Buddy Can You Spare a Dime?

If you want to make a better world for pets, it takes more than just a wish. It takes putting your hand in your pocket and dragging out some hard earned cash. It takes the willingness to step up when asked and look out for opportunities where you can help-and be willing to do just that.

At BlogPaws, a group of great folks banded together to form “Be a Part of the Change.” They're asking all Pet Bloggers and Pet Lovers to stand together and focus their efforts on a specific non-profit pet rescue organization, to see how much money we can raise in a concentrated effort. Since there are so many groups who need help, a new rescue group will be chosen every so often, so we can spread our support across the country.

The first recipient of our efforts, fittingly enough, is in Columbus, Ohio, where BlogPaws was just held. Pets Without Parents was “founded in June of 2001, is a non-profit, no-kill, all-breed shelter for dogs and cats. Our mission is to place every pet that enters our shelter into a loving, permanent home; to motivate our local community to support our shelter, its no-kill mission, and spay-neuter efforts through donation, volunteer, and adoption opportunities...until every pet goes home.”

These noble folks are doing great things in their area. If you saw some of the boarded up neighborhoods (!), not just homes here and there, of Columbus, you would cry. These folks are facing very tough times indeed. What I'm going to ask you guys is to make me proud and donate $5 or more, if you can afford to do so. I know there are so many deserving groups that need support, but lets see what we can do when we focus our efforts on just one.

What difference can we make in the lives of some of these cats? Wouldn't it be FANTASTIC if we raised so much money, that this group didn't have to worry about how they were going to afford food or Vet bills for the next few years? Is that a dream? Heck NO. WE CAN DO THIS IF WE WORK TOGETHER!

These are just some of the almost 40 cats Pets without Partners has rescued who are looking for their forever home.

This is PC, an odd-eyed white kitty. Who wouldn't want to give this pretty baby a great home?

What about Goliath?

Or this stunning, Feline Leukemia Positive little baby, Bug?

Every homeless cat or dog deserves the best we can provide for them. We can be part of the change that makes life BETTER for these animals, and in return, gives us a better life, too.

Please consider donating at least $5 here or via this little widget.

Thank you, everyone! Now lets do something that makes our hearts sing!

AND PLEASE RE-TWEET & PASS ALONG THIS POST TO YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY!

We love our pals at Best Friends and we loved (but are still hungover from it) watching the Olympics! Put the two together and you get great coffee?

Wait! Even to my warped mind that does not add up.

Shannon Bahrke is a 2010 Bronze Medal and 2002 Silver Medal Winning Skiier who happens to love coffee and love giving back to support animals in need. Here's more from her web site:

Silver Bean Coffee Co was founded by 2002 Olympic Silver Medalist Shannon Bahrke. She started skiing at the age of 3 and has been a member of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team for the past 10 years. During this time, Shannon was also a member of two Olympic Teams and represented the United States in the Salt Lake City and Torino Winter Games. Whether she is competing in a World Cup competition in Italy, taking a high speed groomer on an early morning in Japan, or skiing endless powder all day long in Tahoe, Shannon feels most at home when she is on her skis. Because her sport enables her to travel all over the globe, Shannon has been lucky enough to sample a wide assortment of coffee in many exotic locations! Shannon’s tireless energy drives her to be the best in the competitive skiing world, while also enabling her to realize her dreams in the coffee business as well.

Now, the ever generous Shannon and her family are donating a portion of the proceeds from their Fair Trade Oragnic Coffee Blends to Best Friends! I bought one and it came today! Here's my fat hand along with the overstuffed bag of Best Friends Blend!

Normally, I don't plug products, but I thought this was a nice way to get a caffeine buzz and help kitties, doggies and other homeless animals while I was at it. Oops. I don't drink coffee! Oh well.

Anyone wanna come over for a cup of coffee?

