Slow Progress is better than no progress!

RB Hooters Girls Love SNAP!

It’s been a minute since I’ve posted an update. While I’m not making as much progress as I’d hoped, some good strides have been made.

We had the Hooters Neuters Rancho Bernardo event. A small but mighty group of supporters came out.

Me & my niece with Dude at Unleashed

Paul went back to work at Unleashed by Petco. In July they had a month where the donations collected at the store could go to a local Spay & Neuter organization, and he got his store to give to SNAP. Dorell from SNAP was also able to contact some other Petco’s and get their donations as well. Paul’s store alone raised over $1100 dollars that month. In addition, he now gets to decide where product donations go, and who does adoption events, and he has included SNAP in both of these things, which will help out Carla, who is SNAP Adopt-a-pet. She does so much for these animals, I’m glad to know we have found a way to help her help them.

Last night was the second Comedy Show benefit. As always I was touched to see my faithfully supporting friends there, like Julie & Bob, Amber & Michael, the Toisters... you guys always come through! Paul’s friend Robin even drove out from Arizona with donations from her work! So far I have $800 in my grubby paws from last night’s show – and a couple other checks promised to be on the way.

I don’t think I’ll make the $14,000 goal by the end of the year, but I will keep going until I do! And for someone who considers themselves a HORRIBLE fundraiser, I’ve done some good already! In addition, we are fostering Dude, the little guy who’s been in foster for 2 years. Hopefully we will find him a good home, or perhaps he will blend into the Herrmann pack. We’ll see – he’s a good boy!

Still to come this year… Hooters Neuters in Oceanside and another Comedy Benefit.

Whew! Had some laughs, but glad it’s done!

The first Comedy Show benefit for SNAP is done! While it is a lot of fun, it was also a lot of work, and I’m glad to have the first one behind us to know how to improve on the next one.  There were a lot of cute dogs out there with SNAP. One in particular, Dude, was really cool & hopefully will find a home soon.

I cannot thank enough Steve Woods and LOB from 94.9FM for volunteering to do the show, and announcing it on the air – that great turnout was all you guys! So thanks, so  much, from the bottom of my tiny blackened heart!

Also, thanks to our raffle sponsors – Hair by Annaleise, Julie from Baskin Robbins Fletcher Hills, Hooters, Oh My Dog Photography, Sanctuate Spa, BFF Crafts, and of course, The Comedy Store for lending us the club to host the event in the first place, and the staff for being awesome as always!

The event raised exactly $1,300. In addition, I am selling some  more of the dog cookies at work today ($17 made already!),  a friend that missed the show is sending in $50, and the National City Bears Semi-Pro football team is sending in $100. I was hoping to cross the $2k mark on this event, but hey – I’ll take it!!!

The most emotional part of the evening for me was that SNAP gave me TJ’s adoption papers. He is officially a Herrmann with a home and family!  All three dogs are doing well together.

Finally, thank you to my amazing husband who supports every crazy thing I want to do.  I wouldn’t be where I am, doing what I do without you!

Puppy Love!

Another interesting development came out of the Hooters Neuters event in Mission Valley. I couldn’t get my mind off that little Chihuahua I mentioned, so we took him in. He instantly became part of the Herrmann family! I hope the same type of thing will happen this next week at the Comedy Store event on Tuesday, 3/13. Not that I will fall in love with another pet – because my husband would KILL me – but that other people will and we can find some homes. Rescues are always so grateful for a loving family!

Willow-Rose is of course the peace keeper and quickly bonded with the pup, who we named Tatto Jawa, or TJ. Wookie & TJ are scrapping it out for dominant male, and the cats don’t know what to think, but at least they aren’t threatened by a dog that weighs less than they do! Prior to his Herrmann-hood, TJ was attacked by a larger dog, and dropped at the pound to be euthanized. I an so grateful to SNAP and particularly Cb for finding & rescuing my new baby.

What’s great about all this is that not only is this resolution helping to spay & neuter animals, but it has educated people who have asked me about it & found out the health & behavioral benefits of S & N, and several have fixed their pets as a result, and the unexpected joy of knowing I have helped find some animals some homes – including my own!

The First Hooters Neuters is done – time for some laughs!

The first Hooters Neuters was a relative success – I have some lessons learned to make the next one bigger and better!

I was really touched by the old friends and new that came out, even some that aren’t big Hooters fans.  I don’t have the donation number from Hooters yet, but friends did hand me an additional $120 to send in. I am particularly grateful to those I know are on hard times, but reached into their pockets anyway. Also, a special shout out to my former coworkers at the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District – you guys made a valiant showing! The people from SNAP did a great job telling people about their organization, and even brought a couple dogs and cats for conversation starters. Of course, Hooters Girls have big hearts, and we got several adoption applications filled out. That was better than I hoped for! I actually fell for a cute little Chihuahua that we are now looking to foster. Quite a stretch for big dog people, but it has a heart of gold!

Coming up next is the S&N Comedy show, at the La Jolla Comedy Store on Tuesday, March 13. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8. It’s 21 and up with a $10 cash donation due at the door, which will all go to SNAP.  Local radio DJ’s Lauren O’Brien and Woods from 94.9FM’s The Mikey Show are volunteering to perform that night, so this will be promoted on the radio and should be a sell out, so get there early!

