INNOVATE - Fundraiser Features Dogs Doing Ballet

The Birmingham Ballet stages a unique fundraiser every Christmas for their local Humane Society - the Mutt-cracker.

This year, the fifth edition, incorporated 29 dogs into a unique interpretation of the traditional Christmas ballet, the Nutcracker.

Like human dancers, the dogs must audition for their roles and practice their choreography diligently once they are cast.

A dog trainer is the wings for every show and works with the dogs throughout rehearsals.

For two years now, a three-year-old dog named Pig, who has short-spine syndrome, has been the star of the show performing pirouettes with the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The Birmingham company isn’t the only ballet that’s gone to the dogs.

In 2014 the Sacramento Ballet partnered with Front Street Animal Shelter and featured at least one adoptable dog in 13 different Nutcracker performances.

“We’re going to be exposing our animals to an entirely different demographic,” Front Street manager Gina Knepp, told the Sacramento Bee. “I would venture to guess that many folks in these audiences might go to a breeder to find a pet. Hopefully, we’ll open their eyes to the incredible dogs we have at Front Street.”

Their adoption goal seems to have been successful with a Petcha.com blog reporting 40 adoptions through just a portion of the Nutcracker run.

With the Birmingham Ballet’s performances growing in popularity and featuring 17 dogs its first year and 29 this year, and the adoptions resulting from the Sacramento event, ballet has definitely had a positive impact on some shelter animals.

The Human Walking Program

An innovative adoption program in Melbourne, Australia changed the way people look at shelter dogs and helped rescue thousands. 
The Lost Dogs' Home launched its Human Walking Program earlier this year to provide desk-bound Melbourians with a chance to get out of the office, get some exercise and get to know a shelter dog. Promoting healthy living and shelter adoption, the Human Walking Program turned the tables on shelter adoption by sending the message that the dogs are, in fact, rescuing the humans.  
Studies have shown the average working hours of full-time employees in Australia are long and have been steadily getting longer which is contributing to extra stress, poor family relations and a lower quality of social relationships. 

"We don't always realize as office workers how many hours we spend cooped up inside rarely getting out. So what better way to spend a lunch break than with a friend who will  no doubt take the stress out of your day!" - Kate Hoelter, The Lost Dogs' Home General Manager, Fundraising and Communications. 

During the event, over 5,000 office workers were rescued and every dog was adopted. 

iAdopt surpasses 1,800 adoptions

The Ontario SPCA's first iAdopt for the Holidays campaign saw a total of 1,836 animals adopted between OSPCA branches and affiliate communities. With a 1,280 adoption goal, this inaugural year is considered a great success by organizers. 

"The iAdopt campaign was a success!" said Alison Cross, director of marketing and communications at OSPCA. 

iAdopt will continue throughout the year with sub-campaigns around several holidays. 

READ THE OSPCA BLOG

iAdopt surpasses 1,500 adoptions

With 10 days remaining in the OSPCA's iAdopt for the Holidays adoption drive, the campaign has surpassed its goal of 1,280 and crossed the 1,500 line!

More than a dozen Ontario shelters are participating in the campaign's inaugural year. In an OSPCA Animal's Voice podcast interview, senior manager of Animal Welfare and Operations, Tonya Martin, said that while the campaign is heavily weighted with Ontario SPCA branches, she hopes it will become a cross-canada movement in years to come.  

iAdopt will likely be refactored to offer several sub-campaigns throughout the year for various national holidays (i.e. Valentines Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc.). This avant-garde campaign shows promise as an industry-wide and international initiative. Catering to all sectors of the industry including retail; care & control; humane & rescue; and health & wellness, the program is available to everyone and celebrates collaboration and sustainability. 

Shelters interested in participating in future campaigns are urged to contact Amanda McKibbon, Manager of Animal Welfare and Operations at OSPCA. 

KWHS believes Every Animal Deserves a Chance

The Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society is reaching out to organizations and individuals to accomplish its goal of saving 1,200 animal lives in 2013. 

KWHS invested more than $250,000 into the Every Animal Deserves a Chance campaign and is seeking similar investments from the community. All money donated through the campaign goes directly to animal care and adoption programs. 

