The Giving Challenge is Today! (newsletter)

Today is the Giving Challenge. To make a donation eligible for the matching opportunities, visit our Giving Partner page here: https://givingpartnerchallenge.org/npo/forget-me-not-inc View this email in your browser

We've been preparing all year for today. If you follow our Facebook page, you've probably already seen a ton of this, but we have cute Thumper photos down below for you, so hang in there! Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, donations made between noon today (Tuesday, Sep. 20) and noon tomorrow will be matched. If you donated to our rescue last year through the Giving Challenge, your donation of $25-$100 will be doubled. If this is your first time, your donation will be tripled. This is an amazing opportunity for our dogs! Last year, we were able to use the Giving Challenge funds to move our dogs to a new location, build all new kennels, and double the kennel space for some of our larger dogs. This is a pretty huge deal for us. $25 goes a long way out here at the kennels, but it goes quickly. The fact that our donors are able to triple their generous donations is almost unbelievable to us, and we hope you're just as excited about it as we are. To make a donation eligible for this matching opportunity, donate via this link before noon on Sep. 21: https://givingpartnerchallenge.org/npo/forget-me-not-inc Check out our Giving Challenge Video Share Tweet Forward Share Our partnership with Animal Services We share a common goal with Manatee County Animal Services: We want to see these dogs get great homes. We were thrilled when MCAS director Sarah Brown agreed to partner with us for the Best Business Partner challenge this year. Immediately, we began to plan an adoption event for the dogs at the county shelter. We decided to call it "Clear the Shelter" because that was the ultimate dream. Sarah Brown believes being a No-Kill county shelter is achievable, and of course we will do whatever we can to help her in that mission. The kennels were overflowing with dogs, and still are, but by working together with Animal Services to promote this event and bring our event to life, we were able to help the county shelter adopt out 25 cats and 27 dogs in two days. While our primary goal was adoptions and clearing kennels at the county shelter, we also set out to educate people on the dog overpopulation crisis in our area and how easy it is for great dogs to slip through the cracks and become forgotten in a crowded shelter. That is the whole idea behind our UnforgettaBULL campaign. So many people were astonished by the number of pit bull-type dogs filling up the kennels, and some of those people ended up going home with one of those blocky-headed friends. We couldn't have asked for a better outcome.  Also, we sold some awesome t-shirts to benefit our rescue dogs! If you want some fashion tips, you can start by shopping at our RedBubble store. We will also be selling t-shirts today, so keep up with our whereabouts on Facebook if you want to stop by and grab some UnforgettaBULL wear. Profits from merchandise purches go straight to our dogs! We couldn't leave him behind. During our Clear the Shelter eventwith Manatee County Animal Services, our president Debbie fell in love with a charming little dog named Thumper. Honestly, we all fell in love with him. I'm pretty sure it's not humanly possible to meet this dog and not love him. Twenty-seven dogs were adopted that weekend, but people just kept passing by Thumper's kennel. It could be that he was saving all of his charm for us Forget-Me-Not volunteers, but it was probably the deformity of his front left paw that was turning people away. His deformity might be a little hard to look past for some... But he's just our type! According to his vet records from Dr. Ashley Kanzler of Desoto Animal Clinic, the deformity is likely from an old fracture that never healed properly. This gives us hope that we'll be able to get Thumper corrective surgery for his leg and he'll soon be in ship shape! We scooped the little guy up at the end of the Clear the Shelter event on Saturday and we all giggled as we gave him kisses and loaded him into the van. Thumper is less than a year old, and soon enough we'll find him a new home to enjoy the rest of his long, healthy life in. The freedom ride was glorious, and it was a beautiful end to a beautiful day. Be the One to help us help dogs like Thumper! It's thanks to our community that we're able to do this at all. This is truly an amazing 'village'. He still needs a lot of veterinary care, so we sure will appreciate any donations sent our way in Thumper's name! Donate here during the Giving Challenge: https://givingpartnerchallenge.org/npo/forget-me-not-inc We are not only a rescue, but a sanctuary. We have some residents that we know may never leave us. Some of our dogs are still overcoming traumas that keep them at a sanctuary status, and some will never recover, but they're safe here. We love these dogs. They're our family. We knew what we were getting ourselves into by becoming a No-Kill rescue and housing sanctuary dogs, and part of that responsibility is affording lifelong care for dogs that will never be adopted. An example of this is Hero, our resident "Dangerous Dog" designee (AKA victim of a weird and outdated law that was recently turned upside down by Padi's case). We agreed to give him sanctuary to save his life. We strive to give these sanctuary dogs as comfortable an enclosure as we can, and provide them with walks, socialization, and toys to play with every day. We want it to feel like a home for them. Please consider making a donation today during the Giving Challenge so we can continue caring for these special dogs. Donate here: https://givingpartnerchallenge.org/npo/forget-me-not-inc We're on tour right now! (Around town) We grabbed some pups and hit the road! We'll be popping up all over town to find adopters for our dogs, meet new friends, and let people know about the Giving Challenge. We'll be touring the town for 24 hours during the Giving Challenge to celebrate 24 hours of online giving. We'll be starting out around noon in Downtown Bradenton in our "tour bus" (OK -- it's actually an RV, but it's big and has couches... and dogs!). If you would like to join the Forget-Me-Not Tour or you have a great place for us to stop by and show off pups, send us a shout out on Facebook or e-mail us by replying to this message! Here's a list of places you might find us partying with pups throughout the day and night: - Downtown - Riverwalk - Kelsey's - Baddabing - O'Leary's - St. Armand's - Main Street in Sarasota Where will we pop up next?  Appreciate what we do for the pups? Driving an RV is actually pretty challenging. Donate here for the Giving Challenge so we can keep making life better for homeless dogs: https://givingpartnerchallenge.org/npo/forget-me-not-inc

