Dogs
Deserve Better Delivers Valentines to 3061 Dogs in it's 3rd Annual
Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week, February 7-14, 2005
Dogs
Deserve Better's Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week was incredibly
successful in all respects this year. Below we've provided a
statistical and photo wrapup of our event, we hope you enjoy it
as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Students
from three schools show off their creations.
Preparations
for the event started in early January, when we sent out a press
release and e-mail requesting help from students and other groups
to make Valentines for the project. We were thrilled to see an incredible
response to our plea this year! We received a total of 2,444
valentines from 44 different groups and individuals, along with
some tremendously touching letters, such as this one from Carrie
L. Nutter, of Chicago, Illinois:
Carrie
writes, "I am an occupational therapist with Chicago Public
Schools, and I work to help children of various ages with an array
of challenges. When I told the children of the project, they were
very excited to make Valentine's Day cards for the dogs. Some were
so motivated that they actually made multiple cards!...By participating
in this program, the children felt like they were helping others
instead of always being on the receiving end. This helped tremendously
to boost their self-esteem."
Snookie,
given up after a Valentine, and now up for adoption in PA.
Jana
Saffro, a teacher at Garden Grove Elementary School in Simi Valley,
California wrote, "My kids just loved making the cards and
were so thrilled to be part of something that could make a difference
in the lives of dogs."
 
Tammy
Grimes and daughter Brynnan visit with Melanie Riggleman (black
sweater) and her helpers at the Ebensburg Center where they made
over 300 Valentines and 150 treats.
Of
the packages of valentines mailed to Dogs Deserve Better, 29 of
the 44 came from school children or groups, 5 from scout troops,
3 from mentally handicapped facilities, 1 from a therapy dog group,
and 6 came from individuals, one of whom was Andrew Moskowitz
of Florida. Andrew told us he made these valentines for
the dogs as part of his volunteer work for his Bar Mitzvah.
Great job, Andrew!
Valentines
came in from 23 states, with the most coming from Florida, where
8 groups or individuals participated. Pennsylvania was a close second
with 7, and Georgia and New Jersey were third with 4 groups or individuals
participating each. We also received valentines from volunteers
or groups in Rhode Island, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, Indiana,
Maine, Ohio, New York, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Virginia, North
Carolina, Kansas, Connecticut, West Virginia, Texas, Maryland, Illinois,
and California. Thanks so much to all groups and individuals who
sent valentines! Below you will see representative photos from most
packages, as well as a complete listing of participants.
Our
goal this year was to send 3000 Valentines nationwide/worldwide,
and we surpassed it by 61, sending or delivering 3061. Valentines
went to every state in the nation except these five: Alaska, Mississippi,
Montana, North Dakota, and Nevada. Pennsylvania dogs received
the most valentines, with a total of 824, followed by
Texas with 446, and then North Carolina and Indiana with 203 and
192 respectively.
13
Volunteers helped stuff Valentine envelopes February 7th in Tyrone,
PA.
We
held a Valentine party at a church hall in Tyrone, PA, with 13 volunteers
showing up to help stuff envelopes, and in keeping with the
Valentine theme we served red and pink drinks and snacks. This year
we were 'high-tech' in that we had address labels already printed
out, luckily for us! If we had to hand-write each one as last year,
we would not have gotten nearly as close to finishing in one evening...As
it was we worked until about 10:30 and still couldn't complete them
all. Heather Forr, former Vice President of Dogs Deserve Better,
worked 3 days in the next week for the organization helping us finish
them up.
13
Area reps across the country also contributed to the campaign, and
fifty or more valentines were delivered by both Heather Carpenter
of Orlando, Florida, and Pauline Larson of Iowa. Suzy Richardson
in Gainesville, Florida, who worked with the Animal Activists of
Aluchua County, had this to say about their campaign, "Our
local news station followed us while we delivered treats, hay and
the valentine's package to chained dogs. The coverage was really
good, and plenty of people let me know that they saw it. It is amazing
how people in the community are starting to ask about chained dogs,
and talk about the issue...since we have started canvassing our
community with posters, and events."
Michele
Reynolds, our Galveston County Texas rep, put us over the finish
line with her innovative idea—Michele manages the Galveston
County Animal Services, where she offered her Animal Control officers
a deal they apparently got very excited about...$1.00 per chained
or penned dog address! She faxed us over 375 addresses, and
is now flat broke and living in the poorhouse...haha. Thanks so
much, Michele, without your great idea, we wouldn't have made our
goal this year!
Our
phones rang off the hook here at the main office in Tipton, so much
so that we had to just let the machine take most of the calls, and
call back any true requests for help or phone orders. The nasty
meter was running high, and so were the threats of harrassment charges
for mailing treats and valentines.
