Showing posts with label animal causes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animal causes. Show all posts

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Pet Adoption: 25,000th Pet to Find a Home During "Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo"

The Michigan Humane Society will mark a major milestone on May 18-19 during Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo, presented by Purina. That is when one local family will browse among more than 30 organizations to adopt the event’s 25,000th pet.

Photo Credit: BoMo Photo


Shelters as far away as Battle Creek are bringing more than 600 cats, dogs, and rabbits to Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo. Visitors can meet these “best friends” for free in the Detroit Zoo’s parking lot from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday  and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Photo Credit: Gabi Vannini


“This event is truly unique because of its incredible size and impact,” said Matthew Pepper, president and CEO of MHS. “It is a celebration of how much our pets mean to us and a great opportunity to add a new member to your family through adoption. This event is an amazing example of the power of collaboration and compassion.”

Suburban Subaru of Troy will show its support for local animals at 1 p.m. on May 18 when it awards the proceeds of its Share the Love campaign. This seven-week promotion netted nearly $70,000 for the Michigan Humane Society and Detroit Zoo to split. Suburban Subaru raised this money last fall when it pledged $250 for every new-car purchase.

Photo Credit: BoMo Photos


The Michigan Humane Society first collaborated with the Detroit Zoo in 1993 to host Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo. That spring participants approved 90 adoptions. This time MHS hopes to beat last year’s spring total of 556 adoptions. However, the shelters need less than half that goal to reach 25,000.

Visit MichiganHumane.org/zoo to discover how you can Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo, or call 866-MHUMANE. Adoptions fees and policies vary among participating organizations. Personal pets are not permitted at the event and strollers are not permitted near adoptable animals.



About the Michigan Humane Society

The Michigan Humane Society, founded in 1877, is the oldest and largest nonprofit animal welfare organization in the state. Each year, MHS achieves 100 percent placement of more than 10,000 healthy and treatable animals through compassionate care, community engagement, and advocacy for humane treatment. The MHS operates three shelter and veterinary centers in Detroit, Rochester Hills, and Westland; five adoption partnerships with Premier Pet Supply, Petco, and PetSmart; and both a Cruelty Investigation Department and a Statewide Animal Response Team. Learn more at michiganhumane.org.

Saturday, March 31, 2018

World's Largest Mosaic is Created at Petco Foundation's All For Love Adoption Rally

Remember when we blogged about the Petco Foundations's Love Changes Everything campaign?

Well, here is the end result!

More than 30,000 adopters came together to create the world's largest mosaic mural of adopted pets and their people both online AND in New York City!

The mosaic is powered in by the Petco Foundation in partnership with  WholeHearted pet food and MUTTS! 

On Sunday, March 25th adopters and more than 20 animal welfare organizations came together with the Petco Foundation in New York City's Union Square Park to see the mosaic come to life at their huge All for Love Adoption Rally.




Friday, March 9, 2018

Petco Foundation "Love Changes Everything Campaign" Invites Pet Adopters to be Part of the World’s Largest Photo Mosaic of Adopted Pets and Their People


Courtesy of the Petco Foundation
PETCO FOUNDATION TEAMS UP WITH
 MUTTS FOR “LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING” CAMPAIGN 
PROMOTING PET ADOPTION
Campaign Invites Pet Adopters to be Part of the World’s Largest Photo Mosaic of Adopted Pets and Their People 
While Aiming to Raise $3.1 Million to Save Animals

  
The Petco Foundation, a leading animal welfare funder, is teaming up with award-winning artist and creator of the heart-warming MUTTS comic strip, Patrick McDonnell for the annual “Love Changes Everything” campaign in an effort to raise $3.1 million to support lifesaving animal welfare work nationwide.

When asked if I would participate by helping to share this marvelous campaign, it was a no-brainer that I would say a resounding "YES!!" Why? Because Cody was adopted from a Petco adoption drive back in 2007,  as a result, Petco is our pet store of choice! 

The “Love Changes Everything” Campaign kicked-off March 3 – 4 with a National Adoption Event Weekend in participating Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores, (just like the one I adopted Cody from!) and runs through April 1 (which just happens to be Cody's birthday!!) 


  But there’s more!!
this year pet adopters can join the Petco Foundation in creating the world’s largest mosaic mural of adopted pets and their people. Adopters submitting photos at petcofoundation.org/snaplove will be eligible to win daily prizes,  including a $100 Petco gift card, a signed MUTTS print, and a coupon for a bag of WholeHearted Pets pet food, PLUS a $500 grant award for eligible adoption organizations!  


