WALNUT CREEK, Calif.,
May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As
weather warms and triggers the onset of flea and tick season,
nearly half (45 percent) of pet owners say they want to treat
infestations themselves rather than make a trip to the
veterinarian, according to a new Kelton survey released today by
Adams™ products, a pet care brand in the Central Garden & Pet
portfolio. This growing do-it-yourself (DIY) mindset is challenging
for the majority of pet owners (73 percent) surveyed who admit they
are not completely confident that they know the best way to treat
and prevent the entire flea life cycle. Adding to the frustration,
81 percent report their first pass at a solution was ineffective as
fleas and ticks reappeared. The brand is rolling out its
award-winning pet, home and yard solutions, including the 2013 Pet
Product of the Year Adams™ Smart Shield® Applicator and
a new interactive website, to empower savvy pet owners looking for
smart and easy ways to tackle pesky fleas and ticks on their
own.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130506/LA07553)
The success of the Adams™ product innovations are in keeping
with other DIY pet trends revealed by the Kelton survey,
including:
- Dealing with fleas and ticks is a fact of life for close to
three-quarters (74 percent) of America's cat and dog owners who say
their pets have had fleas or ticks at least once.
- More than three-quarters (77 percent) of pet owners don't know
that only 5% of the flea population can be seen, leaving 95 percent
of the infestation to be practically invisible because they are at
the microscopic flea egg, larva and pupa stages.
- Over the last few years, more than one third (35 percent) of
pet owners have made changes to their pet's care due to the
economy. Specifically – more than one in three (37 percent) of
these pet owners say the economy has caused them to rely less on
vets when it comes to flea and tick prevention.
- More than one in five (22 percent) admittedly imperfect pet
parents agree they'd feel like better cat and dog owners if they
could save their pets and household from the threat of fleas and
ticks in their household.
"As seen in the Kelton survey, infestations can be overwhelming
and easy to underestimate considering most pet owners are not aware
that the majority of the flea population is at the microscopic egg
stage, getting ready to hatch and worsen the problem," said
Steve LeVeau, Director of Marketing
for Animal Health, Adams Pet Products. "To effectively treat
against an infestation, you need to kill the visible adult fleas on
the pet as well as eliminate the threat of the eggs hatching in
your home and/or around your yard. DIY pet owners are drawn to the
comprehensive line of Adams™ products because our products are
proven to effectively attack the full flea life cycle on their pet
and in their homes. Using Adams™ products save money when compared
to vet visits and are conveniently available at stores
nationwide."
A shining star in the Adams™ line-up is the Adams™
Smart Shield® Applicator, winner of the coveted 2013 Pet
Product of the Year honor following a robust survey of more than
50,000 everyday shoppers. DIY pet owners appreciate how easy it is
to insert the treatment tube into the reusable Smart
Shield® applicator and effectively apply flea and tick
treatment to their pet for less cost than most vet brands. The
patent-pending design helps part fur for direct application to the
pet's skin (where the bugs live) and effectively keeps liquid off
hands, empowering pet owners with the confidence to apply treatment
by themselves, without a mess.
Adding to the DIY pet owners' arsenal of smarter solutions is
Adams™ products' refreshed interactive website at
www.adamspetcare.com/news. In addition to helpful insights from pet
health experts, pet owners can sign up for the Smarter Pet
CareTM Club which offers a $2 off coupon for Adams™ products, and helpful
flea and tick product application reminders. Consumers can purchase
products online, or use the convenient online store locator to find
nearby stores that carry Adams™ products. Adams™ products are sold
at retailers nationwide including Walmart, PetSmart, Petco, Kroger,
Lowes, Publix, HEB, Amazon.com, and local pet stores.
*Product of the Year USA, the nation's largest consumer-driven
packaged good competition announced AdamsTM Smart
Shield® Applicator as the Pet Care Category Winner for
2013. This coveted vote of consumer confidence is based on a robust
survey of 50,138 everyday shoppers and recognized nationwide as a
trusted benchmark for the most innovative products on the
market.
Kelton Survey Methodology
The Adams Flea & Tick
Survey was conducted between January 2nd and
9th, 2013 among 1,009 Americans ages 18 and over who own at
least one dog or cat, using an email invitation and an online
survey. Kelton is a leading global insights firm serving as a
partner to more than 100 of the Fortune 500 and thousands of
smaller companies and organizations.
About Adams™
Adams™ products take a smarter
approach to pet care and make protecting your family, pet, home,
and yard easier and more effective. The Adams™ line of products,
which has been recommended by veterinarians for more than 30 years,
includes topical products, shampoos, collars and sprays for your
home, yard, dogs, puppies, cats and kittens and is available almost
everywhere pet products are sold. For a complete product list and
more information, visit www.adamspetcare.com/news.
About Central Garden & Pet
Central Garden &
Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) is a leading innovator,
marketer and producer of quality branded products for the lawn
& garden and pet supplies markets. Committed to new product
innovation, our products are sold to specialty independent and mass
retailers. Participating categories in Lawn & Garden include:
Grass seed and the brands PENNINGTON®, SMART SEED® and THE REBELS®;
wild bird feed and the brand PENNINGTON®; weed and insect control
and the brands AMDRO®, SEVIN®, IRONITE® and OVER-N-OUT®; and
decorative outdoor patio products and the brands NORCAL POTTERY®,
NEW ENGLAND POTTERY® and MATTHEWS FOUR SEASONS™. We also provide a
host of other regional and application-specific garden brands and
supplies. Participating categories in Pet include: Animal health
and the brands ADAMS™ and ZODIAC®; aquatics and reptile and the
brands OCEANIC SYSTEMS®, AQUEON® and ZILLA®; bird & small
animal and the brands KAYTEE®, SUPER PET® and CRITTER TRAIL®; dog
& cat and the brands TFH™, NYLABONE®, FOUR PAWS®, PINNACLE® and
AVODERM®; and equine and the brands FARNAM®, VITA FLEX® and HORSE
HEALTHTM PRODUCTS. We also provide a host of other
application-specific pet brands and supplies. Central Garden &
Pet Company is based in Walnut Creek,
California, and has approximately 3,600 employees, primarily
in North America. For additional
information on Central Garden & Pet Company, including access
to the Company's SEC filings, please visit the Company's website at
www.central.com.
Media Contacts:
Mark Newberg
mnewberg@centralpet.com
847.330.5367
Rachael Odom
rachael.odom@mslgroup.com
206.270.4514
SOURCE Adams Pet Products