The Nutro Company, a leading manufacturer of natural pet food products, announced today that Jasper’s Dog Park in Kirkland was selected to receive a $2,000 grant on behalf of the ROOM TO RUN Dog Appreciation Project.

ROOM TO RUN is a community program designed to support public, nonprofit dog parks and off-leash areas. The grant provided to Jasper’s Dog Park will be used to help make improvements that will provide local dogs and their owners with an enhanced interaction space.

Kirkland resident Amy Introligator submitted the winning application on behalf of Jasper’s Dog Park.

She said the Kirkland Off-Leash Dog Group (KDOG) is “pawsitively delighted” that The Nutro Company chose Jasper’s Dog Park as a grant recipient.

“As the all-volunteer organization that has worked with the city of Kirkland to build, fund, and now maintain Kirkland’s first dog park, KDOG recognizes how important a designated safe, legal off-leash recreation space is for dog owners and their dogs,” Introligator said. “Jasper’s Dog Park has become a very popular amenity in our community, and KDOG is thrilled to add a dog agility play area that will encourage movement and attract visitors to explore various areas of our dog park. With this wonderful grant, KDOG will be able to implement the first phase of an agility play area.  KDOG is very grateful to The Nutro Company for providing this support that will fund a park enhancement to increase fitness and intellectual stimulation for dogs and strengthen the dog-human bond.”

Since the program’s inception in 2010, ROOM TO RUN has committed more than 3,000 man hours to enhance 90 dog parks across North America.

Additionally, as an extension of ROOM TO RUN, The Nutro Company provides ongoing support to its own local dog parks through sponsorships of three parks in the Nashville area, where the company is headquartered.

“Enhancing dog parks is a natural fit for The Nutro Company, as we have a longstanding commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle for pets by providing them with natural pet food for more than 80 years,” said Monica Glass, senior corporate affairs manager, The Nutro Company. “Many of us use our own local dog parks as a place to interact and bond with our dogs, so we are excited to give community members the opportunity to take action and apply for grant support to help enhance their own local parks.”

To learn more about the ROOM TO RUN Dog Park Appreciation Project, visit The Nutro Company’s community initiatives page or visit www.facebook.com/NutroProducts (and click the ROOM TO RUN tab).