What can one scruffy terrier pup do to help out homeless pets?
How about inspire his geocaching community, be a spokesdog for rescue, and raise needed cash for Save Our Homeless Pets, a volunteer group that serves at the shelter from which he was adopted? So how did Gizmo do all that?
In the Summer of 2010 he convinced me to donate a one-of-kind geocaching collectible and organize a raffle. He was a motivated dog and convinced other geopups to help out.
He contacted all his geocaching pals convince them to donate their signature collectible coins to his raffle. Over 20 of his pals said yes. Some donated hand made jewelry, custom caches and geocaching themed window clings. He attended geocaching events where he tirelessly sold raffle tickets and then organized a street party to sell the donated items and push those raffle tickets. The street party was also an opportunity for the community to contribute needed items from the Save Our Homeless Pets Wishlist. And he started his first Facebook page back then to keep everyone up to date on the progress of the fundraiser.
Save Our Homeless Pets assists in finding homes for many of the cats and dogs taken in by Polk County Animal Control, a division of our Sheriff’s Department. The group also uses its funds to improve the lives of the animals waiting at the shelter, providing such comfort as possible by donating beds to keep them off the cold damp concrete and toys to occupy the endless hours. The group, founded in 2007 by the super-dedicated Lisa Moehring, depends entirely on the work of volunteers and the funding by donations. You can keep up with the daily happenings at Save Our Homeless Pets on Facebook.
I’m proud to say that Gizmo raised just over $500.00 for Save Our Homeless Pets. Here he is with Lisa Moehring right after he presented her with the check.
Gizmo and I have started to collect items from the Save Our Homeless Pets wishlist and will be making quarterly donations this year. We believe that local rescues groups deserve our support and that change begins at home.
Today is the first quarterly Blog the Change Day of 2013, a day where pet bloggers unite to write about causes near and dear to their hearts, to raise awareness for issues impacting pets and their welfare, and to support and inspire the involvement of others in the rescue movement on a local basis. Visit BtCforanimals.com to join the Blog the Change movement and read what others are doing today to Be the Change.
Today’s 30/30 Challenge ticker:
And we hope it’s OK with our hosts Sugar and Kol that we still join in the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today…It’s one of our faves and we’d hate to miss a week…We promise next Tuesday we’ll have a great new recipe to share…
Terrier Torrent 
Nice one Gizmo. We should indeed support our local shelters. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
Thanks Molly! Momz and I try to help out locally where we can, and always wish we could do more Tailwaggin’ Tuesday to you!
That’s fantastic Gizmo and WOW you did raise a lot 🙂 We try to help out our local shelter as much as possible.. Have a funtaztic Tuezday xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
Momz and I worked on it together and we had a lot of fun going to events to sell the raffle tickets…Have a Tailwaggin’ Tuesday!
YAY for Gizmo!!!! That was a wonderful accomplishment!
Thank you…but he’s got to stop resting on his laurels and plan something new 😉
Wow that just goes to show what one wonderful pup with a big heart can do! You raised a lot of money AND helped shelter dogs find homes. Good job! Thanks for sharing about it on BtC4A today!
Peggy Frezon
Team BtC4A
Thank you Peggy for keeping BtC4A moving forward…it’s a good way to remind myself to keep finding ways to help
Hi Gizmo! Hi Miss Beth!
This is so amazing!!! Gizmo…you are a kick butt fundraiser, my pal! And what a wonderful cause to support. I am so glad you are going to support them again this year!! With your terrier tenacity I know you will get a lot done!
Howdy Oz! Thanks fur gettin’ Momz butt in gear 😉 Once started I was able to grab on and shake till she got it done 🙂
BOL! Glad I could help!
Woof! Woof! PAWsome way to help out the Homeless Pets. We should always find some time to support in “our own little way” local animal group(s). Happy Tasty Tuesday. Lots of Golden woofs, Sugar
Thank you Sugar…it was good to find a way to help out locally and have all our geofriends support us
We could not agree more! Change begins at home. That’s why mommy volunteers so many hours. (Do you think peeps know that a lot of corporations will donate matching funds based on the # of hours an employee donates to a local charity such as an animal shelter?)
No, I did not know that about corporations matching volunteer hours…That’s pretty neat…Is there a list somewhere of participating companies?
