Pet Dish - November 1st, 2011

• Show your support on Give to the Max Day
• Family finds hope and healing at AHS
• Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend
• Don't forget! 12 Tax-Smart Ways to Support AHS
• Pet Tips with Kate Varns
• Scratching Posts

Show your support on Give to the Max Day
Join thousands of Minnesotans on this day of generosity

During last year’s Give to the Max Day, Animal Humane Society raised over $190,000 for animals in our community with donations, matching funds, and bonus grants from GiveMN. To put that in perspective, that is care for 633 animals in our shelters based on an average cost of $300 per animal. That generosity blew our minds and put us in second place for the most donors in a 24-hour period.

This year’s challenge is slightly different — rather than the number of donors, GiveMN is awarding bonus grants based on the most dollars raised — and we’re hopeful the animal lovers in our community will help us maximize their resources to help animals like Boots, a 19-year-old cat who was recently adopted after only four days in our adoption center.  

Boots and Julia

There are several incentives to give this year, making sure your dollars have a lasting impact on the lives of all the animals that come to us in need. Here are the ways you can maximize your donation on Give to the Max Day:

• Double your dollars! Throughout the day on November 16, matching funds will double donations given to Animal Humane Society through GiveMN.org.
• Win a “Golden Ticket!” Each hour throughout the day, one lucky donor who made a donation through GiveMN.org during that hour will be chosen at random and have $1,000 in bonus funds added to their donation.
• In addition to the 24 hourly “Golden Tickets,” one $10,000 “Grand Golden Ticket” will be added to one random donation from the day at 11:59 p.m. on November 16.
• Grand prize amounts of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 will be awarded to the top three nonprofit organizations (colleges and universities excluded) that receive the most dollars during Give to the Max Day.

Plus – we’re busy planning an extra special event to get people excited about giving to Animal Humane Society on this day. If you like scavenger hunts and winning really cool prizes, you’ll want to watch our website for details! With your help, Give to the Max Day will reflect just how compassionate Minnesotans can be, especially for animals!

Family finds hope and healing at AHS

“We adopted Boots from an animal sanctuary in Oklahoma one year before we moved to Minnesota. Boots had been abandoned when he was a kitten and although I never had a cat before, Boots and I bonded quickly. Wherever I went in the house, he did as well, and we spent many beautiful and peaceful hours together.

On Father’s Day, June 19, Jack and Hamlet were in Oklahoma on a visit. I was home with Boots. A fire broke out in the apartment across our hall and quickly engulfed the entire third floor in flames. I looked out the door when I heard screaming voices and saw the flames coming out of my neighbor’s doorway. I ran back into my apartment to get Boots and repeatedly called for him to come. Hot dark smoke began to fill my lungs and obscure my vision. Soon I lost consciousness on the floor by the front door. A neighbor who lived on the second floor came back inside the building to save me. He opened the third level fire door, then my door and got me safely out of the building. No one was able to find Boots.

All the tenants made it safely out of the building. Some of us had minor injuries, but we survived. Two lives were lost that day — Boots and one other pet that lived in the apartment where the fire originated. The firemen found my dear sweet Boots and wrapped him in a clean towel for me to see him one last time. I cannot write much more about what I felt that day and days since without deep emotion. Boots was and will always be a member of our family. There will never be a day that goes by where my memory of him fades or is lost.

Through my new job in Minnesota, I was fortunate to know Ray Aboyan, chief operating officer of Animal Humane Society. He reached out in friendship and extended the offer that AHS would be there for me when we were ready to add a new furry member to our family. I made multiple trips to AHS’s adoption centers and spent several hours holding many a kitten and cat. I knew that one day I would want to adopt again and save another life.

My husband, Jack, came with me one day and he saw Gus (actually Gustavus) a darling gray and white tabby that just arrived the day before. Jack called me over to him and we took Gus into the play area where we all bonded instantly.

Gus is now an important part of our family. He talks my ear off as we go through the house and he crawls up in my lap (or Jack’s), looks at me straight in the eye and puts both paws around me. I thought I was adopting to save someone else’s life. The truth is somewhere in between I think. Gus certainly has been a part of saving my life this summer and we plan to be together for many seasons.

I want to thank AHS for the wonderful hospitality, understanding and attentive spirit during our loss. While Boots will not ever be replaced, AHS was there to help us love and be loved again by this darling young man, Mr. Gus.”

~Karina F.P.

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend
Hear the author speak about America's first canine movie star

How did an abandoned German shepherd puppy in 1918 France become an icon in American movie history? Here’s your chance to learn more about Rin Tin Tin, Hollywood’s first canine superstar, and explore how this incredible story of the human-animal bond changed the cultural role of dogs in American society.

Animal Humane Society is excited to co-present best-selling author Susan Orlean as she reads from her newest book, Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. Orlean will be speaking at the St. Paul Jewish Community Center on November 16 at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public and admission is $6 for JCC members and $9 for non-members.

Don't forget! 12 Tax-Smart Ways to Support AHS
Free seminars for charitable giving by fellow AHS supporter

As the end of the year approaches, you may be thinking about your charitable giving and wondering how you can make the most impact. If you’re debating which giving techniques are best for your long-term financial plan, you’ll want to join us for this seminar on November 9 or 12.

Erica Whittlinger is an animal lover and long-time supporter of Animal Humane Society. As former CEO of Whittlinger Capital Management and commentator on Minnesota Public Radio’s Sound Money program, she’ll share her expertise on how to develop a tax-smart financial plan with your humane values in mind.

There is no charge for the seminar, but space is limited. Click here for more information on both sessions and to reserve your spot today. If you have questions about the event, email giving@animalhumanesociety.orgor call (763) 432-4525.

Pet Tips

 

The Shed in Minneapolis graciously opened their doors to AHS for a video shoot. Check out this great place — they can help you keep away the winter blahs!

Spread the word when your pet goes missing with the AHS Online Lost & Found Bulletin Board.

Three AHS alumni dogs are featured in this year’s Rescue Dog to Therapy Dog calendar.

See our archive of news items...