Heres the link for submissions:


The above photo, albeit AWFUL, is the very first photo of Cody and I that was ever taken. This was taken at the Petco Adoption drive that I adopted Cody from, back on July 28th, 2007. Cody was such a tiny kitty!  


The mosaic, powered in partnership with WholeHearted pet food, will come to life in New York City’s Union Square Park on Sunday, March 25 from noon to 4:00 PM at the All for Love Adoption Rally featuring adoptable pets from more than twenty New York area animal welfare organizations. Attendees can meet MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell, pose for pictures with the famed MUTTS characters Mooch and Earl and participate in other fun activities centered around celebrating pet adoption.

“Patrick McDonnell has been a champion of pet adoption for years, and we are thrilled to join forces again with MUTTS to promote pet adoption and raise funds to help animals across the country. We hope our Love Changes Everything’ campaign, along with this mosaic mural, inspires everyone to join the lifesaving movement by adopting, donating or volunteering. With six adopted pets of my own, I can confidently say that the love of an adopted pet does change everything,
” said Susanne Kogut, president of the Petco Foundation.

Courtesy of the Petco Foundation



Animal lovers can support the “Love Changes Everything" campaign by making a donation in any Petco, Unleashed by Petco store or online at petcofoundation.org/love. Anyone who makes a donation of $10 or more will receive a limited-edition tote bag featuring MUTTS artwork specifically designed for the "Love Changes Everything" campaign.

To learn more about the “Love Changes Everything” campaign and the photo mosaic, please visit petcofoundation.org/love. To learn more about Patrick McDonnell and his commitment to promoting pet adoption, watch Episode 6 “Shelter Me: Hearts and Paws” hosted by Kristen Bell and featuring MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell online at ShelterMe.TV or visit MUTTS. To learn more about WholeHearted pet food go to WholeHeartedPets.com
.


About the Petco Foundation
At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, we’ve invested more than $200 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we’ve helped more than 5.5 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

I'm NOT the Kitty Daddy!!! World Spay Day



World Spay Day is an international day of action to promote the sterilization of pets, community cats and street dogs as a way to save animals’ lives. It takes place each year on the last Tuesday of February.  Created as Spay Day USA by the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) in 1995, World Spay Day is now a program of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Humane Society International (HSI) and Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA).


Wednesday, October 4, 2017

World Animal Day 2017

MISSION OF WORLD ANIMAL DAY 
"To raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. Building the celebration of World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilizing it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.  It's celebrated in different ways in every country, irrespective of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology.  Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognized as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare."




World Animal Day On Social Media:



Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Enter the #RememberTheRescue Contest That Helps Orphan Pets

From Remember Me Thursday creator and Helen Woodward Animal Center CEO, Mike Arms, "Unnecessary euthanasia of pets has to stop. And the only way it's going to stop is showing the public that we, collectively, can do something to make a difference."



While Cody WAS adopted, he was luckier than many other cats. He had an incredible foster Mother who loved and nurtured him, and helped influence the loving cuddle bug that he is today. Millions of other animals aren't as lucky as Cody was. Many are waiting in shelters for days, months, years and even their entire lives, to find their forever homes, and MANY NEVER DO.  Now, after the devastating hurricanes in Texas and Florida, even MORE ANIMALS are going to be faced with the prospect of dying in shelters!!  Remember Me Thursday® is right around  the corner! It's time to start preparing!! 

Do You Have An Adopted Pet?
Enter NOW
by sharing their Photo!

The #RememberTheRescue Challenge is a social media photo contest where rescue pet parents tweet and post pics of their beloved adopted pets. Participants then nominate their favorite pet adoption organization or facility to win one of three awesome prizes!
The entire month of September, when you post or share, your rescue pet’s story for the #RememberTheRescue Challenge, you'll be entered to win incredible prizes!

Tag your rescue pet’s photo with
 #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday on Twitter or Instagram to be entered to win life-saving funds and food for a pet adoption organization you love.
 
Not on Twitter or Instagram?
You can post your pet's photo right to the #RememberTheRescue Photo Wall.



And don't forget, adoptable pets need your help to get the whole world talking about pet adoption on September 28, Remember Me Thursday.




Saturday, September 9, 2017

Help Free Tony the Tiger #TinyTigers4Tony

I was contacted recently by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) asking if I would help share information about a Siberian-Bengal Tiger named Tony.  Tony is cruelly being held in a cage at a gas station parking lot in Louisiana, surrounded by diesel fumes and the roar of the adjacent highway. Tony has lived there for MORE THAN A DECADE! This is wrong kitties, JUST WRONG!