Included with this post is a picture of me & another Chihuahua that is up for adoption, and the Comedy store flyer – share it with friends and see you there!

Over the $1,000 mark!!

I have been extremely touched by all the friends, family, and even some strangers who have helped me get over the $1,000 mark for SNAP. On average, this has covered 37 animals to date!

Using San Diego Animal Controls’ numbers, if we were to guess that this covers 19 dogs and 18 cats, that means we have kept 1.2 million dogs and 7.5 million cats from being born within the next 7 years, meaning other animals in San Diego have a better chance at finding a home and not being euthanized.

In addition to this, posting about this goal has encouraged friends to spay 3 of their animals that were previously unfixed!

I beg the rest of you, I know money is tight, but even $5 bucks a month helps greatly!!

I am looking forward to racking up some big numbers for SNAP starting with the Mission Valley Hooters Neuters event on 2/23, and the La Jolla Comedy Store’s event on 3/13. It’s amazing to see that local dj’s are coming out to support this cause!

Thanks for all your support, 74% left to go!

First two FUNdraisers are on the calendar!

Friends and Family – mark your calendars! You can go out, have a good time, and support a GREAT cause at these FUNdraisers!

Thursday, February 23, 2012: Come join me at the first Hooters Neuters event! Come eat at the Mission Valley Hooters anytime during the day, mention you are there for Hooters Neuters, coupon code 5277, and 20% of your tab will be donated to SNAP! I will be there all day, so be sure to say hi! The Mission Valley Hooters is located at 1400 Camino De La Reina #115 San Diego, CA 92108.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012: Laugh your tails off at the world famous La Jolla Comedy Store! The usual $10 admission will be donated to SNAP! 94.9 FM’s Lauren O’Brian will be performing along with San Diego’s best comics (including my hubster – Paul Herrmann!), all donating their time for the cause. In addition, those who want to give a few dollars extra can take home a sample and recipe of my organic puppy cookies, “Willow’s Dew Drops.”

I will be creating FB events and hitting people up to come paws for the cause! Please spread the word! My goal is to get another $3,000 between these two FUNdraisers!

Progress Comes in Small Steps

So I might not have moved the money needle this week, but I’ve made progress! I have had great contact with SNAP, and have the info I need to do my first fundraiser. Hooters of Mission Valley will be hosting “Hooters Neuters” on Thursday, February 23^rd. You can come in any time of the day, and if you give them my promotion code (which we are still getting together) than 20% of your bill will be given to SNAP. Hooters of Mission Valley being such a central location, I am hoping that one day can bring in over $1,000. You will see lots of Facebook posts about it in the near future, so mark it on your calendar now!
Also, SNAP is in need of a location to store their Neuter Scooter in central San Diego – the place they were at which was generously donated to them for a while has been rented. Please, if you knw someone with land or storage that would work, let me know!

Some friends have asked me recently why SNAP as opposed to the ASPCA or other better known organizations. My reasons are, I want to focus on the start of the problem – overpopulation, not the side effects of it, like homelessness, cruelty, and euthanasia. I want to come up with the cure, not fight the symptoms. Also, being a grass-roots San Diego based organization means a lot to me. I really feel like I’m giving back locally. I am so glad so many of you have already offered to help me make this happen!

Great start – now it really begins!

I’m still waiting for confirmation on amounts of a couple donations this week, but we either hit or are very near $800. That is awesome considering this is a 2012 resolution, so I’ll take an $800 head start for sure! That’s 6% already down! Thanks to everyone who has made a contribution.

This last Friday I started my day with my friend Heather at the SNAP Neuter Scooter. It was interesting to see the process and hear about some of the difficulties the organization has just marketing their services, since many of the low-income people they serve don’t have internet. It was great to see animals being checked in. knowing each one being fixed would prevent others being homeless in the future. We started early and ended early, and I think it is something I will do more often since I finished in time to begin my workday.

It has been touching to see friends of friends donating, meaning people are sharing the cause. I thank each & every one of you.  Also, I added a link above in case you want to be an ongoing “Pal” and sign up for a monthly contribution amount of your choice.

For 2012, here’s some activities I know we will do so far…

• In February we will be having a “Hooters Neuters” fundraiser, where if you come in to Hooters with my special advertised code in that day, 20% of your bill will be donated to SNAP. I will be blasting this out on Facebook once the date is confirmed.
• In March the La Jolla Comedy Store is giving us a Tuesday night charity show. Usually you pay a $10 admission, but instead that $10 will be donated to SNAP. I will also bring my homemade dog cookies & cakes, with the recipe, available for anyone that wants to make an extra donation.

That’s it for this week – I hope everyone had great holidays, and let’s see what we can do together to help reduce animal homelessness and euthanasia in 2012!

PS – right before I posted this, I got a message from the ASPCA about a cat they have had in their NYC shelter for 635 days. It’s amazing that organizations like this exist to keep animals until they have a home, but that’s no life for a kitty who needs daily snuggles! Please, adopt rescue animals, spay & neuter!