To make a donation call 519-745-5615 or Click here 

The KWHS is a registered charity and receives no government funding.

iAdopt hits 1,000 adoptions

A little over a month into a new adoption campaign, iAdopt for the Holidays is seeing excellent initial numbers as it surpasses 1,000 adoptions. 

With 22 days remaining, the program is well on its way to exceeding last year's adoption numbers of 1,280. 

“In it’s inaugural year, iAdopt is proving to be even more successful than anticipated," said Tanya Firmage, Director of Animal Welfare operations at the OSPCA. "With three weeks to go, we are excited to see so many animals going home for the holidays!” 

Other Reading: 

iAdopt.ca

iAdopt for the Holidays

PetLynx Announces support of iAdopt Campaign 

ASPCA & Subaru “Share the Love” to Help Animals Left Homeless for the Holidays

Last week, the ASPCA, together with Subaru, launched its 6th annual "Share the Love" event Rescue Ride program, which will transport hundreds of homeless dogs and cats from overcrowded shuttlers to ones in which they have a better chance of being adopted this holiday season. 

The Rescue Ride program will grant a total of $100,000 in funding to 20 organizations to cover transportation costs. In addition, the ASPCA has distributed grants to over 80 local animal welfare organizations to host pet adoption-related events and promotions at local Subaru retailers to save lives and raise awareness for animals in need. 

This is the sixth year the ASPCA has been a beneficiary of the Subaru "Share the Love" event. During the event, which runs from November 21, 2013 to January 2, 2014, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer's choice of participating charities. 

READ THE NEWS RELEASE

PetLynx announces support of iAdopt campaign

The Ontario SPCA is optimistic about its new adoption campaign, iAdopt for the Holidays. After several years supporting IAMS Home for the Holidays campaign, the Ontario SPCA considered launching its own event, closer to home, that could be refactored to promote adoption during, not just the Christmas season, but holidays all year round. 

With a production site banner promoting the campaign to thousands of daily visitors and an industry invitation to participate, PetLynx has thrown its support behind this avant-garde campaign as it shows promise as an industry-wide and international initiative. Catering to all sectors of the industry including retail; care & control; humane & rescue and health & wellness, the program is available to everyone and celebrates collaboration and sustainability. 

iAdopt will feature personal adoption stories which will be voted on by the general public. The top 10 stories will receive iAdopt packages and the chosen winner will be featured as the poster story for the 2014 campaign. In addition, the iAdopt website 'Resources' page provides program partners, animal welfare organizations and members of the public with campaign promotional tools including Facebook and website banners, ringtones, media releases, posters and colouring pages. 

To date, the 2013 iAdopt for the Holidays campaign has reached more than 750 adoptions. With a simple goal of exceeding last year's 1,280 adoption number during a similar campaign, the program is off to a successful inaugural year. 

iAdopt.ca

iAdopt on Facebook

iAdopt 4 the Holidays

The Ontario SPCA launched its first annual holiday adoption campaign at the beginning of November which aims to educate the public about the importance of choosing pet adoption as their first option when brining home a new family member. 

Ontario SPCA branches across the province are participating in the iAdopt 4 the Holidays campaign, which will run from 1 November to 31 December 2013. With more than 400 animals adopted in the first three weeks, OSPCA senior manager of Animal Welfare and Operations says the goal for this year is to adopt more animals than a similar campaign held in 2012 in which 1,280 animals found homes for the holidays.

In an OSPCA Animal's Voice podcast interview, senior manager of Animal Welfare and Operations Tonya Martin said that while the campaign is heavily weighted with Ontario SPCA branches, she hopes it will be come a cross-Canada movement. 

"This is our first year, we definitely want to see it move every year and grow and grow," she said. "The more animals to get homed the better." 

The iAdopt 4 the Holidays program will run every year from November 1 to December 31. By way of education and outreach, iAdopt 4 the Holidays encourages those considering a pet, to adopt from their local animal organization. 

This campaign is open to SPCAs and humane societies across Canada.

iAdopt 4 the Hoildays

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