 The Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting for Tony for seven years, and  are waiting for a court decision that could finally grant Tony his freedom to be relocated to a reputable sanctuary, where he can live out the rest of his life getting the veterinary care and environment he deserves.
WANT TO HELP TONY?
To participate, simply print out the “Free Tony” sign, snap a photo of your tiny tiger with the sign, and post it on social media with the hashtag #TinyTigers4Tony.
Unfortunately, Cody wasn't in the mood to cooperate, and when I printed my sign the ink came out too light, so, I just inserted it in another photo. I am sure you can do a better job than I did!
All felines, whether they are large or small deserve protection from abuse, so be sure to help!
Follow The Animal Legal Defense Fund on:
Instagram: @animallegaldefensefund
Facebook: @animallegaldefensefund
Twitter: @aldf

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit Earns $25,000 from Petco



Story submitted by Dearborn Heights Resident Stephanie O’Dell
Three Detroit-area animal organizations shared $80K from Petco


Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit (FAMD) earned $25,000 from Petco Foundation’s Holiday Wishes Campaign, thanks to a beautiful story written by a Dearborn Heights Mom about her one-year old son with down’s syndrome and his love of their adopted cat, Guinness.

Laurie Buhr, FAMD Board president, accepted the check from Petco Foundation.
Photo Courtesy of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit


Stephanie O’Dell submitted the entry that detailed the love that her four-year-old cat, Guinness, had for her son, Kellen, even when she was first pregnant.  Once he was born, the baby and cat became inseparable.  The cat sleeps with her son every night and is his constant companion.

Stephanie, Kellen and Guinness O'Dell
Photo Courtesy of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit


“My life was full before my son was born,” O’Dell wrote in her story.  “Since he has arrived, I can't tell you how much I love watching their relationship grow and flower. They truly are best friends, and I can't imagine what my son's life would be without Guinness. I look forward to many, many years of my boys spending time together and learning.”

O’Dell was a volunteer at FAMD with her sister, Michelle, for 12 years before her son was born.

“Stephanie is a great example of how families come together around their animals,” said Elaine Greene, executive director, FAMD said. “We see this so often with the 1,700 animals we help get adopted each year.”

The Petco Foundation’s Holiday Wishes campaign, in partnership with Petco, awarded a total of $80,000 to three local Detroit-area animal welfare organizations, including Detroit Bully Corps ($5K), Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit ($25K), and Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan($50K) at the Detroit Petco store.

The three organizations were selected as a winner from more than 5,000 stories that were submitted by animal adopters across the country, which celebrated how their adopted pets have changed and enriched their lives. The Petco Foundation selected more than 50 organizations from the pool of 5,000 submissions as winners. 

To contribute to the holiday campaign for FAMD, visit www.metrodetroitanimals.org.



About FAMD
After 22 years of nurturing more than 47,300 animals, the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit have embarked on the “Raise the Woof” public phase of their “Building a Home with Heart” capital campaign to construct a new Animal Adoption & Education Center at the site of the former Dearborn Amtrak station on Michigan Avenue. Construction begins this Summer.  FAMD is located at 2661 Greenfield Road, Dearborn.

About the Petco Foundation
At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, we’ve invested more than $170 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay/neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we’ve helped more than 5 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: We admit we are partial to Petco because Cody was adopted there in 2007 at an adoption drive that was taking place. Cody and I are so grateful to Petco for bringing us together. The story above  is yet another reason to love Petco!!!! 



Saturday, August 20, 2016

International Homeless Animals Day #IHAD

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Portions of this post originally appeared in 2015, I have done some editing, but maintained the original link. That is why comments from last year are currently showing! This cause is near and dear to my heart because when I adopted my Angel Bobo, I had found him as a stray wandering the streets. I had searched two weeks for his original owner, after the two weeks, I kept him and he shared my life for 18 years.


On Saturday, August 20, 2016, ISAR will join forces with humane societies, animal protection organizations, animal-friendly businesses and concerned individuals to shed light on dog and cat overpopulation and the importance of spay/neuter. 
Since 1992, ISAR has reserved the third Saturday of August as a platform for thousands of dedicated, humane-minded people to come together in solidarity to enlighten communities about a tragedy that affects all communities: cat and dog overpopulation and its simple solution: spay/neuter. IHAD is often marked with candlelight vigils, blessing of the animals ceremonies, spay/neuter clinics, adopt-a-thons, animal shelter open houses, microchip clinics, marches, speeches given by veterinarians, humane officers, and shelter personnel, and much more.


Please join us on International Homeless Animals’ Day! There is never a better time than the present to create positive change for unwanted animals.

