10.24.2010

A HUGE Giveaway

Do you know how much stuff I can fit into a medium sized priority mail flat rate shipping box? A LOT of stuff. And that's what I'm giving away, one boxed filled with candles, soaps, bath salts; whatever the winner chooses. I'm estimating the box will be filled with at least $100 worth of my products from my shop.

But let me first tell you a little about Bobo. I met him about 7 years ago on one of my first days of work at Redmond Animal Hospital. He was so cute cuddled up in his kennel with his teddy bear in his mouth. He rolled over on his back wagging his tail for me to pet his tummy, and when I reached for him, the little stinker bit me. Really hard.

Bobo was bought as a puppy by his owners, who put him through extensive training to cure his aggressive behavior. But Bobo just never got over his biting issues. His owners had a baby about a year ago and decided to have him euthanized before the baby was born. The literal day of his euthanasia, my friend Trace from the animal hospital called me, desperate for help to save his life. I rallied with some of my friends in the animal rescue community here in Seattle and within a few hours we had a foster home for him. Shortly after, Steve Markwell, the founder of Olympic Animal Sanctuary agreed to take him into his sanctuary.

Steve is an INCREDIBLE man, one like I've never met before. His life is running this sanctuary, which is filled with dogs who would have been euthanized otherwise. He sleeps with them, he spends his days with them, they are his life. And I feel the world owes so much appreciation to him.

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In a few weeks with some of my dear friends, I'm attending a reunion, a weekend of service at Olympic Animal Sanctuary. We need funds to help complete some projects that are desperately needed at the Sanctuary. And Steve is always in need of financial help to support these animals.

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Here's how my giveaway will work:
Donate what you can via paypal to Olympic Animal Sanctuary, even if it's just one dollar. I don't need to know how much you donated, just that a donation was made. This will be on the honor system. Respond to my post here, or message me through email (ambermek@yahoo.com) or Facebook letting me know that you donated. Again, I don't need to know how much you contributed, as every cent helps. I'll randomly choose a winner on Monday, Novemeber 1st.

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Become a friend Steve's on Facebook. And make sure to visit his site and support him in any way you can. Also, don't be surprised if you see him soon in People Magazine, or on Animal Planet, they all are trying to get a piece of Steve :). I'll be back next Monday to announce the winner. Thank you, my friends!

18 comments:

Liane said...

ok, i just donated. and thank you for caring. i'm gonna go love my dog up after i finish here. it makes me teary to think of domestic animals without love and hope.

B said...

I donated as well. Our dog is a rescue dog, and all future dogs our family might adopt will be rescue dogs as well. Thanks for doing this giveaway to support these animals, Amber; I hope that a TON of funds are raised!

Molly said...

Just made a humble donation. What a cutie! We have one purebred pup, but the rest of our pets are "adopted." Zephyr, our black lab mix, was something like eight weeks old when we adopted him, and we are his 4th (and final) home. He's got his neurotic tics, but every time he gets into something and has to go to the doggie emergency room, my heart is in my throat in fear of losing him. Guess no matter what his foibles, he is truly a part of the family. :)

Anonymous said...

Donated! I love to see people do this kind of work for animals.

Melissa P said...

I will be honest, I don't currently own any pets, but your post made me want to go get one! I just made a donation.

Anonymous said...

I just made a donation also. You have such a big heart Amber.

pencilfox said...

*donated*....

our local shelter just celebrated
"one year, no kill"....

Anonymous said...

just donated. you're such an inspiring person, amber.

sk said...

I think this is a great cause! Thank you for bringing attention to it on your blog and offering such a generous giveaway! I just made a donation. This reminds me that I'd like to do something similar for our local animal sanctuary...pets give us so much (my dog is truly my most favorite creature on the planet), and I truly appreciate people like Steve who work hard for things they believe in!

My Earth Walk Journey said...

What a great cause. I am an animal advocate, and have 10 older dogs I care for now, and they now have a very good life. The work he is doing is phenomenal, how lucky he is to have a friend like you to make sure that he receives the recognition and assistance he needs. I made a small donation.

My Earth Walk Journey said...

Amber what a great cause and what a great friend you are to bring recognition and assistance to him. I made a small donation. This really touches my heart, I currently care for 10 older dogs, and they have a very good life. Animals are angels sent to us.

My Earth Walk Journey said...

Amber, I think i might have accidentally posted twice, i am the one with 10 dogs. Lisa

Pauper said...

I just donated... what a good cause :)

This post really struck a chord with me--we just lost our sweet dog, also called Bobo, very suddenly last Wednesday.

Our Bo was a gentle soul who actually adopted us--followed my Mum home from a railyard as she was riding her bike one day, and try as we might to find his rightful owners (no one came forward after weeks of searching), we took Bo in.

That was 13 years ago. He was a lovely member of our family and I make my donation in his memory in hopes that it will help other dogs in need. What an incredible guy Steve must be to work helping animals in such a selfless way--wish him the best!

COFFEE & MORPHINE said...

I love animals!! B-I-G and petite!! :) *Donated*

Tonya Gunn said...

Thank you for such a generous giveaway. I also have been giving much thought to your post and it is related to a post I wrote about a week ago, where I received mixes responses from...
I donated to the sanctuary - a great cause.
Warm wishes. Tonya

Brigittemarie said...

Happy Friday!
I just donated to the animal rescue. What a great cause! My sister and her husband adopted 2 hounds from an animal rescue group near their home and those are now the two most spoiled loved dogs in VA. Thank you so much for having this giveaway!

boatbaby said...

What a fabulous thing you are doing! I just donated. Thank you!

Stainless Fan said...

I donated! <3's Ona