Pet Blogger Hop and Be the Change 4 Animals

If it's Saturday, this must be Pet Blog Hop Day. But since January 15 also is one of four designated Blog the Change for Animals days,  today we bring you a special story about our pal and artist Vicki Boatwright.   Vicki, who signs her artwork BZTAT, is using her art to launch an awareness campaign about the connection between animal and child abuse.

Inspired by a small rescued cat, Vicki has named the program Okey's Promise. Starting with a large mural on the exterior of a building in the Canton, Ohio Arts District, she plans to create artworks that will be positive in nature, such as the painting with little girl and her pets above. The plan is to display these artworks in many communities to help generate awareness for the issue of family and pet abuse and remind us of the riches we have that are so important to protect. 


A few years ago I saw a news story about this topic on the TODAY Show and it's stuck with me ever since. This was about a pets and womens shelter program to take in battered women, children AND their pets. It's so important to find MORE ways to keep abused family members together with their pets. We sniffed out the clip from March, 2009:

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In this story, Allie Phillips talks about the PAWS program she created at the American Humane Society. While the PAWS program is no longer at American Humane, Allie continues to find ways to keep shelter animals and families together. 


There are now approximately 60 U.S. shelters allowing pets on-site, but much more needs to be done to keep families with pets safe.


Here's one way you can help. Make a donation to kickstart Vicki's program.

Blog the Change: Mostly Mutts and Disc Dog Roxy

We recently had the privilege of meeting Roxy, an amazing disc dog who performed at a fundraiser for Mostly Mutts animal rescue at The River Club in Roswell, Ga.


What's even more amazing is that Roxy is a rescue dog who was returned FIVE times before Jac Greenlee discovered her at Mostly Mutts! Jac knew Roxy needed a purpose -- a reason to jump and play with her human teammates. Here, Roxy competes and WINS a USDDN (United States Disc Dogs Nationals) championship title! 

And here's a little clip of the action we enjoyed at the Mostly Mutts fundraising event. 

Just goes to show, every dog can have his day if he finds the right owner! Jac and Roxy, you ROCK!


AND, you can see Jac and Roxy in action this weekend at the USDDN Disc Dog Nationals and World Finals in Cartersville, Ga.!


You can find your own rockin' dog any weekend at a Mostly Mutts Adoption event. This Saturday, October 16, we'll be at a special Mostly Mutts adoption event from 1 - 4 p.m. at Canine Academy and Playschool, 10th Street and Monroe Drive, at the corner of Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Locations and times for other Mostly Mutts adoption events in the Atlanta area are here.

We're bringing this story to you today in honor of Blog the Change Day, a day designated to spread the word about  the great things our pals are doing to help the anipals who need it most. 


Thank you Kim Clune of This One Wild Life and Amy and Rod Burkert of GoPetFriendly.com for bringing us Be the Change for Animals and a way to collectively show the power just one change can make!


Want to know what other others are doing to Blog the Change? Check out the special link list below to see the impact we are making one act at a time.