Naples: Another shelter pet-bed raising success!
By Dr. Marty Becker
February 12, 2010
We don’t even have our national bed-raising drive set up yet, but it’s already spreading!
When Kelly Fox and Bibi Barrett went to a new volunteer orientation at Collier County Domestic Animal Services in Florida, they were dismayed to see that few of the dogs in the shelter had beds. Most, like the little guy in the photo at right, were lying on cold, often wet, concrete.
“The minute I got home, I emailed Kuranda Pet Beds to see if there was something we could do,” Kelly said. “It was Saturday, and I didn’t think I’d hear back from them until Monday. But when I heard from Carol at Kuranda within an hour, that’s when I knew this was going to happen.”
And it did, thanks to you and dozens of other pet lovers all over the country. Kelly and Bibi kept doing outreach, and when they heard about the success of our earlier bed drive for Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, they letting me know in a comment here on Pet Connection about what they were trying to do.
I made a match challenge to my readers, viewers and fans, and Belen Brisco of Dogs Deserve Better (an organization working to end the keeping of dogs on chains) put them in touch with the Onyx and Breezy Foundation, who came through with a 42-bed donation!
They hit their goal of a hundred dog beds in three days, and the beds, including a number of cat towers, keep coming in.
It’s clear this is a cause that really touches hearts. When my good friend and colleague Dr. Mehmet Oz posted about the pet bed drive to his Facebook page, it got over 2300 “like” comments — the second most he says he’s ever gotten on a post he’s made.
Our earlier shelter pet bed drive raised more than a hundred beds for the pets of OCAS — dogs and cats now happy and comfortable in their new beds, like Milkshake in the photo at right.
And it’s my sincere belief that all shelter pets will be more adoptable if they’re comfortable, warm and dry — which is why my new goal is to get shelter pets to rise up (off the concrete), lie down (in a comfy bed) and move out (into a loving home).
“On February 28, we’re going to have a day when high school kids and local volunteers will help put the new beds together,” Kelly said. I’m encouraging them to film the event, and use it to help inspire this movement to spread to shelters all over the country.
So you can feel as excited as I am about this, I’ve created a photo album on Facebook with lots of photos of pets with their new beds — check it out!
Thanks once again to everyone at Pet Connection for being a part of this effort, and especially to local animal lovers like Kelly and Bibi for making miracles happen!
So… what shelter is next?
Photos: Top, a dog at Collier County DAS who had no bed, taken by Kelly Fox. Bottom, a happy dog at OCAS on one of the newly donated beds from our first bed-raising drive, courtesy OCAS.
West Memphis High School students have already raised enough money to purchase 25 Kuranda beds for the 25 kennels at the local animal shelter. We will also be able to purchase some cat towers. “On the floor no more” that’s our goal.
Comment by Sherry Mitchell — February 12, 2010 @ 11:22 am
What a wonderful cause! I’d love to see some of the Kentucky shelters here utilizing these beds. I know of some of our vet offices that do boarding that use them with rave reviews. And what an awesome way for school students to volunteer their time. Kudos to everyone involved!
- Christy
Comment by Christy Mesker — February 12, 2010 @ 2:48 pm
Way to go Sherry! That is an amazing accomplishment! I am so happy that Dr.Becker is a champion of the cause! A very hearty thanks to everyone that has helped to make our vision a dream!!!
Comment by Bibi Barrett — February 12, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
Hey Christy- Let’s invite those Kentucky shelters to sign up for the Donate a Bed Program on http://www.kuranda.com/humane so we can start campaigning for beds for them. With Dr. Becker’s help, I know we’ll be able to help them.
Comment by Kuranda Dog Beds — February 12, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
When I lay in bed at night I think about those dogs sleeping on the floor. I wish I could send them a note telling them, ” Doggie, You’ll have a bed soon. soon. soon. It’s coming. We are working so hard so you have a place to rest.” What a wonderful project to gather the community to rally around. All it takes is one spark; the right person or people. Bed raising campaigns make sense, people like to donate a tangible object, and the results are clear: Dogs Dig Beds.
Comment by ericka — February 12, 2010 @ 8:16 pm
BREAKING NEWS!!! The DAS dog in the top photo that is laying on the floor….WAS ADOPTED!!!!
This mission has turned into a DREAM COME TRUE!!!
Comment by Kelly Fox — February 13, 2010 @ 5:56 am
This is such a wonderful story. With just a few people so much good change can happen. Dogs got beds, dogs are being adopted due to flyers and media coverage. It is lovely.
Comment by ericka — February 13, 2010 @ 7:16 am
I am a volunteer for the Savannah Georgia Animal Control. Our dogs dont have beds. They sleep on hard, cold, wet concrete floor. Can you help me get started with this.
Kathy Lewis 912-658-1740
Comment by kathy Lewis — February 27, 2010 @ 8:23 pm