Black Cats Also Need Loving Owners

In Hungary, there are around 2 million cats and 3 million dogs living as pets, and we celebrate them at the beginning and end of August. But this month also marks the hundreds of thousands of orphaned pets who have been denied the comfort and peace of home. Mars, which distributes popular pet food brands such as Pedigree and Whiskas, has been committed for a long time to supporting homeless, stray pets, with a key focus on helping animal shelters and encouraging adoption - in line with its purpose to create a Better World for Pets

Would you like a furry friend? - Consider adopting one in the first place

In Hungary, most shelters are overcapacity, while the number of adoptions has fallen. Taking in or rescuing a shelter pet not only significantly improves the quality of life of the animal, but also helps the shelter by providing a place for another cat or dog in need. Another advantage of adoption is that the shelter staff know the animals in their care well, so they can help find a companion that best suits the prospective owner's home, personality and lifestyle. At present, black pets are the least likely to find a new home, and black cats have the worst chance of finding a new home. Many people still associate black cats with bad luck, even though a purring pet - regardless of its coat - can be a good thing for its owner.

The uplifting influence of cats and dogs: Both can bring joy to our lives

A survey conducted earlier this year as part of Whiskas' #Iamacatperson initiative found that the biggest benefit of having a cat is the daily companionship these independent and strong personality pets provide (76%), while nearly as many people believe that their proximity has a stress-relieving, calming effect (70%). The majority of cat owners also agree that having a pet has improved not only their quality of life, but also their mental health.

On the other hand, dogs are called man's best friend for a reason, and their companionship can also have a positive impact on their owners' wellbeing. As loyal pets, dogs never let down those they reward with their love. That's why our four-legged friends deserve to be celebrated on the approaching International World Dog Day, 26 August, and to find families for as many of them as possible.

"We believe that all pets deserve a loving home, which is why we place great emphasis on supporting and educating those who care for them. And the opportunity to help a shelter is now open to everyone, whether it's through financial supportort or volunteering," said Mihaela Negrescu, Senior Portfolio Manager from Mars.

Supporting responsible pet ownership, promoting pet-friendly office concept

One of Mars' objectives is to create a better world for pets, which includes - beside advocating for adoptions-supporting shelters and promoting pet-friendly offices, and educating owners. For more than 10 years, pets have been an integral part of the company's office life. Their presence has been proven to make the workplace more pleasant, increase productivity and reduce stress, and pets are happier and more balanced because they can spend their days close to their owners.

Mars is encouraging other organisations to follow their example and set up pet-friendly offices. To do this, it has put together a publicly available, free background resource with guides and best practices to make it easy to become a pet-friendly workplace.

Lipton x Sziget Festival

Anyone who has been to the Sziget Festival knows that it's hard to choose from the many concerts and programmes, and that you can get tired of wandering between stages and venues. There are two things every group of friends needs at the festival: a meeting point from which to set off on a musical voyage of discovery, and a place to stop for a break between concerts to recharge their batteries. This year, the Lipton Iced Tea Sunshine Spot, next to the Europe Stage, will be the place to be for a refreshing ice tea or cocktail and a playful activity throughout the day.

The rooftop terrace is the ideal place for groups of friends to recharge their batteries in the sunshine, and the bar is the perfect place to try out the new sugar-free mango flavoured green tea. It's a great refreshment on its own, but guests can also try it in one of the iced tea-based alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktails - like the Mango on the Beach or the Tea-Time Gimlet - as a cool and flavourful drink is the perfect way to enjoy a good conversation in the summer heat.

Winners of Pepsi Space

Fotó: Czika Balázs

Pepsi Space provided young people with the opportunity to unleash their creative energies. The competition was open to entries in four categories - photography, video, graphics and audio - with no specific theme. From over a thousand entries, a jury of competition organisers and three mentors - Cinthya Dictator, T. Danny and Trunk "Dablty" Tamás - selected 20 winners, the youngest of whom is only 14 years old..

The average age of Pepsi Space entrants was 26, and the most popular category was photography, with two thirds of entries, followed by graphics and video, with a similar proportion, and the audio category received over 100 entries. The outstanding entries are a good illustration of how 21st century 'popular' art can represent and transmit value to all generations through its innovative approach, originality of thought and sometimes surprising style.