DDB Chain OFF 2010: Collars for Dollars Fundraiser

Mature Celebrities 'still got it' in Celebrity Auction benefiting America's chained and penned dogs
Betty White signed collar from dog Panda brings in $650.00,
while Bob Barker signed photo brings in $541.00,
topping total amount of over $4600.00 raised.

Press Release in pdf format

July 13, 2010, Tipton, PA—Proving that America's mature celebrities can still kick it, a Betty White signed collar from dog Panda and signed photo brought in $650.00 in the Dogs Deserve Better Celebrity Collars for Dollars Auction which ended in early July.

Bob Barker was next up with a signed photo bringing in over $540.00. The auction, raising money for Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing man's best friend into the home and family, garnered the organization over $4600.00 for its efforts to unchain dogs.

Says Tamira Thayne, Dogs Deserve Better founder and CEO: "We love both Betty White and Bob Barker for all they've done for animals. To see their items bring in so much money in our auction shows them how valued they are by fans for their efforts on behalf of animals. They and the other celebrities generous enough to donate items to our auction have my sincere gratitude and help chained dogs all year long."

The group also received signed dog collars and photos from Dr. Phil, Kim Basinger, Randy Owen, Trisha Yearwood, Terry Bradshaw, Kate Bosworth, Kelly Hu, and Richard Simmons. All were framed in shadow boxes with a photo of the celebrity.

Ashton Kutcher, Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Jeff Bridges, Tony Hawk, and Troy Aikman were among the celebrities who donated autographed photos.

Matthew Broderick donated an autographed photo and a signed copy of "The Producers" playbill. Also donating signed item to the auction were Carol Burnett, Chris Cagle, Dan Akroyd, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Fabio, Faith Ford, Greg Biffle, Jack Hanna, Jenna Elfman, Jimmy Buffett, Stefanie Powers, DDB Founder Tamira Thayne, and Ted Kerasote.

Dogs Deserve Better is already seeking celebrity-signed dog collars and photos for next year's Celebrity Collars for Dollars Auction. To contribute a celebrity dog's gently-used collar, sign with his/her name and the name of the celebrity, and send with a signed photo or other signed item to Dogs Deserve Better, P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16688.

Dogs Deserve Better paired the celebrity auction with their annual Chain Off Event, which took place from June 26th through July 4th. During this year's event, 88 volunteers in 21 states plus Guam and British Columbia lived chained to doghouses for 8-24 hours to call attention to those who are still not free—dogs who spend their entire lives at the end of a chain, ostracised from what they long for most: family, love, and attention—a "pack" in which to belong.

Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Tipton, Pennsylvania, is the 2003 First Place Winner of the ASPCA Pet Protector Award, and currently has over 150 area reps in 38 states as well as in Canada, the UK, Bahamas, and Canada.

Betty White, Dr. Phil, and Kim Basinger top list of celebrities donating pet's collars for charity auction
"Celebrity Collars for Dollars" Fundraising Auction
Benefits Dogs Deserve Better; Begins June 22
7:00 P.M. EST and runs through July 2

Press Release in pdf format

Kim Basinger Auction Page, live June 22, 7:00 PM EST

June 18, 2010, Tipton, PA—Betty White, Dr. Phil, and Kim Basinger top the list of celebrities donating their dog's used collars for a "Celebrity Collars for Dollars" auction benefiting Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit bringing dogs from backyards into the home and family. Each celebrity donated an autographed photo and a signed dog collar with both their name and the name of their companion.

The group also received collars from Terry Bradshaw,Trisha Yearwood, Randy Owen, Kate Bosworth, Kelly Hu, and Richard Simmons. All have been framed in shadow boxes with a photo of the celebrity, any personal notes, and a Dogs Deserve Better "Celebrity Collars for Dollars" inscription label specifying the celebrity name, his/her companion's name (if known), and the date of the auction.

Randy Owen Auction Page, live June 28, 11:00 A.M. EST

Ashton Kutcher Auction Page, live June 22, 7:00 PM EST

Ashton Kutcher, Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Jeff Bridges, Tony Hawk, and Troy Aikman were among the celebrities who donated autographed photos. The photos were framed and will be sold during the ten-day eBay auction.

Matthew Broderick Page, live June 22, 7:00 PM EST

Trisha Yearwood Page, live June 29

Matthew Broderick donated an autographed photo and a signed copy of "The Producers" playbill. Also donating photos or other signed items to the auction were Bob Barker, Carol Burnett, Chris Cagle, Dan Akroyd, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Fabio, Faith Ford, Greg Biffle, Jack Hanna, Jenna Elfman, Jimmy Buffett, Stefanie Powers, and Ted Kerasote.

Tamira Thayne, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, states "We're excited by our list of celebrity participants this year! Not every celebrity who donates sends a collar, but those who do make our celebrity auction really special and one of a kind. America's chained and penned dogs deserve so much more, and we're thrilled celebrities are joining with us in encouraging society to make dogs part of their pack and not leave them chained, isolated and alone, in the backyard."

Dogs Deserve Better is pairing the celebrity auction with their annual Chain Off Event, taking place from June 26th through July 4th. During this year's event, the group seeks Freedom for Chained Dogs in every state in the nation. 62 volunteers in 21 states plus Guam and British Columbia will live chained to doghouses for 8-24 hours to call attention to those who are still not free—dogs who spend their entire lives at the end of a chain, ostracised from what they long for most: family, love, and attention—a "pack" in which to belong.

Betty White Auction Page, live June 22, 7:00 PM EST

The Dogs Deserve Better "Celebrity Collars for Dollars" auction will run 10 days through July 2nd, and can be found through the website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/collarsfordollars10.html starting June 22. Details on the group's Chain Off 2010 can be found at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/Chainoff2010before/chainoff2010.html.

Note: Members of the press may obtain hi-res photos or interviews by calling 814.941.7447.