduce stress and lower high blood pressure. On Petting Day, each organization will be bringing about five puppies or small dogs to a central post office in their city to allow last-minute tax filers to experience the positive health benefits of interacting with pets first hand. In addition to soothing frazzled nerves, "Petting Day" raises awareness that there are many wonderful pets available for adoption.

"Preparing your taxes, especially at the eleventh hour, can be very
stressful," said Funda Alp, director of communications for APPMA. "That's why we urge last-minute tax filers to stop by post offices in participating cities to relax and pet a puppy when they run out to mail their tax returns."

APPMA "Petting Day" Schedule, Monday, April 17

New York City When: 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Where: James A. Farley General Post Office
421 8th Avenue
between 33rd and 34th Streets

Los Angeles When: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Where: United States Post Office
7610 Beverly Blvd.

San Francisco When: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: United States Post Office
Rincon Center
101 Spear St.

If you are not near one of these cities APPMA offers some free Tax Day
advice -- take time from your busy day to pet your pet. "It's the quickest and easiest way to take the bite out of tax day," advised Alp.

Founded in 1958, the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association is the nation's leading not-for-profit trade organization serving the interests of pet product manufacturers and educating the public on the many joys and health benefits associated with pet ownership. APPMA's membership consists of more than 600 companies which include both small businesses as well as the nation's leading pet product companies.

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CONTACT: Donna Wisecup of Gillespie, 609-450-1275, or
dwisecup@gillespie.com, for American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

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