Hope all is well with grandma.  Please keep in touch with us.  Were the kids able to come along? 

All our prayers...

Amanda

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Hey you!

Sorry I won't get to help out for this event, I had to move to Minnesota unexpectally to take care of my Grandma, so will miss the chance to help out at the event and to meet you.

Best to you and all of your wonderful causes...Good luck with the event, I'm sure you are extremely busy.

Take care....Rochelle

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I had a GREAT idea!!!! We could help raise awareness on homeless animals in need of adoption, the importance of spaying/neutering, and all while promoting a cleaner environment, by having a Trash-A-Thon. We could get peole to sponsor the event and create T-Shirts recognizing the big sponsors, and a wall of all who contributed to helping our animal friends. We can also have other things to sell at the event to further spread awareness.

What do you think???

My Mom works for a HUGE law firm in Los Angeles maybe I could get her firm to be one of the sponsors, and perhaps an email could be sent to further individual sponsorship throughout the office.

Just an idea....Rochelle & Family

FOR THE  OF ANIMALS.....

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See What they Did Last Year!  (sorry typo in last post...)

http://muttshack.org/news-NHA2004.htm

Do something with your family (include your dogs), or your community group, school...

"I am only one person, but still I am one. I can't do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the one thing I can do."

Helen Keller

Post here! and share with us what you are planning to do! inspire us all.

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Hi Everyone! I just thought of some other places that would be a great place to hand out flyers. The promenades at Westside Pavillion (Westwood) and Third Street (Santa Monica). Also Westwood Village, Brentwood Village, and the beaches Venice and Santa Monica. Another good place might be Marina Del Rey.

That would be a huge coverage added to the Santa Monica College and UCLA.

My children and I would be more than happy to help out in the distribution of the flyers, when the time comes. Just let us know.

Best to Everyone....Rochelle

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just an idea, even though i am not there physically in california, am there spiritually and have family there as well.

what about the rescues/humane society/other places that have animals ready for adoptions. have seen these agencies bring pets in portable fences, and do an open public adoption of all the people that attend the event. ???

i am not sure what all you had in mind on this, but it was just an idea..to save a dog, once again. isn't this what this vigil in honor of, saving animals/dogs, etc.?

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For a successful vigil, Enid Breakstone, Founder and Executive Director of The Queenie Foundation, Inc. advises future planners to, “circulate as many flyers as you can in the community to get the largest amount of people from the public that you can and invite every pro-animal organization in your area.” Ms. Breakstone also states, “People may not want to get involved in rescue they may want to get active in education or legislation, which is why it is paramount to get humane education organizations and any lobbying groups to the vigil. It’s really important for people to know that there are a variety of issues or ways to work for animal protection.”

I am helping Amanda organize a large-scale event and we are in the forming stages of it.  Everyone here (in the L.A. county and surrounding areas) or elsewhere can contribute to the motion and your inputs have all been fantastic, not to mention how much we value your help!

Right now, we are trying to secure a location -- most parks we checked into with the Dept of Parks & Recreation are booked for the date we wanted, but that resulted in an even bigger effort to bring awareness up about muttshacking and to do something about it!

We'll tell more as things develop.  Meanwhile, please keep the ideas flowing, and the volunteer efforts coming in!

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Does anyone reading this post know anything about quilts, how to make them, how long it would take, or about how much money it would or generally cost? I think it would be a great idea to do a quilt for the event and get it auctioned off by an actor (like Amanda suggested) to help in the cause, and generate more money to help these wonderful animals in need of help. 

I was thinking it could be a quilt with some pictures of rescued homeless animals, animals adopted from shelters or from the streets, strays people have come across and welcomed into their lives or into other peoples lives.

I tried finding out what I could at the fabric store and sewing store in my area, but they weren't of much help. Seems quilting/sewing is becoming a dying art. Has anyone done any picture quilts? Or perhaps have a picture quilt? Do you know how long they last, if they hold up in the wash etc....?

Has anyone come up with any other suggestions???

Is anyone going to help in the cause? Any regular/non-actors? Anyone in the area?