Monday, April 11, 2016

It's National Pet Day! Join #ASPCA150 Days of Rescue! World-Wide Give-Away!

On Sunday, April 10th,  ASPCA celebrateD its 150th anniversary, and in honor of this important milestone, they are launching 150 Days of Rescue, a nationwide action campaign that seeks to unite the country in making a difference in the lives of homeless and abused animals. Animal lovers are encouraged to visit ASPCA.org/150days and pledge their time between April 10 and September 7 to help animals in need, with the goal of reaching 150,000 actions for animals in 150 days. Ways to participate include volunteering at a local shelter, donating, fostering, adopting a shelter pet, etc. Animal lovers who log their good deed will also be given the opportunity to nominate their favorite animal shelter to receive a grant prize of $150,000! What better way to celebrate National Pet Day!! 


FROM PETDAY USA: "National Pet Day was founded in 2006 by Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert,Animal Welfare Advocate Colleen Paige, to celebrate the joy pets bring to our lives and to create public awareness about the plight of many different kinds of animals awaiting a forever home in shelters and rescues all around the globe."


If having a soul means being able to feel love, loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.
~James Herriot


Courtesy of PetDayUSA
WORLD-WIDE GIVE-AWAY!!! 
Our friends at the ASPCA
 are giving away this
 PAWESOME GIFT PACK
TO ONE LUCKY WINNER!!!!


ASPCA 150TH BEACH BALL
ASPCA 150TH FRISBEE
ASPCA 150TH TOTE BAG
ASPCA 150TH BEACH TOWEL
ASPCA 150TH LUGGAGE TAG


 World-Wide Give-away

 is open to EVERY ONE!!
  Ages 18+   Entering is easy-peasy, just enter on the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, March 6, 2015

Children’s book to assist area humane organizations:A Guest Blog By Author Tracy Ahrens

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Today it is our pleasure to present a special project from an author we first featured on our blog back on January 9, 2012 when we reviewed her book: Raising My Furry Children by Tracy Ahrens.  Since that time Tracy has become a special friend who we cherish. Today it is our pleasure to present her latest project, as a Guest Blog written by Tracy.

Children’s book to assist area humane organizations 

Over 20 years ago artwork for a children’s story, “Sammy Sparrow’s First Flight” was born. I was on holiday break from college and sat on the floor in my bedroom using chalks to free images for the story that lived in my mind. The images have been tucked away in a scrapbook album until now. “Sammy Sparrow’s First Flight” (ages 2-8) was released Dec. 25, 2014 by Guardian Angel Publishing. It is my third children’s book. In conjunction with the book, I have created the Sammy Shelter Project to help NINE area humane organizations with the book sales. By ordering through the project website, $2 from each book purchase will be donated to the organization chosen and noted on the form. CLICK HERE TO VISIT THAT PAGE .

 Current humane organizations set to benefit from this project are: It's a Pittie Rescue (Peotone, Il.), New Beginnings for Cats (Bourbonnais, Il.), River Valley Animal Rescue (Momence, Il.), Cache Creek Animal Rescue (Anna and Joliet, Il.), Grassroots Animal Rescue (Medinah, Il.), Illinois Horse Rescue of Will County (Beecher, Il.), Iroquois County Animal Rescue (Iroquois, Il.), Kankakee County Humane Foundation (St. Anne, Il.) and Because Animals Really Kount (Kankakee, Il.).

 In “Sammy Sparrow’s First Flight,” a young sparrow named Sammy quickly learns why parents set rules. He was told not to fly alone at night. His wings are weak and Sammy falls into a bush below. The world looks scary from the ground. A friendly owl flies Sammy back home to sleep under his parents’ wings. The story is based on my childhood years of rescuing baby sparrows that fell out of a multi-room birdhouse high up on a pole in a neighbor’s backyard.

Initially I went to college to be a veterinarian and changed my major to English. I continue to help creatures with the written word, my art and volunteering for humane organizations. It’s only fitting that I finally let Sammy fly with a mission to help area humane organizations I have grown to know and volunteer with. You can also find information about the project on Facebook under Sammy Shelter Project.



 To donate to a participating rescue organization, you must use the form available for download from the Sammy Shelter Project website. Otherwise, “Sammy Sparrow’s First Flight” can be ordered in eBook form ($5) and print form ($9.95 + $5.95) through Guardian Angel Publishing, www.guardianangelpublishing.com. It can also be ordered in print form through a variety of other book order sites such as www.barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com.

Book information: www.guardianangelpublishing.com Print ISBN: 9781616335847; 161633584X eBook ISBN: 9781616335854; 1616335858 Author Contact Information: Tracy Ahrens, Momence, Il. 815-472-0038 mylittleforie@yahoo.com  Click here to visit the Author website:  

Book & Author Facts:  Tracy is the author of six books, two that are designated to help humane organizations.  She is a 20-plus-year veteran journalist and editor. She is also an artist who has donated pet portraits for charity events to benefit humane organizations. One portrait is on permanent display at the Cat Fanciers’ Association Foundation cat museum in Alliance, Ohio and another is displayed in the House Rabbit Society's Rabbit Center in Richmond, Calif.  Tracy is the parent of three cats (Joan of Arc and Jack Sparrow who were found as kittens, and Forest who was adopted at age 4 months) and one dog (Trucker who was adopted at age 5).  Trucker was adopted from the Kankakee County Humane Society which is now the Kankakee County Humane Foundation.  Forest was adopted from New Beginnings for Cats.  Tracy is a founding member of B.A.R.K (in 2000) and a founding member of the Kankakee County Animal Foundation which merged with the Kankakee County Humane Society (in 2010) and was renamed Kankakee County Humane Foundation.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Art for Change –by Artist BZTAT (AKA Vicki Boatright) #BtC4A


FROM CAT CHAT: Today  we are once again proud to participate in the annual:

Click here to visit Blog the Change
event that many bloggers around the blog-o-sphere are participating in. We are honored and proud to feature Artist BZTAT aka Vicki Boatright, a gifted artist who acts tirelessly on animals' behalf. We hope you enjoy her guest post!

 Art for Change –by Artist BZTAT

"Juniper"
Artwork by BZTAT
When I graduated with a Master's Degree in Visual Art back in 1985, I was bold with color, but I was pretty timid with life. It did not take me long to realize that, despite my talents, I did not have the business acumen to make a living as an artist. At that time, there were not many ways for artists to survive solely from the sales of their art, so most did other things for a living. I realized fast that making art your top priority in life required significant sacrifice.

Although creating art was very important to me, it did not seem like it served an "essential" purpose in life for me, certainly not enough to justify living in poverty and doing meaningless jobs to support it.

So I went back to school and earned another Master's Degree - this one in Counseling. I spent the next 20 years counseling children and families coping with trauma. I often joke that I went from being a starving artist to being a starving therapist, as counseling was not a very lucrative profession either. But it seemed to serve a more "essential" purpose for me. 

Many years later, things have come full circle for me. My art has become my top priority, and I am no longer working as a counselor. The disarray of the mental health system made it increasingly difficult for me to help people, and it no longer served an "essential" purpose for me. I grew tired of confronting life and death circumstances in people's lives with diminished resources for making a difference. Changes were needed in the system designed to make change for people in distress, and they simply were not happening.

Although it was not my career focus, I continued to create art throughout the years that I worked as a therapist. The art of my young clients had a huge influence on my own work. Three things that children often included in their art were also important to me: bright colors, simplified shapes, and animals.

I now am working as a full time artist, and strangely, it now does serve an "essential" purpose for me.

I paint custom pet portraits  for people who share my love of pets, often providing a healing experience for individuals who have lost a cherished companion. My involvement in a worldwide pet community has led to close connections with rock stars in the animal rescue movement. And I have been able to use my art to advocate for change and promote awareness of important issues.


"Safe Animals Safe Kids" Mural
Artwork by BZTAT
My new passion blends the two "essential" tracks of my life. My Okey's Promise Art for a Change program  uses artwork to raise awareness about the connections between animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence - issues I often encountered while working as a counselor with children. Research has shown that the connections are deeply intertwined, yet there is not a widespread effort to combine intervention efforts for children or animals.

Through large public art projects, I seek to highlight the need to increase awareness and combine intervention efforts, so that we can better serve people and animals. I have been blessed to have many "Okey's Promise Keepers" who have contributed funding to make the projects possible. I am currently raising funds for my third project , which will be a mural on a building in Barberton, OH.
proposed sketch for Barberton, OH mural
Artwork by BZTAT

Whether we do it in our careers or whether we do it as a side passion, the need to work for change in our world rests in the hearts of many. I am not unique with that. I do feel incredibly thankful for having the knowledge, skills and talent to bring forth works of art that inspire others, even though it does require considerable sacrifice. 

Everyone has something they can do to work towards change. What is your gift, and how will you use it to bring about positive change to your world?

You can learn more about Okey's Promise Art for a Cause and how you can become an Okey's Promise Keeper here . You can see more BZTAT artwork here .