I was somewhat shocked to see that it had been January when I wrote my last post. However, it's not a huge surprise since there's been a lot of change in my life.
In January, I left my old organization for a new job at PetSmart. Anyone who knows me (or has read any of my past blogs!) knows that animals have always been a passion of mine since I was very young, and this position seemed like a good choice. After my first month and a half, I am so pleased with my new role working for an organization that is not only high-functioning, but also one that has a heart.
PetSmart truly cares about its pet parent customers. And at the founding of PetSmart in the early '90s, the decision was made to NOT sell dogs or cats, but to found a charity arm that helps find adoptable pets new homes. This arm is called PetSmart Charities and it is a free-standing 501c3 organization that partners with adoption organizations across the country to place homeless pets with good homes. Not only does PetSmart Charities run in-store adoptions, but they also contribute millions of dollars to partner organizations each year, they transport dogs across country to regions where they have a higher likelihood of getting adopted, and they provide emergency rescue assistance and supplies for disasters - like the Fargo floods this week. PetSmart Charities is responsible for over 3 million pet adoptions since its founding, and they hope to reach 4 million before the end of this year. Check out their website at www.petsmartcharities.org.
Especially in this miserable economy, I feel so fortunate to have aligned myself with such a dedicated, well-run organization that supports my passion.
I wish you all success for the rest of 2009.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
These stats are for the dogs
Calling all animal lovers: we've still got a lot of work to do.
Whether you are a dog, cat, bird, turtle or iguana person, you need to know the current euthanasia rates in the U.S. so that you can help in the fight against the needless deaths of animals. 5 million dogs and cats are put to death every year in this country. 25 years ago, it was 17 million. Yes - this is tremendous progress...mostly thanks to the work of organizations like Best Friends Animal Society (www.bestfriends.org) who have spent the last quarter century working with shelters all across the country to educate communities about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets, and TNR (trap-neuter-return) for feral cat communities. Unfortunately, the number has hovered around 5 million for the last few years and isn't budging. By the way, that's 575 animals PER HOUR.
The problem? Best Friends knows that euthanized animals fall into four categories now: cats, "bully breed" dogs (Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, etc.), the consequences of puppy mill dogs, and pets that are abandoned by their own families. Through Best Friends' goal of No More Homeless Pets (their mission since their founding 25 years ago), they plan to launch 4 new campaigns aimed at these categories.
I just rescued a German Shepherd/Terrier puppy from doggie death row in September, and feel like we won the dog lottery - she's just such a gentle and loving addition to our family. But if I hadn't seen the e-mail that day, her fate would have been much different. If you feel like I do, that 5 million companion animal deaths each year is unacceptable, then please do what you can to help. Tell your friends. How many people know these statistics? Do people really know that buying an animal from a breeder costs that animal they could have rescued instead its life? Do they know that they can visit www.petfinder.com and search for the exact breed, age, gender of their desired animal by zip code (and yes, there are TONS of pure breeds - another misnomer).
Many of us were passionate about the recent election. We're passionate about green energy or other social issues. Let's channel that passion into fighting for the animals. Be outraged. Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper. Volunteer at an animal shelter. Become a member of Best Friends. Add a shelter animal to your family. You'll get so much more in return.
Whether you are a dog, cat, bird, turtle or iguana person, you need to know the current euthanasia rates in the U.S. so that you can help in the fight against the needless deaths of animals. 5 million dogs and cats are put to death every year in this country. 25 years ago, it was 17 million. Yes - this is tremendous progress...mostly thanks to the work of organizations like Best Friends Animal Society (www.bestfriends.org) who have spent the last quarter century working with shelters all across the country to educate communities about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets, and TNR (trap-neuter-return) for feral cat communities. Unfortunately, the number has hovered around 5 million for the last few years and isn't budging. By the way, that's 575 animals PER HOUR.
The problem? Best Friends knows that euthanized animals fall into four categories now: cats, "bully breed" dogs (Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, etc.), the consequences of puppy mill dogs, and pets that are abandoned by their own families. Through Best Friends' goal of No More Homeless Pets (their mission since their founding 25 years ago), they plan to launch 4 new campaigns aimed at these categories.
