Dogs Deserve Better Delivers Valentines
to 12,113 Dogs in it's 7th Annual Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week, February 7-14, 2009

2009 Valentine Wrapup Media Release

The 2009 Dogs Deserve Better Have a Heart for Chained Dogs campaign mailed or hand-delivered Valentines to a record-breaking 12,113 dogs! Although we missed our goal of 12,500 Valentines by a mere 387 dogs, we still delivered Valentines to 1678 more dogs in 2009 than 2008. We’d like to send out a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who contributed addresses, Valentines, and coupons for the 2009 campaign.

A special thank you to HSUS who again put the word out for us, and we received letters from classes who participated as a result of seeing the campaign in HSUS Kind News. We also give a shout out to everyone who networked the campaign through their social networking sites, which are becoming the premiere way to spread the word.

One aspect of the DDB Area Rep responsibilities is to contribute 10 addresses to the campaign each year, and 2009 marks the third year DDB awarded prizes for the top three reps in address contributions. Amanda Green, NM, is first with 157, Shari Strader, NC, is second with 93 and Chris Ameduri, PA, is third with 55. A special thanks to our reps who really put in the effort each year to help make our campaign a success.

Students at Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children with Valentines

Students at CHE, Texarkana, Arkansas making Valentines

Preparations for the event started in early January, when we sent out a media release and e-mail requesting help from students and other groups to make Valentines for the project. We seem to have feast or famine with the Valentines...the past two years we had not nearly enough! As our numbers of addresses increase, we need our participation in making the Valentines to increase! Please consider making some for us next year.

Kids make Valentines at a Party in Lancaster, PA

We also made and printed out thousands from headquarters. We received a total of 6,832 gorgeous, heart-touching Valentines from 179 different groups and individuals, along with some great letters. We missed our abundance of Valentine makers, come back next year and give us your best creations...

Bellwood, PA Valentine Stufifng Party

Never forget, the educational value gained by the children and groups making the Valentines is equal to or greater than the value of those receiving the Valentines, which is what makes this campaign so unique and note-worthy; it works from both sides of the equation. Below, read some excerpts of letters received from those who made Valentines:

From Carrie L. Nutter-Novak, Illinois: "The students I provide occupational therapy services for at Chicago Public Schools are happy to participate in bringing awareness to the importance of the human-animal bond...This project allows the children the opportunity to work on fine and visual motor skills while learning about appropriate pet care and how animals and humans can co-exist peacefully."

From Ms. Dietrich, New Mexico: "After reading Buddy Unchainedd, my kindergarten class decided to make 100 Valentines cause for the “cause of unchained paws” in celebration of the 100th Day of Kindergarten."

From Shannon Camara, New Hampshire: "Enclosed you will find Valentines made for chained dogs by our Concord-Merrimack County SPCA Paws Club, a group of 11 children ranging in ages from 6 to 11 years old. They enjoyed making them with the thought that they will be helping a chained dog."

From Ms. Christopher and Mrs. Bush, Florida: "We are writing to you from a Kindergarten class at St. Anastasia Catholic School in Ft. Pierce, Florida. We saw your article requesting Valentine’s Day cards to raise awareness for chained dogs. Our class took this project on as one of our activities for the 100th Day of School Celebration. As a class we made 100 Valentines to help take a stand against chained dogs. Also as part of our project, we asked each student to bring in 100 pennies that were used for various classroom 100 day activities, and then we decided to donate the pennies to Dogs Deserve Better. The children had a great time participating in this event and feel they have taken part in the campaign against chained dogs!"

From Bonnie Pustay, Pennsylvania: "Enclosed are some Valentines created by my niece, Rebecca Klaumenzer (13 years old). She insisted on buying and enclosing the stamps needed to mail her Valentines. I and her parents have tried to instill a love and responsibility toward all animals in her. She shares in the care and exercise of their 4 rescued border collies and volunteers at the local animal shelter with me."

From Angela Sisney: "My 8 year old had a party, and her older sister joined her, to make these cards. We hope it works!"

From Nicole Kress-Scheidmantel, West Virginia: "These Valentines are from my children at TA Lowery Elementary School in Jefferson County, WV. They read Puddles on the Floor this year, and were truly brought to tears at some moments in the story. It has really opened some eyes, as some families keep their dogs outside."

Read MORE WONDERFUL notes from our contributors

Just a small sampling of the creations we received

Of the packages of valentines mailed to Dogs Deserve Better, 68 of the 179 came from school classes and student/youth/scout clubs, 12 from human needs and welfare groups or organizations, 12 from animal welfare groups, and 87 from individuals and DDB reps.

State College, PA Valentine Stuffing Party

Valentines came in from 38 states and the District of Columbia with the most coming from Pennsylvania, where 23 groups or individuals participated. California, Illinois and New Jersey sent in 11 packages, Ohio and Virginia sent 9, and Florida and Texas contributed 8. We also received valentines from volunteers or groups in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, DC, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Thanks so much to all groups and individuals who sent valentines!

We've photographed many of the valentines on this and subsequent pages; if your's doesn't appear this year, make sure we know for next year so we can get you featured then. The Valentines were absolutely gorgeous; some of them we didn't even want to send out they were so precious!

Valentines went to every state in the nation this year, for the first time! Pennsylvania dogs received the most Valentines, with a total of 2033, followed by North Carolina with 1400, Ohio with 853, and Georgia with 689.

