Dogs Deserve Better Delivers Valentines
to 14,745 Dogs in it's 8th Annual Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week, February 7-14, 2010

2010 Valentine Media Release

The 2010 Dogs Deserve Better Have a Heart for Chained Dogs campaign mailed or hand-delivered Valentines to a record-breaking 14,745 dogs! Although we missed our goal of 15,000 by a mere 255 dogs, we still delivered Valentines to 2,632 more dogs in 2010 than 2009. We’d like to send out a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who contributed addresses, Valentines, and coupons for the 2010 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, facebook, myspace, etc. It's an excellent way to get the word out!

One aspect of the DDB Area Rep responsibilities is to contribute 10 addresses to the campaign each year, and 2010 marks the fourth year DDB awarded prizes for the top three reps in address contributions. Amanda Green, NM, is first for the second year in a row with 87, Tammi Ruppert, KY, is second with 84 and Elizabeth Craver, TX, is third with 76. A special thanks to our reps who really put in the effort each year to help make our campaign a success.

Student and Teacher with Valentines in Kentucky

Students in California before making Valentines with Rep Deana Whitfield

DDB Rep Tammi Kinman in Kentucky Reading Buddy Unchained to Students

Preparations for the event start in early January, when we send 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 three 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.

Students creating their chain in a California school

We also made and printed out thousands from headquarters. We received a total of 4,821 gorgeous, heart-touching Valentines from 146 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...

"I was invited by Davidson Elementary School in San Bernardino, CA along with the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley to accept valentine's made for chained dogs by the students of CAPS after school program.

Before I was presented with all the valentine's the Humane Education Officers from HS did a presentation to the students. After their presentation I was asked to speak to the students regarding Dogs Deserve Better. I explained our mission, shared photo's, statistics, CA law regarding tethering, and did a question and answer session with the kids. The student's were very enthusiastic about DDB and had many questions for me. I was then presented all the valentine's all the students had made.

After being presented with the valentines, the students made a long multi-colored paper "chain" to symbolize the large chains used to tether dogs in our area. The students then created a large circle around the cafeteria, held up the "chain" and in unison yelled " DOGS DESERVE BETTER, BREAK THAT CHAIN" and ripped apart the links.

The kids were then allowed to come up and look at more photo's, ask me questions and take a brochure if they wanted one. I shared with the students how important it is to talk to others about what they have learned during the presentation.

It's was so fun to see the students be so enthusiastic about the Humane Education Program brought to their school!" —Deana Whitfield, Inland Empire Area Rep., CA

Joe Maringo gets help stuffing Valentines

Eric & Terri Bunge and Rocky Shepheard stuff Valentines in State College

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! Bottom line, it's at least as important to have the kids MAKE the Valentines as it is to have the caretakers receive them. This 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 Cathy Staniunas, Massachusetts: "I hope these help with the Valentine campaign for chained dogs. Any animal abuse breaks my heart. I teach private art classes in my home. I have 17 students, and they all love animals. They were glad to make Valentines."

From Kay Grantham, Louisiana: "Thank you so much for what you do. We are the Magnolia Chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana. The valentines enclosed were made by a local Girl Scout Troop. We will start our program earlier next year and hope to be able to send lots more."

From Valerie Belt, California: "These cards were made by Ms. Bononi's Elementary students after I recently did a presentation on animal cruelty issues, including Dogs Deserve Better and chained dogs."

From Maru Vigo, Arizona: "It's a pleasure and an honor to help you guys in this noble campaign for the first time. My students were eager to help chained dogs and also help to raise awareness about their plight. We sincerely hope people will open their hearts and minds and finally understand that dogs deserve safe, happy, and loving homes."

From Julie Piazza-King, Ohio: "These Valentines were made by one of my after school programs of 3rd-5th graders in Maple Heights, Ohio. They conducted a whole lesson on kindness to animals and animals that are left chained out in the cold. Keep up the good work!"

From Cecily Zecca-Naples, New Jersey: "I am a 7th grader, and would like to personally thank you for all the great programs you have offered to help raise awareness of animal neglect and abuse. I hope that these Valentines will help you inspire good in communities all over the United States."

From Monica Kinley-Wilson, Indiana: "These Valentines were made by the Women's Group of the Community Support Program. Some of them made me cry!"