We don’t know that – we know mommy’s company does, so it might be a situation where each person will need to ask. They gave Wayside $500 last year to “match” her hours!!
If peeps do ask, maybe they can also ask about matching donations too!
sounds like something that Momz can look into, maybe fur next Be the Change…I’ll get her started on it
Wow Gizmo, you’re a superstar!!!
Naw Misaki, I’m just a scruffy pup trying to help out 🙂
Wow! Way to go, Gizmo!! Leave it to a terrier to get things done. Great post!
Thanks Sue…It was a lot of work, but Momz & I enjoyed it and felt great that we were successful and had so much support from the geocaching community
Way to go Gizmo! Awesome job!
-Grizzlebees and Dillinger-
Thank you …and thanks for coming by…I’m hopping over to your blog now to meet you both…It’s good to make new friends 🙂
Hey Giz, Jetty here. Hi Miss JG.
You guys rock the house! Please give yourselves lots of Jetty kisses, JJ hugs and lovies from Mom for us. Just goes to show you if we each do one small thing… You are inspiring!
Aw that is so sweet…Momz loves those Jetty kisses a bunch…Me, I like those *manlychestbumps* better, but I’ll settle for sharing some *TailwaggingTuesdaySnoogles* with you all 🙂
Wow, it’s so nice that you are so involved in your community! You are a great inspiration Gizmo! I now need to just figure out what geocaching is 🙂
Thank you for the kind words…And stay tuned, because we’re about to start a series that will teach you everything you need to know about Geocaching, and you’ll be meeting some cool canine cachers from around the world
Way to give back Gizmo! You are a super dog!
Millie
Thanks Millie! I’m just a little dog trying to help out in whatever way I can Happy Tailwagging Tuesday!
Keep up the great work Gizmo!
Thank you! And thanks for coming by today
I had no idea Gizmo was so amazing, and such a good spokesdog! Well, I think we all had an idea that Gizmo would be a great spokesdog. 😉 What an amazing event you two organized, and truly worthy of being highlighted on Blog the Change day. I wish we were within driving distance–we’d love to go geocaching with you one day!
Thank you for such kind words Nikki and Penny…And for sure we’d take you caching with us anytime!
Wow, Gizmo! I never knew you did all that! Very cool!
Christie from lifewithbeagle.com
Thank you…One of the events we sold tickets at was in Orlando …Lots of geocaching there
Yay for Gizmo! Nice work 🙂 I don’t know anything about geocaching, but it sounds fun!
Thanks…Gizmo will be teaching everyone about geocaching this year, so stay tuned
Great job Gizmo! That is a really fantastic story. I keep meaning to tell you that I am so out of the loop with geocaching lol. I think my sister in law does it sometimes but I really don’t know much about it. Anyways, I think it’s really cool that you were able to help out with your geocaching pals.
Thanks Ann…Gizmo will be teaching everyone about caching this year, so you’ll be all caught up real soon
Wow, great work, Gizmo 🙂
Thank you!
Thanks for participating in Blog the Change Day! I thinks it’s great that you help homeless pets by fundraising and making donations – even dogs can Be the Change! Thanks for sharing.
Vicki Cook
Team BTC
Thank you Vicki! Giz & I do what we can…My dogs have always been rescues and they’ve all been amazing companions…I hope seeing Gizmo with his happy personality and good manners will help change the image of shelter dogs as being somehow ‘less than’
All-volunteer and for the benefit of homeless pets – you just can’t get any better than that. It’s difficult, most people don’t realize just how much, and to have provided for so many dogs and cats is truly commendable. You guys rock!
Thank you for blogging the change for animals!
Kim Thomas
btc4animals.com
cindylusmuse.blogspot.com
Thank you Kim…It’s such a hardworking group operating on tiny funds and having to deal with the Sheriff’s Department bureaucracy as well…Lisa and her volunteers totally rock
Terrific! That is quite a successful pup you have there. We’ve always had a blast helping out at rescue events and even donated a custom pet portrait that was a big hit. Thanks for posting.
PoochieProject.com
thank you for the kind words…a custom pet portrait is a great donation and one that will always be successful
Gizmo you’re my kind a dog! We donate and we foster but we have never raised money so four paws to you! XOXO
Thank you Kirby! Momz sez if we all do what we can then little by little things will change for the better for all our friends with forever families