New York, New York – DoSomething.org launches its first campaign-focused mobile app for iOS and Android. DoSomething.org is putting the bite back in the fight for homeless shelter animals with their new release of the Pics for Pets app for iOS and Android. Now teens and animal lovers alike can use their mobile devices to become a shelter fur-tographer by uploading pictures of worthy shelter animals in their communities, or they can share other shelter animals across the country. The ultimate goal is to increase shelter animal adoption rates.

This mobile app was created in conjunction with DoSomething.org’s Pics for Pets campaign, a nationwide animal adoption campaign on Facebook. With the help of campaign spokesperson and world-renowned photographer, Nigel Barker, Pics for Pets aims to increase adoption rates in shelters through teens, their mobile phone cameras and Facebook, while saving some adorable animals’ lives in the process. AOL is also supporting the cause by spreading the word about the campaign to their enormous audience.

These parties have joined together because every year, approximately 5-7 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide, and approximately 3-4 million are euthanized simply because they are not adopted. One big reason why these animals aren’t adopted is due to sub-par pictures. Users can up take those sub-par pictures up a notch, by downloading the Pics for Pets mobile app and becoming a fur-tographer.

“Utilizing something that teens are already experts in (sharing photos on Facebook), we are hoping to show people that their next potential pet can be the cute animal down the street at their local shelter” says Greg Thomas, Campaigns Manager at DoSomething.org. “It only made sense to turn this wonderful campaign into a mobile app on both iOS and Android – especially since a recent Nielsen study suggests 58% of American teens 13-17 now own smartphones.”

Feature Highlights:
* Hundreds of animals you can share via Facebook to help get adopted
* Instructions on how to become a Fur-tographer and save a shelter animal’s life yourself
* Easy shelter locator
* Use your Camera to take pictures and upload to the app right from the shelter
* Instructional guide to help you learn how to use the app
* Prizing both for humans–a $10,000 scholarship–and the shelter animals (gift cards for toys, food, and bedding if the animal hits a certain level of shares)

At DoSomething.org, we love teens. They are creative, active, wired…and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn’t require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the US for teens and social change. Join us at www.DoSomething.org.

About AOL Inc.:
AOL Inc. (NYSE:AOL) is a brand company, committed to continuously innovating, growing, and investing in brands and experiences that inform, entertain, and connect the world. The home of a world-class collection of premium brands, AOL creates original content that engages audiences on a local and global scale. We help marketers connect with these audiences through effective and engaging digital advertising solutions.

Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
* Requires iOS 5.0 or later
* 5.7 MB

Pricing and Availability:
Pics for Pets 1.0 is free and available worldwide through the App Store in the Social Networking category. It is also available on Android.

DoSomething.org
Pics for Pets 1.0
Download from iTunes
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App Icon

We love teens. They are creative, active, wired…and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn’t require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the US for teens and social change. Join us at www.DoSomething.org. Copyright (C) 2012 DoSomething.org. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.