From Yvonne Presley, Florida: "Flagler Humane Society's newly-formed KIND Kids Club created the enclosed Valentines. The membership of the club consists of Flagler County children ages 9-11. The donation toward stamps is in honor of this group of young people who are interested in making a difference for homeless, neglected, and abused animals."

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, 59 of the 146 came from school classes and student organizations, 14 from human needs and welfare groups or organizations, 10 from animal welfare groups, and 63 from individuals and DDB reps.

State College, PA Valentine Stuffing Party

Valentines came in from 34 states with the most coming from Pennsylvania, where 25 groups or individuals participated. Ohio sent in 14, New Jersey 12, and Georgia 11. We also received valentines from volunteers or groups in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, 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 again this year! Pennsylvania dogs received the most Valentines, with a total of 2040, followed by North Carolina with 1438, Ohio with 1173, and Texas with 804.

DDB held two Valentine stuffing parties in State College, PA and Bellwood, PA, with 31 volunteers showing up to help stuff envelopes. The State College stuffing party was led by DDB veterans Terri Bunge and Amy Smith, and drew 21 people. (Thanks to Karen Schwentner, Lesley Johnson, Dar Bellissimo, Deb Warner, Jen Spence, Betty Jo Houser, Elisabeth Vose, Terri Nelson-Bunge, Eric Bunge, Christine Laur, Shawn Houser, Amy Smith, Joanne Grove, Rocky Shepheard, Toni Miles, Mary Miles, Joe Horvath, Tamira Thayne, Skye Hibbard, Brittany Reutzel, Boris Veltman.) The Bellwood Library stuffing party was organized by Tamira Thayne and Kim Campbell, and drew 10 people as well. Special thanks to ALL who gave of their time to help get the Valentines on their way!

As a result of the campaign, we are working on some fencing applications and some rescue cases are in the early phases; we will post as we get more information.

Examples:

"A woman who received a Valentine from DDB has asked for help with her multiple chained dogs. The volunteer who gave me the address estimates 17 dogs chained. The woman wants our help in re-homing most of them. I will be going out with several volunteers in a few days to meet, photograph, and document these dogs. Great News for these dogs!"—Tammi Kinman Ruppert, KY Rep

Another one from Tammi Rupert: "I was driving by an address in Independence that was on my Christmas letter and Valentine Campaign list. They had a penned black lab. I dog-sit in this neighborhood and it had been out there since last summer. Last week I was there again and both the pen and doghouse are removed."

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:

Article Links:
800 Local Dogs Included in America's Forgotten Dogs Valentine Initiative

Some Dog Owners get Valentines with Anti-Tethering Message

HiLifers Help Make Valentines for the Forgotten Dogs

Because Dogs Deserve Better: The Bark Magazine

Groups/Individuals who created and mailed Valentines: 146
To read a list of Valentine contributors, click here

States in which Valentines were created: 34

Volunteers who stuffed Valentines: 30

Dogs receiving Valentines, total: 14,745
Broken down by state/country

Canada
AL: 1
BC: 5
MB: 2
ON: 20
QB: 1

United States
Alaska: 136
Alabama: 180
Arkansas: 193
Arizona: 75
California: 244
Colorado: 86
Connecticut: 39
Delaware: 88
Florida: 506
Georgia: 753
Hawaii: 4
Iowa: 68
Idaho: 58
Illinois: 380
Indiana: 724
Kansas: 87
Kentucky: 203
Louisiana: 105
Massachusetts: 105
Maryland: 315
Maine: 43
Michigan: 330
Minnesota: 187
Mississippi: 85
Missouri: 502
Montana: 6
Nebraska: 74
Nevada: 20
New Hampshire: 22
New Jersey: 140
New Mexico: 454
New York: 591
North Carolina: 1438
North Dakota: 1
Ohio: 1173
Oklahoma: 94
Oregon: 201
Pennsylvania: 2040
Rhode Island: 22
South Carolina: 343
South Dakota: 12
Tennessee: 725
Texas: 804
Utah: 47
Virginia: 557
Vermont: 23
Washington: 140
Wisconsin: 100
West Virginia: 177
Wyoming: 3

DC: 4
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.