New ad lets the dogs out in push to end tobacco use

A new truth ad urges all pet owners to “treat our best friends like real best friends,” and  builds on the message behind the #CATmageddon ad that premiered during the 2016 Grammy Awards broadcast and has already been viewed more than 33 million times.

The new ad, called “#FinishIT”, makes clear that dogs and cats are twice as likely to get cancer if their owners smoke. The ad is meant to inspire and empower teens to ‘Finish It’ and end tobacco use for good if not for themselves, then for their pets.

Tobacco products kill more than just people. In fact, cats and dogs are twice as likely to get cancer if their owner smokes.

Newly released survey data indicates that pet owners place great value on their pets’ health and well being.

“The more attention we generate and the more young people we engage to help us finish the tobacco epidemic, the more lives – humans and pets – we can save,” said Robin Koval, CEO and President of Truth Initiative, the national public health organization that directs and funds the truth campaign. “When one out of four young pet owners has taken a sick day to care for a pet, you know you will grab their attention with the truth about pets and cancer.”

Petco, a leading pet specialty retailer, has teamed up with truth to help spread the word. Beginning on March 1, all Petco locations nationwide will be giving out free Finish It pet collar charms and tips on how to protect pets from the negative impact of tobacco. Pet owners can support “Finishing it” in the name of their furry friends by visiting a local Petco to receive a collar charm for their dog or cat to wear, while supplies last.

“We’ve watched for more than 50 years as people increasingly treat their pets like true members of the family, so we’re not surprised to see that many young pet parents take their pet’s health so seriously,” said Dr. Whitney Miller, Director of Veterinary Medicine for Petco. “That’s why we’re thrilled to provide helpful tips for pet parents concerned about the effects of secondhand smoke on their pets and an easy way they can help spread the word and show their support for this powerful campaign.”

The #FinishIT ad is part of Finish It, the campaign truth launched in August 2014 to inspire a movement of youth and young adults to end tobacco use. More than 294 million people have participated in the Finish It movement thus far. To learn more about the Finish It campaign and how to get involved, visit thetruth.com, YouTube.com/truthorange or follow @truthorange on Twitter.