DDB held two Valentine stuffing parties in State College, PA and Bellwood, PA, with 24 volunteers showing up to help stuff envelopes. The State College stuffing party was led by DDB veterans Terri Bunge and Amy Smith, and drew 12 people. (Thanks to Darlene Biziak, Dawn Ashby, Betty Jo Houser, Deb Warner, Joe Maringo, Amy Smith, Terri Nelson-Bunge, Rocky Shepheard, Tamira Ci Thayne, Kayley Holdridge, QL Burke, and Rusty Zufall.) The Bellwood Library stuffing party was organized by Tamira Thayne and Kim Campbell, and drew 12 people as well. Special thanks to ALL who gave of their time to help get the Valentines on their way! (Thanks to: Kim Campbell, Tamira Ci Thayne, Dawn Ashby, Kristi Cambell, Bobbie McIntyre, Robyn Fanelli, Todd Sneath, Courtney Sneath, Isaac Sneath, Brynnan Grimes, Reni Estep, Charles Estep.)

As a result of the campaign, we are working on finding foster care for two dogs so far, and have sent out some fencing applications to requests for help. These cases are in the early phases, and we will post as we get more information.

North Carolina Rep Shari Strader reported her first Valentine Success Story, and is seeking a foster or home for Max. Can you foster Max? Please e-mail Shari at sdstray40@yahoo.com

Here's what Max's caretaker says: I received a Valentine regarding our dog being on a chain. My husband got this dog for our 4-year-old, who immediately did not like her....My husband was laid off work in December, and I work a low-paying job while looking for something better. If someone does not take her soon, I will take her to the local animal shelter. She came from an abusive situation and I don't anticipate having the resources or the patience to deal with her. I'm reaching out to you now for help. Find someone to take her. Please.

I'm sure you have more time and resources to find a good home for her than we have, so please let me know what you think.
Sincerely, Miranda

Pennsylvania Rep Bobbie McIntyre reported another Valentine Success Story, and is seeking a foster or home for Mackenzie. Can you foster Mackenzie? Please e-mail Bobbie at loddx@comcast.net

From Bobbie: On Valentines day a woman called me and said she received our Valentine again this year. She had received them in previous years and called the police to report harrassment. I sent one again this year. And she called and said "come get her." Not because she was angry with us, but with her family for wanting to keep the dog chained. Her daughter has severe allergies which is why Mackenzie was out there in the first place. She did the brave thing and went against her familys wishes and surrendered the dog to us. Now we need to get her out ASAP. She told her husband and children "how would you like to be chained?" She read the brochure and looked at the website and she now believes that chaining is cruel and inhumane and is going to try to teach her family. Mackenzie is about 9 years old spayed, submissive with other dogs. She comes when called off-leash. We took her for a walk but I have 9 dogs and 4 cats here. Regan got adopted and was returned after 4 days or I would have been able to take her. We can help transport almost anywhere.
Thanks,
Bobbie and Terry, Greencatle PA REPS

If you sent in addresses and see any success, please send us the story at info@dogsdeservebetter.org so we can continue to update our listings and remove them from our database, they really help motivate us to continue!

Stats from the event:

Groups/Individuals who created and mailed Valentines: 179
To read a list of Valentine contributors, click here

States in which Valentines were created: 38 Plus DC
Contributors per state:
Pennsylvania 23, California 11, New Jersey 11, Illinois 11, Virginia 9, Ohio 9, Florida 8, Texas 8, Georgia 7, New York 7, New Mexico 6, North Carolina 6, Michigan 6, Tennessee 6, Connecticut 5, Wisconsin 5, Maine 4, Maryland 3, Missouri 3, Oregon 3, South Carolina 3, Washington 3, Arizona 2, Arkansas 2, Indiana 2, Kentucky 2, Maine 2, Nebraska 2, Utah 2, West Virginia 2, Alaska 1, Colorado 1, Kansas 1, Minnesota 1, DC 1, New Hampshire 1, Oklahoma 1, Vermont 1

Volunteers who stuffed Valentines: 24

Valentines sent/delivered total: 12,113
Broken down by state/country

Canada
BC: 17
MB: 2
ON: 15
QB: 1

United States
Alaska: 13
Alabama: 123
Arkansas: 152
Arizona: 72
California: 182
Colorado: 61
Connecticut: 36
Delaware: 71
Florida: 396
Georgia: 689
Hawaii: 2
Iowa: 46
Idaho: 75
Illinois: 282
Indiana: 618
Kansas: 74
Kentucky: 171
Louisiana: 56
Massachusetts: 93
Maryland: 289
Maine: 34
Michigan: 258
Minnesota: 60
Mississippi: 56
Missouri: 444
Montana: 6
North Carolina: 1400
Nebraska: 55
Nevada: 20
New Hampshire: 20
New Jersey: 99
New Mexico: 279
New York: 514
North Dakota: 1
Ohio: 853
Oklahoma: 42
Oregon: 181
Pennsylvania: 2033
Rhode Island: 10
South Carolina: 269
South Dakota: 12
Tennessee: 581
Texas: 526
Utah: 37
Virginia: 414
Vermont: 19
Washington: 102
Wisconsin: 97
West Virginia: 150
Wyoming: 3

DC: 1
Puerto Rico: 1

If you are in a state where you know there are a lot of chained or penned dogs, but you see hardly any Valentines mailed there, please get addresses right now, and we will mail them letters and brochures. It's important to start the educational process as soon as possible.

Thanks so much to all who participated, we are making a difference in those dogs lives!

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

Want to see more photos? Click here.