• by Tanya Gazdik , August 24, 2017

AutoTrader is hosting a dog-oriented promotion that includes support of Adopt-A-Pet for National Dog Day, Aug. 26.

The company is releasing a “New Dog Smell” car air freshener, in which owners of new, old or adopted dogs can relive that first ride home with their beloved best friend (or furry child). For every one of the limited-edition air freshener claimed (at no charge), AutoTrader will donate to Adopt-A-Pet.com to help support the adoption and well-being of our four-legged friends, the real mission at the heart of National Dog Day. Readers can visit AutoTrader.com/DogDay starting Aug. 24 to enter to get one. This is AutoTrader’s fourth year celebrating National Dog Day.

This is AutoTrader’s fourth year celebrating National Dog Day.

“We’ve found a variety of ways to help dog lovers and car shoppers celebrate the day,” says Jessica Stafford, Cox Automotive Media vice president of marketing. “When AutoTrader was searching for charitable partners for our celebration, Adopt-a-Pet.com was the clear choice as they hold values that align with the mission of National Dog Day.”

The annual day started as an unofficial birthday of an adopted dog, and has grown to become a national cause that celebrates all dogs.

In light of National Dog Day, AutoTrader is also spotlighting its dealer partners in how they optimize their storefronts for our four-legged friends: One in particular — Peltier Subaru in Tyler, Texas — has a dog-friendly dealership with an onsite dog park and a dog tag station where customers can make a dog tag for no charge while they are in the store. 

“From our research, we discovered more than half of car shoppers surveyed look for vehicles that could accommodate their dogs, while over 20% of pet owners take their dog on a test drive,” Stafford says. “Those are clear indicators of the passion pet owners hold for their furry companions, and we want to provide expert recommendations on the cars that are best suited for them and their pets.”

Dogs seem to be welcome in all kinds of businesses these days, such as cafes and retail stores, so dealerships are a natural fit as well, she says. 

“Dealers today are also getting more and more creative to attract in-store foot traffic from online shopping, and one of the ways is by having dog-friendly storefronts,” Stafford says.