I just rescued a German Shepherd/Terrier puppy from doggie death row in September, and feel like we won the dog lottery - she's just such a gentle and loving addition to our family. But if I hadn't seen the e-mail that day, her fate would have been much different. If you feel like I do, that 5 million companion animal deaths each year is unacceptable, then please do what you can to help. Tell your friends. How many people know these statistics? Do people really know that buying an animal from a breeder costs that animal they could have rescued instead its life? Do they know that they can visit www.petfinder.com and search for the exact breed, age, gender of their desired animal by zip code (and yes, there are TONS of pure breeds - another misnomer).
Many of us were passionate about the recent election. We're passionate about green energy or other social issues. Let's channel that passion into fighting for the animals. Be outraged. Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper. Volunteer at an animal shelter. Become a member of Best Friends. Add a shelter animal to your family. You'll get so much more in return.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Blog-o-rama
Did you know that 50,000 new blogs are started every single day? Doesn't that just boggle your mind? What can all those people possibly have to say that others would want to read?
Et tu, Bonnie? you may say. Fair enough. But Arianna Huffington, during her guest appearance on the Jon Stewart show last night, had some advice for how to start your blog. Write about your "secret passion", she said. Apparently, hers is cheese. I can't say I'd be first in line to read that, although I do visit Huffingtonpost regularly. So follow her advice at your own discretion.
I did recently run across two blogs of note - very different from each other. The first is Paul Dunay's blog about the use of technology in B2B marketing. Very much up my alley, and if you are a marketer, I suggest you check it out: http://buzzmarketingfortech.blogspot.com/. Talking about passion, he seems to have it in spades, and responded immediately to my blog post, even though blogging is not his day job.
The other, http://blog.voluntourism.org/, is a blog associated with www.voluntourism.org - a site with which I have fallen in love. They are the central repository for anyone who has ever hoped to combine travel and volunteerism. If you fit into this category, I strongly suggest you take their quiz - very enlightening to help you choose what kind of trip might be right for you.
Some advice for the 50,000 people who are starting their own blogs today - unless you are the world's top producer of brie, please don't make it about cheese.
Et tu, Bonnie? you may say. Fair enough. But Arianna Huffington, during her guest appearance on the Jon Stewart show last night, had some advice for how to start your blog. Write about your "secret passion", she said. Apparently, hers is cheese. I can't say I'd be first in line to read that, although I do visit Huffingtonpost regularly. So follow her advice at your own discretion.
I did recently run across two blogs of note - very different from each other. The first is Paul Dunay's blog about the use of technology in B2B marketing. Very much up my alley, and if you are a marketer, I suggest you check it out: http://buzzmarketingfortech.blogspot.com/. Talking about passion, he seems to have it in spades, and responded immediately to my blog post, even though blogging is not his day job.
The other, http://blog.voluntourism.org/, is a blog associated with www.voluntourism.org - a site with which I have fallen in love. They are the central repository for anyone who has ever hoped to combine travel and volunteerism. If you fit into this category, I strongly suggest you take their quiz - very enlightening to help you choose what kind of trip might be right for you.
Some advice for the 50,000 people who are starting their own blogs today - unless you are the world's top producer of brie, please don't make it about cheese.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
To Blackberry or not to Blackberry?
As they say, change is coming to America.
But can that change be more emblematic than the fact that our President-elect desperately wants to keep his Blackberry? Finally - a President who understands the applications of technology to basic communication. True - President Clinton did order a ham on-line, but I would argue that the business populace was far advanced beyond his knowledge and use of communication technology.
What are the benefits of having a President who "gets it"? He knows how Americans consume and share information and can harness that power, as he already has. I would even argue that his ability to create an e-based grassroots support base was one of the most important elements of his victory.
If you haven't already, visit http://www.change.gov/ to contribute your "story" and tell the Obama administration what you'd like to see in terms of how they can involve you in the new administration.
I guess I'll never be President. I'd never be willing to give up MY Blackberry...
But can that change be more emblematic than the fact that our President-elect desperately wants to keep his Blackberry? Finally - a President who understands the applications of technology to basic communication. True - President Clinton did order a ham on-line, but I would argue that the business populace was far advanced beyond his knowledge and use of communication technology.
What are the benefits of having a President who "gets it"? He knows how Americans consume and share information and can harness that power, as he already has. I would even argue that his ability to create an e-based grassroots support base was one of the most important elements of his victory.
If you haven't already, visit http://www.change.gov/ to contribute your "story" and tell the Obama administration what you'd like to see in terms of how they can involve you in the new administration.
