Blog the Change tomorrow

Kelly's dreaming about all the great people who help animals. And tomorrow (July 15) you can join Blog the Change and share a bit about your favorite animal cause or positive action you've taken on behalf of our furry friends.

If you don't have a blog and still want to participate, get ready to visit lots of great blogs and read about some amazing ways to help animals.

Blog the Change is our day to share whatever is near and dear to our hearts-- whatever you want to share as long as it's about helping animals! Hope to see you tomorrow!

Here's how you can participate:

• Grab the badge from the Be the Change for Animals website
• Tweet about it! "JULY 15: BE, BLOG AND READ THE CHANGE FOR ANIMALS! – Get the badge & spread the word! http://bit.ly/pO7dZp #BtC4A"
• Let others know about Blog the Change Day on your facebook wall.
  
• Share your blog entry on July 15th
  
• Add your post's URL to the linky list (available at 12:01 am EST)
• Read the other blog posts and leave comments to share the goodwill!

Blog the Change and Bark for Life, a canine event to fight cancer

My ten-year old yellow lab Hudson was soft, mellow in his old age, devoted, and had a large, serious growth on his right side. Although never officially diagnosed, it was likely some form of cancer. (Hudson pictured, left. He loved the water!)

Sadly, most of us have been touched by cancer in some way--ourselves, a friend, family member or a special pet. That's why I've chosen the American Cancer Society's Bark for Life, a canine event to fight cancer, as my Blog the Change cause today. The American Cancer Society not only supports research to find cures, but also promotes numerous programs to help us get well, stay healthy, and fight back.

Held on April 16 as part of the Relay for Life, Bark for Life not only helps raise money for the cause, but also participants get great exercise by walking along with their dog. Bark for Life is taking place all across the country. Would you like to participate? Just enter your zip code to find a Bark for Life event near you!

I hope you share the word about Bark for Life. And also, be sure to visit the many blogs participating in Blog the Change today. Share, read and comment around the blog circuit about animal causes near and dear to our hearts.

If you want to participate in Blog the Change by posting a cause and/or committing to a specific, hands-on action for animals in need within your local community, here's how:

1. Grab the badge.
2. Post to your blog.
* Make a fresh commitment to act on behalf of animals
* Inspire others to do the same
* Spread the word
3. Add your link. (Add your post URL — not a link to your main domain – so other animal supporters can find your cause.)
4. Visit others on the list, tell your Twitter (hashtag #BtC4animals), Facebook and email friends about your post too!

Good news for BAD RAP

This is my friend Nikki's dog, Sonny. Don't you just love that smile? I think Sonny is the perfect spokesdog for this post about BAD RAP, the cause of the month for The Honest Kitchen.

Q: What is BAD RAP?
A: Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls. This group has been instrumental in the evaluation, rescue and rehabilitation of dogs in the Michael Vick case.

Q: What is The Honest Kitchen?
A: Makers of dehydrated, human grade whole foods for pets. The Honest Kitchen donates a percentage of online store profits to various causes.

Q: What can you do?
A: "Like" The Honest Kitchen's Facebook Page. They will double their donation to BAD RAP if they reach 40,000 Facebook fans this month.

Also, you could help share this link on FB or Twitter.
http://www.barkoutloudweekly.com/news/support-bad-rap

Q: Want to learn more about BAD RAP?
A: You can chat live with BAD RAP's Donna Reynolds and Tim Racer tonight March 14 at 9:15 pm EST on Bark Out Loud Weekly. Check out this important podcast "After Vick: What Have We Learned?"

In addition, Be the Change for Animals will kick off a $1000 Facebook ad campaign, drawing additional attention to this terrific cause.
Learn more on Kim Clune's blog, This One Wild Life!

Blog the Change- Petfinder

Be the Change for Animals is celebrating another Blog the Change Day! This is a great day to blog about a cause near and dear to our hearts, inspire involvement, and share that vision with the BtC community! This event positively impacts animals and advocates one-one one.

The cause I'm choosing today is Petfinder. Although most of you are probably already familiar with Petfinder, I think it's important to keep spreading the word. And since October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, it seems quite fitting.

Of course, I have another great reason for promoting Petfinder. They are how I found Kelly!


Here are some things we can all do to help spread the word about Petfinder's adoptable cats and dogs waiting to find their furever homes. From the Petfinder website:

1. Donate your Facebook status. Just paste this message into the "What's on your mind?" box at the top of your page: "October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Save a life: Adopt a dog! http://www.petfinder.com"

2. Tweet, retweet and repeat the following (or your own brilliant message): "October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Save a life: Adopt a dog! http://www.petfinder.com #savedogs"

3. Share an adoptable dog or a Petfinder dog-adoption Happy Tail on your blog, Facebook or Twitter (hashtag #savedogs) page each day of the month.

4. Add a Petfinder widget or banner to your Web site or blog.

5. Pass on an understanding of the importance of pet adoption to the next generation. Talk to your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and other up-and-comers about animal shelters and why Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, and pet adoption in general, is important.

Blog the Change-- Grey Muzzles and Love

I'm so excited to be part of the Be the Change for Animals blog day event! This active group is all about helping animals, providing a platform to spread the voice of animal advocates and people just like you and me, who love animals. We can make a difference.

The idea of Blog the Change Days is to promote a cause in need, announce a new commitment to help animals, and inspire others to join us.

I often think of our yellow lab, Hudson, when he was a puppy...rolly poly body, chubby little legs, sweet breath, a ball of yellow energy. I also think of Hudson as a senior citizen, graying muzzle, heavy body, slow gate. And oh, those eyes that reflected everything he'd been through...running in the yard, swimming in the lake, happiness, and unfortunately in his older years, pain. How I wanted his senior years to be just as happy as his puppy years.

That is why I've selected The Grey Muzzle Organization as my Blog the Change cause. We all know that cute, cuddly puppies are adopted first in shelters. I know it is hard to give your heart to a senior dog who may not have as many years left to share with you. But these senior dogs deserve a loving home. The Grey Muzzle Organization works to improve the lives of senior dogs by funding programs such as hospice care, senior dog adoption, medical screening and other special programs to help old dogs at animal welfare organizations across the country.

* Senior dogs may be abandoned because owners are unable or unwilling to provide for their medical needs.

* Well-loved senior dogs may become homeless when their senior person moves to assisted living facilities.

* Some senior dogs have lived all their lives in abusive situations, or have lived in shelters for years and are deemed unadoptable because of their age.

But we can help! Volunteering, donating or spreading the word are some of the ways you can help senior dogs live out their lives with love and care. In addition, please copy this message and Tweet or post to your website, blog, Facebook or other social site:

Old friends are the best. Help senior dogs in need. Visit The Grey Muzzle Organization http://tinyurl.com/2eeptjr

Thank you! And Be the Change for Animals!