Tammy
said, "Early in the campaign I was called by a policeman from
Altoona, PA, and told that if I sent this woman anything else he
would arrest me. I asked him, 'You're going to arrest me for
sending a treat and a Valentine to a dog?' He then told me to
remove her from our database, but wouldn't give me the address.
I asked how I could remove her without the address? He did admit
she had given away the dog, which was something positive."
One
gentlemen left a message that because of us 'bugging him', he 'got
rid' of the dog, which we hope was a good thing...We spoke to another
man with an Old English Sheepdog who was quite irate about his valentine,
but he did agree to give up the dog to rescue, and Liz Groth,
a New York DDB rep, worked successfully to get her into a sheepdog
rescue group and out of the cold.
AND,
does this note make it ALL WORTHWHILE?
Dear
Tammy and Friends at Dogs Deserve Better:
This
year I participated with Mrs. Shore's K Kids Club at Old Richmond
School in Tobaccoville, NC (2nd photo down on your website) to make
Valentine's for chained/penned dogs. I also included many addresses
in our area for you to send the Valentine's to. The Saturday before
Valentine's day I passed a house where I had asked you to send a
Valentine to a chained dog that lived on a short chain in the mud.
A girl was standing beside the doghouse reading the Valentine you
sent to him! Just seeing that brought tears to my eyes and I
cried the whole way home. I had noticed this dog for two years and
it always broke my heart to see him and I always kept this dog in
my prayers. Two days later, I passed the house again, and the
dog is no longer on a chain!!! They either took him inside or
found him another home! It has been over two weeks and he is still
not outside on that chain! THANK YOU for all that you do! I know
the work you do is emotional and I wanted to let you know that you
made a difference in this dogs life! Keep up the GREAT work! God
Bless!
Sincerely,
Lori Smith
A
contact in Massachusetts said this, "I emailed your website
about a dog that was being kept chained to a porch in Springfield,
MA. I just drove by again this morning, and the igloo is now
abandoned in front of the garage and there's no dog in sight.
I'm hoping this story has a happy ending. This is the second household
I've reported in my neighborhood for chaining their dog and it's
also the second household that no longer has a dog!"
We'd
be thrilled to hear of any other success stories as a result of
this campaign. If you have one near you, please e-mail us at info@dogsdeservebetter.org
and let us know.
Stats
from the event:
Groups/Individuals
who created and mailed Valentines: 44
Extra
special thanks to Linda Bessette; Melanie Riggleman, Dave Huber,
Deb Harris and the staff and residents of Ebensburg Center; Sarah
LeBreton and the 3rd grade classes of Endeavor Charter Academy;
Andrew Moskowitz; Michelle Rivera and Animals 101; Sarah Miller
and Girl Scout Troop 321 of 2nd grade girls; Brookline; Debra White
and Four Footed Friends; Sharon Bauknecht and Karen Bauknecht Van
Sistine with the 3rd grade class of Elmore Elementary School; Heather
Pelham; Monica Kinley-Kuhn and Help the Animals Inc.; Lisa Wolf
and Girl Scout Troop 1219; First grades of Ventnor Elementary School
with teachers Ms. Slater, Ms. Sutor, Mr. Reuter, Mrs. Ricciotti,
Mrs. Barrie, Ms. Maldonado, Ms. Burns, Ms. Kooperman; Jennifer O'Rourke
and 1st-3rd grade Eliot Elementary Students; Donna McKenna and Girl
Scout Troop 1141 and Ms. Carson's 2nd grade class at Woodlands Elementary;
Nick, Adam, and Bret Asadorian and TJ Kraft; Gwynned-Mercy Academy;
Devon Corbeti's 2nd Grade class, Jen Colonna's 2nd Grade class,
and Katy Vicchitto's 1st Grade class; Tina Shull and Mountainbrook
School Special Education Class; Nicole Nicholas and 1st Grade class
of Glenview Elementary, Davis; Karin Gander and Less Secure Shelter
School, Ms. Shore and Lori Smith, K Kids Club, Old Richmond Elementary
School; Donna Maliszewski and Girl Scout Troop 1969, Mary Howard
Logel and Bradley Creek Elementary; Winnie and Mary Bohadel and
4H preparatory 1st-3rd Grades; Kris Taylor, Tonganoxie Elementary
Mrs. Frese 2nd Grade class; Shuntz, Cub Scout Wolf Den 4 of Pack
234; Laurie Ottoson and Thompson Brook School; Rhonda Ervine, Peace
Club, Hollywood Central Elementary; Nikki's Child Development Center,
Tiger Class; Peggy Rydberg and students; Noris Price and Woodland
Elementary Charter School; Jody Crowe, 4-5th Grade Art classes of
Kellogg Elementary; Terri Janda, Art classes, Canongate Elementary;
Sharon Nataline, Mary Stricklane, The Rock School Aftercare Students,
St. Patrick Interparish Catholic School with teachers Ms. McCauley,
Ms. Lawrence, Ms. St. Clair, Ms. Gibbons, Ms. Vahl, Ms. Grinstead,
Ms. Arrington, Ms. Fay, Ms. Acosta, Ms. Casale, and Tiffany Lake,
Terwillinger Elementary; Drea Deluca, PS #23, 5th Grade Honors class
and 6th Grade; Robyn Fanelli, Time to Succeed Daycare; Building
Awareness, Respect, Knowledge for Animals, Incarnate Word High School;
University Park Nursing Center with Ruth Mitchell, Don Glasgow,
Grace Templin, Marge, Ruth, Juanita activity department; Humane
Issues Club, State College High School; Nicole Zeichner and students;
Carrie Nutter and students from Chicago Public Schools; Jana Saffro
and Garden Grove Elementary School.
