three red trees

Last day to shop for the MABBR!

Today's the last day of June, so it's also the last day of my little fundraiser. Please swing by the shop and see if there's anything you'd like--100% goes to the dogs!

We've been blogged about!

Take a look!

A great blog to bookmark for all you dog lovers. And a quick reminder, there are only TWO more days to buy something from the shop and have 100% go to the Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue.

 You can get something and give at the same time--pretty good deal!

Atlas is going home!

It's the best news ever. Tomorrow morning, Atlas will be hitting the road with his new family, and heading home to the Lone Star State!

I'm really going to miss that sweet, funny, goofy boy. But the thought of him being free to run around in the grass, go for walks with his people, and snag some really good table scraps just makes me smile. His time at the shelter has been too long, but I know that the love he's received from all the staff members and volunteers made his stay a little bit easier. 

In other good news, looks like the MABBR fund drive has broken $1000---only $1800 more to go. I know they'll get there. I put another dog in the shop this week, with hopes she might help the cause. Check her out!

On a personal note, it is stifling HOT here! We've been under an excessive heat warning for the last week, so we've mainly been hanging out in the A/C and finding ways to keep cool. I think my girls have the right idea!

More Dogs Tomorrow!

I'll be putting three new Original Sock Dogs into the shop tomorrow (see below). Like everything else this month, 100% of the profits from their sales (if sold in June) will be donated to Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue. I've had a pretty decent donation for them almost every day since beginning the fundraiser, so together, we're making a nice dent in their goal!

100% to MABBR

Mathilda

Heads up! Starting today through the end of June, I will be donating 100% of all profits from my etsy shop to the Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue. Why? Here it is, in their words:

As the economy has slowed down, MABBR has unfortunately been impacted as well. Adoptions and donations have slowed to a point that it is making it difficult for us to keep up with our ongoing monthly expenses.

Without adoptions and donations coming in, MABBR has no income and no way to continue helping these precious dogs. Our funding completely relies on our loyal supporters and donors.

Right now we need your help! MABBR currently has 6 dogs in paid boarding. Our boarding bill alone averages $1500 per month. We have set a goal to raise $2800 towards our boarding expenses to help us stay on track through these difficult times.

If you can help, please do. EVERY amount helps and goes 100% directly to the dogs.

As you can see, this is a dire situation for MABBR. And I feel I need to do whatever I can to continue helping them. So please, if you've had your eye on something in the shop for a while, this would be a great time to buy it! (Or you can make any size donation you like, directly to MABBR. Just click on the widget at the top right.) 

I'll be adding a bunch of Original Sock Dogs to the shop next week to give you something new to browse. And if you don't mind, please help me spread the word! 

This is a cause and a group dear to my heart. The work they are doing is so very important. These sweet dogs have very few allies, so supporting the people who do care is critical. Thank you!

Mama Lucy

Amazing plushies

If I had any business sense at all, I wouldn't do this. But I can't help it. I have to let you guys know about Monika, a fabulous plush designer, who has recently opened a shop on etsy.

Monkeytonkey makes super original, very fun plush, puppets and plush-inspired jewelry. I've been keeping my eye on her shop from the day it opened, and have favorited everything in it. I so admire her unique creations--I think it's very cool how she crochets some of the eyes and noses on her plush stuff. I've never seen that before!

Here's "Red Faddy Cat" who just had to travel all the way from his home in Bratislava, Slovakia and come live with me.

Does he have character or what? All of her dolls are just brimming with personality--and they're all truly one-of-a-kind works of plush art. Please visit her store, check out all the cute stuff and add to your collection!

Ray of Hope program

I wanted to share this article in today's Kansas City Star. It's about the great work that the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City is doing to save animals at the "city pound" (aka animal control).

Page, a labrador mix, sits still as Nicole Setticase, a volunteer, rinsed soap out of its coat as her brother Jon Fizette, helped during bath time at the Kansas City Kansas Animal Control building on Friday, Jun 5, 2009, in Kansas City, Kansas. The Wyandotte County city pound has managed to reduce its euthanasia rate from 65 to 70 percent to about 4 percent in the last year due to a cooperative program between the pound and the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. (Photo ©Kansas City Star)

For the past three weekends (and today too), I've been helping out with this program at satellite adoption events, and have seen the positive results firsthand. 13 dogs have been adopted from the location where I've been, and seeing them head off with their new families--families they probably never would have found otherwise--is a real joy.

This is something that shelters nationwide can use as a model. It's a truly wonderful network of people and compassion.

Just for you guys.

Through Sunday, I'm offering the sock dogs (just the sock dogs) in my shop at $33 (plus shipping) just to you Three Red Trees blog readers (and friends). 

Mathilde wants you!

All you need to do is send me an email at sockdogs@yahoo.com and let me know who you want. Then I'll adjust the price and reserve the pup in your name.  First come, first served, so if someone claims a dog before you, they get it. Either way, I'll e-mail you back and let you know. Sound good?

I appreciate all of you guys--you're a wonderful, talented, passionate bunch! Please take a look at the shop and if you see someone you'd like to bring home, just let me know.

Thank you so much!

Hi guys!

Well, round two was very successful! All of the little bullies found homes very quickly--and most of them with you, my friends! I really appreciate your support and know that MABBR will be so pleased to have another dog sponsored. This time your money has been donated to sponsor Natasha, who was one of the little sculptures. Sweet girl.

I'll be shipping all of the bullies out on Friday--I know that's later than I usually do it, but here's my drama for the week. On Friday night, my computer died. As in, no chance of revival, hard drive fried and all files lost. (I've been using my husband's Mac in the meantime.) So I'll need a little time to get the keepsake tags rebuilt, along with a billion other things that are making my head swim at the moment. Wish me luck, and look for your bullies in the mail beginning Monday, June 8.

Oh, and thanks to mabbr.org for featuring my bullies on their home page! I was so surprised and honored to see them front and center!

Project Pit Bull: Part 2

Here are the pups I'll be listing in my shop at 9 AM (CST) on Sunday--have a look and be ready to grab who you like!

Once again, 100% of the profits will be used to sponsor one of the dogs with the MABBR. You can read all of the stories of the dogs I'm featuring this time by visiting Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue's web site. I'll also be including the "incredi-bull" stories in the listings, and on each sculpture's keepsake tag.