I guess I'll never be President. I'd never be willing to give up MY Blackberry...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
the event of the century
Full disclosure: I just came from a client dinner, and I'm slightly inebriated. But can you blame me? When faced with a full dining room of people from all over the world that you don't know but are supposed to entertain, what would you do? Anyway...
I can't wait until January 20. I am so friggin' excited, I can hardly stand it. Not just because that's the day when I can stop speaking with a Canadian accent when I leave the country, but because I've decided that I need to be there and I actually found a hotel! Yes, it's in Richmond. A few hours away from D.C.. But does the monotonous drive in a horribly overpriced Yugo in the middle of winter really matter in the scheme of such an historic event?
I never explained the name of this blog and now might be a good time. Pangea, as most of you know, was the blob of land on the earth before the continents split apart. My hope for the future and for our generation is that we can work to bring the people of the various continents closer together through cross-cultural understanding, education, and community volunteerism. To me, Obama's background in community organizing (yes - the same background that Guiliani and Palin mocked and threw out as red meat at the Republican convention) and his success in mobilizing grassroots support from all over the world gives me hope that the next generation will grow up with volunteerism as a core value.
So, does anyone have tickets to the inauguration? If so, I've got a pull-out couch in a killer Comfort Inn in Richmond with your name on it...
I can't wait until January 20. I am so friggin' excited, I can hardly stand it. Not just because that's the day when I can stop speaking with a Canadian accent when I leave the country, but because I've decided that I need to be there and I actually found a hotel! Yes, it's in Richmond. A few hours away from D.C.. But does the monotonous drive in a horribly overpriced Yugo in the middle of winter really matter in the scheme of such an historic event?
I never explained the name of this blog and now might be a good time. Pangea, as most of you know, was the blob of land on the earth before the continents split apart. My hope for the future and for our generation is that we can work to bring the people of the various continents closer together through cross-cultural understanding, education, and community volunteerism. To me, Obama's background in community organizing (yes - the same background that Guiliani and Palin mocked and threw out as red meat at the Republican convention) and his success in mobilizing grassroots support from all over the world gives me hope that the next generation will grow up with volunteerism as a core value.
So, does anyone have tickets to the inauguration? If so, I've got a pull-out couch in a killer Comfort Inn in Richmond with your name on it...
Monday, November 10, 2008
A new day
Well, I've finally gone and done it. So many people have been encouraging my blogging for so long, but it hasn't been a priority until now.
Why now? What is this blog about? Why should anyone bother to engage with it?
The election of Barack Obama is the reason why I've decided to start. Frankly, I'm inspired. His ability to create a grassroots movement that put him in the White House and, I believe, start our country on the road to our desired future demonstrated that people can and should be the change they want to see. I have always believed that if you aren't contributing to the solution, you are part of the problem.
This blog is my little corner of global advocacy in the areas where I am passionate: mainly global citizenship/sustainability, animal and child welfare, healthy living, and building cross-cultural bridges that help those who don't have a voice.
Why should you visit this blog and read my posts? Because if you care about the above issues as passionately as I do, I hope this can be a forum for information and idea exchange. Now is a great time for opportunity in this country, and I hope those of us who want to be the change we seek will continue to stand up and be heard - let's keep that post-election momentum going, and leave a world for our children of which we can be proud.
A great book that illustrates the forks in the road that will determine our global future:
http://www.gbn.com/ArticleDisplayServlet.srv?aid=31432
Until next time...
Why now? What is this blog about? Why should anyone bother to engage with it?
The election of Barack Obama is the reason why I've decided to start. Frankly, I'm inspired. His ability to create a grassroots movement that put him in the White House and, I believe, start our country on the road to our desired future demonstrated that people can and should be the change they want to see. I have always believed that if you aren't contributing to the solution, you are part of the problem.
This blog is my little corner of global advocacy in the areas where I am passionate: mainly global citizenship/sustainability, animal and child welfare, healthy living, and building cross-cultural bridges that help those who don't have a voice.
Why should you visit this blog and read my posts? Because if you care about the above issues as passionately as I do, I hope this can be a forum for information and idea exchange. Now is a great time for opportunity in this country, and I hope those of us who want to be the change we seek will continue to stand up and be heard - let's keep that post-election momentum going, and leave a world for our children of which we can be proud.
A great book that illustrates the forks in the road that will determine our global future:
http://www.gbn.com/ArticleDisplayServlet.srv?aid=31432
Until next time...
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