Tag: Be the Change Challenge

Pets with Pizazz: Special pets need special people.

Whiskers
"Whiskers" Drawing by BZTAT

I posted this image awhile back. It is a drawing that I made of Whiskers, a 15 year old cat who needs a home. I drew it in hopes that someone would fall in love with Whiskers and take her into his or her family.

So far, my efforts have not worked.

Whiskers is not on “death row” like many animals who are up for adoption. Still, she is a wonderful animal, and she deserves a home.

I thought I would post her drawing again, since today begins the “Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet” challenge set forth by the Be the Change Panel at BlogPaws West.

There are many animals awaiting adoption across the country who have been classified as “Less Adoptable”. I, like Dr. V. at Pawcurious, am a little dismayed at the classification. I’d prefer to call them “Pets with Pizazz”.

These pets do have pizazz! They are often overlooked because of age, special needs and/or medical conditions that require a little extra attention. But they are as lovable and giving as any other pet, often more so.

I am glad that Petfinder and Be the Change for Pets are focusing on them to help them find homes. These animals have great courage and spirit, and they deserve our extra attention.

Life has been a challenge for Whiskers. She reportedly endured neglect in her past life, yet her current caretakers say she is now the most grateful of felines.

It is time to give her a change and let her see the good side of humanity. Can you help Be the Change for Whiskers?

If not Whiskers, do you know another “Pet with Pizazz” who you can help out?

Although Whiskers is located in the Richmond, VA area, assistance to relocate her to another area is available. You can learn more about her and how to contact her foster family here at CrystalsAndJewelry.com Blog & News.

Whoever gives Whiskers a permanent home will receive her portrait shown above as an extra bonus.

Feel free to re-post the drawing of Whiskers, if you would like, to help her find a home. Please do credit the image with “Artwork by BZTAT” with a link to this blog.

I used because of the leg pain (or rather due to the unbearable constant pain caused by the tumor in the knee joint).

Let’s find this fabulous feline a permanent home.

Whiskers was featured in the video below by the “Be the Change for Pets” panel. The whole video is very moving.

It brings me to ask, what is your gift, and how can you use it to help pets in need?

BZTAT
"I am not waiting for the world to change. I am being the change." -BZTAT

If You Become the Change…You Change

BZTAT at BlogPaws (Photo by Brad Smith Photography)

“If you become the change you want to see, you change.” ~ Melissa Etheridge from What Happens Tomorrow?

Consider me changed.

Wow.

Spending time with Lynn Haigh, coordinator of the Pawpawty, Dr. V. from Pawcurious, Dorian Wagner from Your Daily Cute,  Caroline Golon, staff to Romeo the Cat and BlogPaws cofounder, and Jane Harrell from Petfinder last week at BlogPaws was amazing in and of itself.

Being a part of the “Be the Change” movement that they unleashed at the conference, however, has been life-changing.

Not only has the effort helped to re-commit me to giving back to my community and to animals in need, it has broadened my network of people who are kindred spirits across the world.

Why does an artist keep writing about something that seems sorta non-art related on her art blog?

Because life changing experiences are at the heart of my art, and sharing a love of animals with others in such a deep and meaningful way inspires and motivates my creativity.

I came away from BlogPaws not only with a motivation to do things for animals. I came away with a  renewed and invigorated desire to create.

And one of my creations is helping animal rescue organizations.

One of the neat things about the “Be the Change Blog Challenge” is that I have discovered new blogs that I had rarely or never visited before.  One of these Blogs is Pawcurious, written by Dr. V., a veterinarian from San Diego.

I got to meet Dr. V. at BlogPaws, and she is a very generous and interesting woman with a great sense of humor. I have been poking around her blog a bit and have found her articles heart warming and full of great insights.

In this article about the sad tragedy that happened at Sea World in February, I found a comment that intrigued me:

“I’ve talked in the past about my issues with my daughter’s school and the zero financial support for an arts program.” ~Jessica Vogelsang, DVM

I rather like the fact that a doctor who is highly educated in the sciences realizes the value of the arts as a part of a child’s education.

Dr. V. was lamenting about how schools will spend a fortune to send kids on entertaining pseudo-educational trips to Sea World, yet not spend a dime on arts curricula that would be so much more enriching.

People think that an arts education only trains talented youth for arts related careers. In truth, it does so much more for all children, regardless of their specific talents.

Arts education inspires children to think creatively. It develops character; it motivates children to explore ideas beyond a television set or computer game set; and it stimulates creative problem-solving.

I am convinced that the arts-rich elementary education that I and my brother and sister received in Liberty, Mo. was responsible for not only my own artistic pursuits. It led my brother to become a pioneer in computer systems programming and my sister to become one of the best teachers in the Kanawha County, WV school district.

Arts eduction apparently helped DR. V. become a great veterinarian, and it helped her become a great writer who educates and inspires through her blog.

Here is something few people know about BlogPaws.

From the very beginning, the co-founders wanted to include an arts focus to this very non-arts event. Why?

Because they realized that art completes us. It colors our world. It makes things so much more meaningful. It inspires and moves us, making real-world experiences a part of our soul in a much deeper way.

The PawsArt Exhibit/Silent Auction was a part of the planning from the very beginning of BlogPaws in order to inspire the creativity of the participants.

Seeing the incredibly moving video created by Lynn Haigh, arguably one of the finest creative efforts seen by many in a long time,  has inspired a movement that has exceeded the expectations of a very ambitious crowd.

Would it have happened had we not had the “art” to make it real for us?

I think not.

We are already talking about how the arts will be incorporated into the next BlogPaws event. Do you have any ideas for us? Please leave a comment below if you do.

How have you changed or been changed by art and/or by animals? How are you becoming the change that you want to see?

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT

BlogPaws Inspired "Be the Change for Animals" T-Shirts

Yesterday I posted that, as a part of the “Be the Change” blog challenge, I would design a T-Shirt for my CafePress shop and dedicate the proceeds to animal rescue groups.

Well, here is the design.

All proceeds from sales of any product in the“Be the Change for Animals in Need” section of my shop during the month of April and May will go to Pets Without Parents. After May, proceeds from sales of the shirt will go to my local animal charity, Friends of Stark Pound or another worthy animal rescue group.

Pet Bloggers and Animals enthusiasts around the world are participating in the “Be the Change Challenge” by doing small and big things to help animals who are in shelters or are needing special care.

Some are raising donations; some are volunteering at local rescue organizations; and some are dedicating their time and skills to make the world aware of the needs of animal charities around the world.

I hope that you will consider purchasing one of the T-Shirts or doing something else to help pets in need. They give so much to us–can’t we do something for them?

Here is the code if you would like to put the widget for the “Be the Change for Animals” T-Shirt on your website:

<a title=”Be the Change” href=”http://www.cafepress.com/BZTAT/” target=”_blank”><img src=” http://www.romeothecat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Be-the-Change-f…BlogPaws-LR.jpg” alt=”Be the Change for Animals in Need T-Shirt” width=”150″ height=”150″ />

Oh yeah, and we are having a Twitter BlogPawty on April 21 from 7 pm – 1 am (EST) to have fun and raise money for Pets Without Parents. Hope to see you there!

Thanks for being the CHANGE!

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT