Chain Off has been held annually
around the 4th of July since 2004, highlighting the reality that while
Americans are celebrating their own freedom, there are tens
of thousands of Man's Best Friends in every state who are still
not free: America's chained and penned dogs. These dogs
are found in backyards stretching from Delaware to Alaska, from
Maine to Hawaii, throughout the provinces of Canada, and
in countries around the world.
Chain Off has evolved from one
woman chaining herself to a doghouse in 2004 for 33 hours, to over 100 people chaining themselves in over 52 locations including Canada and Romania during
last year's 2010 Chain Off to raise awareness for chained dogs. This year
help us blow last year's total out of the water by chaining
yourself on your Capitol steps (NEW Plan this Year!) in your own backyard, your neighborhood, a local park,
or with us in Pennsylvania or South Carolina! Join up 'in packs' to make
a local event of it, or take it low-key in a one-woman or one-man
show in your own backyard. However it works for you, it's ok
by us! We've got more excitement than ever, with a large
event at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, PA on June 20th where activists will be chained from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Capitol steps, and new ways
to fundraise in groups or on your own. We'd like to
see over 150
people, and at least one from EVERY SINGLE STATE, living chained
to doghouses (especially on your state capitol steps) sometime during the weeks from June 4th through
July 4th. We can do it! You can do it!
In addition to being our biggest
awareness campaign of the year, this
is also our biggest fundraising campaign of the year, last
year raising almost $30,000 for our work with chained and penned
dogs. $30,000? Let's
blow that out of the water this year too, with a goal of $60,000
raised during Chain Off! Be part of it!
You can fundraise even if you're not going to live chained to
the doghouse...join an online fundraising 'team' in your state,
start your own fundraising page, and make it happen.
Here's how it works: Go to Firstgiving (www.firstgiving.com/dogsdeservebetter/Event/chain-off-2011), click on register for an event, give us your contact information,
what state you live in, and where and when you plan to be chained.
You will then be given the option to pick up our Chain Off Pak for $25 (Chain Off t-shirt, brochures, doorhangers, and bumper stickers) as
well as create
your fundraising page with Firstgiving. You
then add your own picture and text, send us the link at rocky@dogsdeservebetter.org,
and start sending it out to your friends and co-workers for sponsorship! We
will add your name and contact information to the website, as
well as a link to your fundraising page to bring more people
and up your totals.
Next, start
your plan...bring in more volunteers with you or go it alone,
get your doghouse(s), collars, and chains, and you're all set. Make sure to release to the local media, letting them know
how to contact you and when you will be doing your Chain Off.