After MONTHS of Vet visits, mounds of medications and lots of hope, sprinkled with tears and love, “Santa's Team” is finally recovering from their horrendous URI's, eye infections and ringworm. Hopefully, very soon they'll be ready to move forward with the next chapter of their lives.

In honor of Valentine's Day and the loving support you've given to me and the kitties during this tough time, I ask you to considering giving a donation to help us pay their HUGE Vet bill.

While we're looking at well over $1500 in care and medications, I'm not going to ask for a lot from each of you. I know times are tough and there are so many others who need help, too.

All I ask is to donate the cost of a box of chocolates, about $10 (or more if you can) to our Angel Fund or our General Donation Fund. 100 percent of your donation goes straight to helping the animals in our Program. Your donation is also tax deductible (as the law allows), as The Animal Center is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3).

And on a personal note, I want to let you all know how very much I appreciate and am humbled by your friendship, your compassion to help homeless and injured animals and your willingness to share your life story with me, as I share mine with you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Robin, your cat hair covered hostess

Thanks to our reader, Mary, she posted a link in the comment section of my last post regarding where to make donations to help the animals of Haiti. You can make your donation by visiting:
WSPA, Animals in Disasters Blog.

I did a bit of digging around because this web site didn't seem very legit. I found more info and sounds like these guys ARE doing the work, according to Charity Navigator, an online resource for checking out charities. Here's the info so you can decide for yourself if you'd like to make a donation: WSPCA on Charity Navigator and here's their main web site, too.

So you can donate through their blog, or via their web site, whichever you prefer.

Thank You to Everyone who donated to help get “Santa's Team” to Connecticut!

As promised, I have matched your funds with my own, so we've closed the ChipIn widget and I made my donation via PayPal to save the 3% in fees. We're all set! Now I just have to wait until THURSDAY, the date the kitties arrive, for the fun to begin!

Mark your calendars and stay tuned! Lots of stories await-and photos, too!

A few folks have asked how to make a donation as a "Gift" so our fundraising isn't charged a 3% fee and we get 100% of your donation. To do this You must have a PayPal account!

1. Log into your PayPal account

2. Select the top tab that says "SEND MONEY"

3. In the "To" box fill in : SpaldingUrgents@hotmail.com

4. Type in the amount you want to donate (remember, for this fundraiser, I will MATCH your donation, dollar for dollar)

5. There are TWO TABS below the amount you are donating. One says PURCHASE one says PERSONAL

5. Choose PERSONAL

6. Then select: GIFT

Fill out the rest as prompted to complete the donation. There's a MESSAGE form near the end, where you can designate that this is for "Santa's Team" or the "Reindeer Kitties" and we will direct the funds accordingly.

THANK YOU!

These are my babies-the cats and kittens I've “busted out” of Henry County in McDonough, GA-home to 90% euthanasia rates. These cats are on their way to having their first Christmas out of a cage, no longer facing certain death.

I've got transport lined up. The cats are in a boarding facility, in two week quarantine until they can be cleared to leave for Connecticut. The last piece of this phase of their rescue is to raise funds to cover their needs until they arrive. Some will be spayed or neutered. All will get their combo tests, first FVRCP shot, de-wormed and de-flea'd. Their boarding is $5/day; some are boarded for more than 2 weeks due to transport run timing. The costs are listed below.

I realize that asking to raise $925 is asking alot-which is why...

FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU DONATE, I WILL MATCH IT UNTIL WE HIT OUR GOAL OF $925. THIS MEANS I AM PLEDGING ABOUT $463.

THANK YOU for your help. I know these babies would not stand a chance at life, let alone a Happy Holiday without ALL of OUR EFFORTS! We've had a GREAT YEAR together! I'm SO PROUD of ALL OF YOU for doing SO MUCH to help cats in need! Let's end the year with JOY, knowing that although we can't save them all (yet!), we can save some. Thank you for being part of my Team and sharing my passion.

Thank you to Barb Lowe & Susan Birnbaum at Winging Cat Rescue for making this rescue possible!