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(HealthNewsDigest.com)—A movement can be a change in physical position, a group of people working together to advance shared ideas, or part of a musical composition, and now North Shore Animal League America is giving new meaning to the word by encouraging children and adults to participate in the Mutt-i-grees Movement.
In 2009, North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, created the Mutt-i-grees Initiative to give a voice to the millions of shelter dogs in the United States. Today, Mutt-i-grees include all shelter pets-purebreds and mixed-breeds—puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats. And while their individuality makes each of these Mutt-i-grees special, they all share a common need to find permanent loving homes.
An estimated 8-10 million animals enter shelters each year and most are healthy, affectionate and beautiful. Tragically, more than half of these animals are euthanized, the victims of overpopulated shelters.
In an effort to recognize that shelters have many wonderful animals available for adoption, I was delighted to participate in the recently launched Mutt-i-grees Movement Campaign. This included the debut of a Public Service Announcement, which you can view, download and share at http://www.animalleague.org/events-news/events/the-mutt-i-grees-movement.html.
The Mutt-i-grees Movement reaches far and wide. In addition to including adults, it touches children in over 900 schools in 27 states who are sharing the joy of shelter animals through the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum-which was created in partnership with Yale University’s School of the 21 Century and funded by the Millan Foundation. Focusing on shelter animals provides a unique context in which to teach children empathy, social responsibility, and the skills to effectively communicate and manage emotions. The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum educates the next generation to be confident, caring and to make a difference in the lives of people, animals and the environment. Children across the nation are also participating in Mutt-i-grees ACTIVities, which offer physical conditioning through animal-themed activities.
Raising awareness of the Mutt-i-grees Movement can change the way cat and dog-loving Americans perceive shelter pets and ultimately save the precious lives of countless animals. My husband Howard, Bianca (our bulldog) and I welcomed cats Apple, Walter and Leon Bear into our home from the Animal League, and we can’t imagine our lives without them.
Adoption is the responsible choice. Visit a shelter, log on to www.AnimalLeague.org, join the Mutt-i-grees Movement and we’ll all be one step closer to a no-kill nation.
ABOUT BETH STERN (www.betho.com): As spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America, Beth helps to illuminate the organization’s mission and has aided in finding permanent homes for thousands of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. She regularly assists in the Animal League’s puppy mill rescues where she lovingly helps with their safe transport, in addition to advocating for adoption of senior pets and encouraging people who cannot adopt to foster an animal. Beth and her husband Howard are the proud pet parents of Bulldog Bianca and three adopted Animal League cats, Apple, Walter and Leon Bear.
Animal advocate Beth Stern says anyone can help protect animals by adopting a pet—or at least supporting no-kill shelters.
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