Thank you to the generous sponsors of the Giving Challenge. You're helping people save dogs. Copyright © 2016 Forget-Me-Not, Inc., All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you are on the mailing list for Forget-Me-Not, Inc., a No-Kill Animal Rescue in Manatee County. Our mailing address is: Forget-Me-Not, Inc. 4025 Cattlemen Road Sarasota, FL 34233

Be The One - Giving Challenge 2016

This video was made by our very own volunteers and dogs. (Yes, the dogs helped.) Let us know what you think! You can donate to us through the Giving Challenge via this link: https://givingpartnerchallenge.org/npo/forget-me-not-inc

That link will only be live from noon on Sep. 20 to noon on Sep. 21

Let's get this party started!

Special Edition Forget-Me-Not Newlestter (Giving Challenge 2016)

We're here to save dogs. Are you in? View this email in your browser Share this Newsletter Tweet it too! & Forward it to your friends We save local dogs from death row. We try our best to save as many as we can. We work with what we have but of course we're limited by space, able bodies, and by funding. But honestly, our community does a pretty great job of keeping us running smoothly, and for that we can't thank you enough! We are based in the Manatee-Sarasota area. Most of our dogs come straight fromManatee County Animal Services and the farthest out we go to rescue dogs is an occasional trip to Highlands County, also known as Sebring. That means your donation and your hard work stays in this community. We believe euthanasia is meant only for the terminally ill dogs that have no comfort left in life, and we are proud to be a No-Kill rescue. We love these dogs. They're our dogs until they're adopted, and we treat each one of them as loved family pets -- because that's what they are. So here's the news Online, on September 20th & 21st our incredible supporters have the opportunity to have their donations matched (doubled if you donated through the Giving Challenge last year, tripled if this is your first time participating with us in the Giving Challenge.) This is thanks to the generous sponsors of the Giving Challenge listed below, and the whole event is hosted by the Sarasota Community Foundation. We will receive a donation link that lasts only 24 hours from noon to noon through which eligible donations can be made. We will be sharing that link like crazy on our facebook page. Early pledges may also be made by phone at any time before the challenge. Simply call our trusted board member Stephanie at (941) 962-4090 to make your pledge. The theme this year is 'Be The One', which we totally love. The whole point is that anyone can be the one to make a difference. It doesn't matter if you're dropping a $100 donation or a $25 donation this year, whether you can bring a foster dog into your home or just hold a leash for 5 minutes, you are making a difference. We're not a big organization, we just have big hearts. We know the names of everyone who comments on our Facebook posts and supports us through PayPal and our YouCaring fundraisers. You mean so much to us and we love that you believe in what we're doing here. Our Next Event We are thrilled that Manatee County Animal Services agreed to partner with us for the "Best Business Partnership Challenge" this year, and we expect great adoption success for the animals in our county shetler from our joint Clear the Shelter 2-day Event this Friday and Saturday. We sure hope you'll come out and see us! #UnforgettaBULL We are also promoting our UnforgettaBULL campaign, through which we hope to bring light to the dogs who are overlooked at the shelter and are in danger of being forgotten or falling through the cracks. This often means seniors, pit bulls, dogs in need of medical care or behavioral rehab, or simply unlucky pups who run out of time. Our millennial design team also came up with some new t-shirts. Grab yours at the event this weekend Sep. 16th & 17th So, we hope we've earned your support this year. If we didn't, we can promise you we are constantly learning how to better our organization and grow larger and stronger as a team. Last year, the results from the Giving Challenge were astounding and your support allowed us to