ok yn e Pa wat A New Kind Of Love Story (NAPSA)—Your adopted pet could be named in an upcoming novel, thanks to a unique contest. How It Works Pet parents are invited to submit their pet’s adoption story and tell Nicholas Sparks—perhaps best known for such novels as “The Notebook,” “The Best of Me” and “The Longest Ride”—about the effect their adopted pet has had on their lives. Sparks will select the most heartwarming adoption story and the winner’s adopted pet will be named in one of his upcoming novels. The winning story will also be featured on Sparks’s website, along with an introduction by the author. Sparks’s Barkers Not many people know this about Sparks, but he has a longstanding love for shelter pets. “Growing up, I always had adopted dogs, and adoptingpets is something my family has done for years. We think adopting from a shelter is an incredible opportunity to bring a pet into your home and find a lifelong companion,” said Sparks. Sparks and his family currently have three dogs at home— Susie, Boomer and Bo—who were all adopted from shelters. Each of the dogs has a unique story and interesting personality quirks that drew Sparks to them. Susie, for example, is a shih tzu mix who snorts, snores and even purrs like a cat. Sparks says she’s the definition of a low-maintenance dog and loves to take naps. Boomer, the golden retriever, had a particularly tough start in life as he was suffering from terrible heartworms at the shelter. Sparks and his family adopted Boomer Author Nicholas Sparks celebrates pet adoption by naming one lucky person’s petin a new novel. and had his heartwormstreated. Now, Boomerhas found his calling in the water—heloves to dive and take dips in the pool. The third dog, Bo, a mixed breed, is a happygo-lucky pup wholives life to the fullest and has really bonded with Sparks’s kids. Sparks teamed up with PetSmart Charities, the largest pet adopter in North America, to bring attention to shelter pets and encourage others who are looking for a pet to choose adoption. The “Fall into a Nicholas Sparks Love Story Contest” is one way to celebrate all the amazing pet adoption stories out there. How To Enter Submissions for the contest will be open from Nov. 3 through Dec. 14. For more details and information on how to enter, visit www.petsmartcharities.org/campa igns/are-you-head-over-paws-foryour-adopted-pet.