States
in which Valentines were created: 23
Florida
sent 8 packages, Pennsylvania sent 7, New Jersey sent 4, Georgia
sent 4, North Carolina and West Virginia each sent two, and these
states sent one package each: Rhode Island, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin,
Indiana, Maine, Ohio, New York, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Virginia,
Kansas, Connecticut, Texas, Maryland, Illinois, California.
Volunteers
who stuffed Valentines: 13
Thanks
so much to Terri Nelson-Bunge, Jennifer Brodie, Amy Smith, Breana
Walter, Janeen Imler-Knisely, Emily and Lori Patterson, Eunice Cherry,
Kelly Bassler, Mandy Eger, Robyn Fanelli, Erin Isenberg, Rocky Shepherd,
and Tammy Grimes. Thanks to Heather Forr and Bronwyn Stevens too,
as well as our local post office team, for all the work they put
into the valentine campaign.
Valentines
sent/delivered total: 3061
Breakdown
by state/country:
Alberta, Canada: 25
Ontario, Canada: 2
Alabama: 5
Arkansas: 101
Arizona: 45
California: 61
Colorado: 4
Connecticut: 3
Delaware: 5
Florida: 157
Georgia: 166
Hawaii: 1
Iowa: 67
Idaho: 10
Illinois: 44
Indiana: 192
Kansas: 11
Kentucky: 6
Louisiana: 3
Massachusetts: 17
Maryland: 54
Maine: 5
Michigan: 54
Minnesota: 13
Missouri: 46
North Carolina: 203
Nebraska: 3
New Hampshire: 6
New Jersey: 15
New Mexico: 17
New York: 76
Ohio: 166
Oklahoma: 8
Oregon: 3
Pennsylvania: 824
Rhode Island: 1
South Carolina: 28
South Dakota: 7
Tennessee: 53
Texas: 446
Utah: 7
Virginia: 44
Vermont: 3
Washington: 4
Wisconsin: 15
West Virginia: 6
Wyoming: 1
Reps/individuals
who delivered valentines:
The
bulk were mailed from the main office in Tipton, Pa.
Michele Reynolds, TX rep, provided 375 addresses which we mailed
from Pa.
Heather Carpenter, FL rep, delivered to 55 addresses.
Pauline Larsen, Iowa rep, delivered to 50 addresses.
Kim Obert, PA rep, delivered to 39 addresses.
Lois Rose, Ohio rep, delivered to 28 addresses.
Suzy Richardson, FL rep, delivered to 24 addresses.
Victoria Hall, IN rep, delivered to 18 addresses.
Lisa Boyle, Payson, AZ, delivered to 10 addresses.
Marisa Bowers, MI rep, delivered to 8 addresses.
Sandy Lynn, MO rep, delivered to 7 addresses.
Tamar Sherman, CA rep, delivered to 6 addresses.
Dani Abbott, IN rep, delivered to 5 addresses.
Lynne Gillis and Sandy Finamore, MD reps, delivered to 3 addresses.
States
with no Valentines sent were:
Alaska,
Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, and Nevada.
If
you live in a state where you know there are a lot of chained or
penned dogs, but you see hardly any Valentines mailed there, make
sure to get us addresses even now. We can mail them a letter and
brochure, and add them to our Valentine campaign next year.
Thanks
so much to all who participated, we are making a difference in those
dogs lives!
(Please
note: If you either made or delivered valentines and you are not
included on this list, please e-mail Tammy@dogsdeservebetter.org
so that she can correct our error.)
Please
help our work to continue!
Any donations you make will be tax deductible.
If
you'd like to donate via regular USPS mail, you may print
out this form in .pdf
format, and send to P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684
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