Seems not too many people are speaking out or up. I live near the Santa Monica College Amanda is there a flyer for this upcoming event I could post for you? I could go to UCLA as well. Just let me know, it's no problem. I could even help you create a flyer with your help if you want. August will be here before you know it. Let me know if you need any help, I'm sure you are swamped.

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We have approached two amazingly interesting and real famous people who have given us the thumbs up on our foundation work.

The first is Mrs. Richard Pryor who is the most sincerely dedicated animal person and who is doing her own fundraiser too.  (See California Dawgs for information on her event).

The second is Ms. Linda Blair, who has saved hundreds of dogs, and runs her own foundation.

It is just so amazing - given that they could probably do anything they want in life... that they are down in the rescue trenches with us.

http://www.Muttshack.org Is your website for more information on the foundation and contains our mission statement!

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This is an annual event, held all over the world. Some amazing ideas...  (Unfortunately too long for me to post here but I posted it at the Foundation Website.)  You must read it for the poetry of it!

http://www.mutshack.org/news-NHA2004.htm

Some released balloons, some lit candles, some put together long chains of dog-collars (of the animals who were killed).  One had a nationally broadcast music concert! 

We are looking to our own "famous people" who can do stage work, interviews, announcing etc!

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From Michael A.

Hi, Amanda.

Yes ~ count us in! I own Harlequinade.com, the production company dedicated to giving new Actors their break. A *lot* of our Actors are in and around LA, and you know how much Actors just *hate* being anywhere near publicity I think we could put a lot of people on the ground for your big day so give me some info on what you need and how we can help and let's make this an *event*!


Michael,
CEO, Harlequinade.com,
The Actors Production Company.  [ send green star]

Hi Amanda and fellow Muttshackers!

Here are four suggestions to get things rolling:

1. A Quilt w/ a bunch of pictures of different pets.

2. A fabric hanging with a collage of Homeless Pets Saved. Have you seen the fabric hangings? It's like an art picture you would hang on the wall, but made out of fabric, hung by a rod.

3. An art exhibit of something like Avenue of the Stars in Hollywood, but with a picture and a paw print of the dogs rescued. (This may take a while though and may be a good one to use for next year. A great project though. I can totally envision this one.)

4. A T-Shirt Drive. People can come up with some designs, and promote Muttshack, people to adopt from a shelter versus a pet store or puppy mill, spay or neuter a pet,help a animal friend in need, save mans best friend..., save a cute kitten, an older cat house broken, etc... Ton's of slogans to think of.  

Just a few thoughts to throw at you and everyone reading this. I'm not sure of the cost of the projects, but I'm sure people would be willing to donate towards the cost. For example have everyone who's pets picture and paw print used, contribute $5 - $40 etc., depending on the cost. You would have to break it down. I'm not too sure how much a fabric print would cost. I've seen them in stores with different artist pieces, and ranges in price and size. Maybe your organization could get a discount price or perhaps for free being a non-profit, and then the extra money can be used to help pets in need.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this or other projects? Lets put our heads together and help Amanda in her cause. Lets give her our support

FOR THE   OF PETS EVERYWHERE!

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The Candlelight Vigils, perhaps more than any other event, dramatize the significance of the overpopulation problem, and why the killing must stop. Dedicated shelter and animal control personnel, who must kill the animals at the cost of their own grief, plan beautiful, moving vigils. Many read the names of the animals and the dates they were killed from identification collars used in shelters. Music, prayers, readings and speeches are also often part of the vigils.

As a part of National Homeless Animals’ Day, many governors and mayors sign proclamations written by ISAR. These declarations urge people to act responsibly by having their companion animals spayed or neutered to help curb pet overpopulation, ultimately putting an end to the killing of healthy but homeless animals.

Let's participate! We are looking for ideas on how to  commemorate all those beautiful animals who had to be put down.

Read Rex's Story.  Scheduled for euthanazia he was taken from his shelter, but the vet broke down and could not euthanize him! 

More information on becoming Muttshack volunteer.

http://www.muttshack.org

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