Press Release: Altoona, PA—Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit working to bring dogs into the home and family, is auctioning off naming rights sponsorship on eBay for its Chain Off Contest through April 17, 2006. The winning bidder will gain the right to use its name and company logo as part of all contest advertising materials—in an event where the contestants are human, yet live as dogs!

The group is raising awareness for chained and penned dogs through a very unique, "reality-TV style" contest: 15 people will live chained to doghouses for a period of up to two weeks in order to win the prize of a BRAND NEW CAR. The contest will take place starting July 1-4, 2006, and will be held in the Altoona, Pennsylvania area, or an alternate location chosen by the winning sponsorship bidder.

Tammy S. Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, states, “In today's world of reality TV, this is an exceptional way to bring awareness for this issue. Having lived chained to a doghouse for 33 hours over the 4th of July in both 2004 and 2005, I know it's no easy feat; I believe our contestants and the world will gain a greater understanding of what it's like to spend time as a chained dog.”

The organization and its Mothers Against Dog Chaining initiative work to protect the lives of both dogs and children. Says Grimes, "From October 2003 through April 2006, there have been at least 77 children killed or seriously injured by chained dogs in the United States. Our work serves to bring to light the grave dangers facing our children and dogs. I have pledged to stay chained for the entire contest this year to underline my commitment to this issue, the nation's children, and the nation's dogs.”

The organization is seeking eligible U.S. contestants who, first and foremost, live with a chained dog or will play on behalf of a chained dog living near them.

Visit the website at www.dogsdeservebetter.org for photos, links to the eBay auction, sponsorship information, flyers for the contest, and application forms for contestants.

We estimate costs for this event to be from $20,000-$30,000, a drop in the bucket to many organizations, but not so for us! We need sponsors for the event, businesses or individuals, who will get a ton of free advertising in exchange. If your business would be interested, or know of some who might, please visit the sponsor page link below and pass along this information. We also need the press release passed along to all media, and the contestant flyer passed out to those with chained dogs. You can find links to everything needed in a yellow box on the home page, or prominently at the top right of every Chain Off page.

Pictured is Ming, an early rescue who is now in her third home...here's hoping it's forever this time!

"Bentley is one of the cases in which sending DDB literature led to his freedom.  I sent the literature to the guy's house. He took it to work with him and showed it to a co-worker, commenting 'What do you think of this B.S.?'  It just so happens that the coworker and his wife are animal advocates.  The coworker took the lit. home and showed his wife, she called me, and we have been in contact since then.  She told me there was no chance that the guy would give up the dog. I asked if she and her husband could just keep bugging. Well, they did, and the guy finally relented and agreed to give up Bentley. Bentley is a very sweet, inquisitive little fellow!  He watched everything out the car window and wagged his tail the whole time."—Kim Schena, DDB NY Rep

"I thought I'd share my good news with you; I found a dog wandering the street with a choke chain on and a chewed off very short tether. He was in good condition, clean and well fed, so I put up some posters, and the owner called me - yes, this was the second time the dog had got off his chain etc. etc, and I managed to persuade him to let me take the dog to the Shelter (I am on the Board of Directors for the shelter). Today I received a phone call from the manager to say that 'Sebastien' was going to a new home today, the home check was completed yesterday and he has a nice big fenced yard to run around in. I was thrilled."—Clare

"I just read a description of what you and your organization do in an email I received from the Humane Society. I work in education and animal welfare, and know well that it's difficult work, and all of us who do such work need to know that there are others out there who support us. On behalf of all the dogs you help, thank you. And good job. Your story brought tears to my eyes.—Loring Slivinski

"I posted yesterday about a schnauzer chained up at a gas station in Korea (I live here as an ex-pat ESL teacher).  I had been visiting her for 6 weeks bringing snacks and giving her some attention. Well, I'm happy to tell of some awesome developments to the situation.

I made an offer to a younger worker at the gas station the other day that if ever Chin Chin's owner didn't want to care for their dog anymore, to let me know. Exactly one day later when I dropped by to visit her the man came over and said "If you want to raise my dog, let me know". Of course I said "I want to raise your dog". He told me that because I love her so much I could have her!! He said he knew she needed more love and that she would get more if she lived indoors.

It is such an amazing feeling to see this girl discovering walks and play for presumably the first time. She didn't know what to do with a toy at first. I want to say a big thank you to the creators of the Dogs Deserve Better site. It really gave me the confidence to make the offer to the gas station."— Karen Klug

"I have some pretty exciting news from my area! I have teamed with my local Humane Society Chapter and will be joining their Outreach program educating people about chaining dogs and spreading the word here about DDB. They are very acquainted with DDB, and were so excited to learn there was a rep in our area."—Beth Yale, GA rep

"One of the things I plan to continue doing is writing newspapers about the chained dogs. Everybody knows of a few nearby newspapers, and although each letter must be original, they can be similar. You have done so much for the animals, I hope this year is a resounding success!"—Lynn Walker, RI

"I figure we made a "deal" with dogs eons ago. They would help us hunt and guard, we let them sit by our fires and made them part of our "pack".  A dog without a pack/family is unsocialized in a shameful and dangerous manner. Best of luck on keeping people aware of the "deal" we made. And shame on us when we fail.—Joanna Loll, Dog-Mom

We have SO many successes, there's just not room for them all here!...click on the photo of Ming above to see a ton more updated success stories, photos, and mailbag snippets.

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