build new kennels for every dog in our rescue during our move to the new location. We were also able to double the kennel space for some of our larger dogs and build raised beds for every kennel. We're so proud of how far we've come, and we hope you will stick around to see our progress for next year! How To Donate If you'd like to make a donation to Forget-Me-Not for the Giving Challenge but you're so excited that you just can't wait, give us a call at (941) 962-4090 to make your pledge now. Donations between $25 and $100 are eligible for the matching opportunities. Otherwise, we will be sent a donation link on September 20th that will last for just 24 hours. Through this link, our supporters will be able to make donations eligible for double & triple matching. We'll be sending out an email with that link and also sharing it on our Facebook page during the challenge on September 20th and 21st. To spread the message and help our dogs find more people like you, share this newsletter with your friends Share this Newsletter Tweet it too! & Forward it to your friends Click here to view a video that tells you all about us in a 24-second nutshell. We save them all. Huge thanks to the generous sponsors and all contributors that make the Giving Challenge possible The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, William G. and Maria Selby Foundation, The Patterson Foundation, Knight Foundation, Herald-Tribune Media Group, and Manatee Community Foundation Copyright © 2016 Forget-Me-Not, Inc., All rights reserved.

Sanctuary Spotlight; Hero's Story

This is my glamour shot, aren't I a handsome boy?
(Photo credit: Bret Ballenger) 

I’m Hero! People who know me say I’m a big mushy faced love bug who is just as sweet as can be! People who don’t know me decided to call me a ‘dangerous dog’ because of a big misunderstanding. You see, I was in a home once after being rescued from a life of neglect and abuse.Somehow I got out of the gate one day and decided to go on an adventure. Looking back, that wasn’t one of my best decisions but I can’t change the past! Anyways, while I was enjoying all the smells the world has to offer, I wandered into someones private yard. Turns out those people didn’t like my kind, so the lady started chasing me with a broom! How was I supposed to know I wasn’t allowed to smell the things in her yard? Long story short, she was chasing me with her big scary broom, so I ran for the first safe looking place I could find because it was terrifying! That safe place happened to be her house, and somehow amidst the chaos her daughter was scratched on her chest. I didn’t mean to hurt her, I was just trying to say hello while running from the scary lady with the broom. 

My Mugshot from doggie jail

Betty: Grey Muzzle, So Whatzzle?!

"Is this a good angle?"

Betty (affectionately known around here as Betty Boop) was pulled back in 2013 from our local Manatee County Animal Services when the dog overpopulation called for more kennel space. She arrived at Animal Services after being confiscated by police when her owner was evicted from his home. She found herself middle-aged and homeless, and it wasn't her fault. She came to us 5 years old, thin as a rail, heartworm positive and sassy as all get out.

Two days after being sprung from the crowded shelter, Betty surprised us all by giving birth. Only one of her two puppies survived, but she was a determined little rascal. She was a spitting image of Betty -- a little mini-me. Betty's pup quickly found a great home and Betty continued her medical care so she could be placed for adoption and find a family of her own.

Betty's all-time favorite toy:
The Rubber Chicken

Eventually, Betty put on a healthy amount of weight (although if you ask some of us, she could stand to lose a few pounds) and began to look like the normal, happy dog she is. She was spayed so there would be no more surprise puppies in her future (something we do for every dog who walks through our doors) and we made sure she had all the medications she needed to fully recover from her heartworms.

A year passed and Betty spent her days walking and lounging with kennel staff and volunteers when they were around, chewing on her favorite toy (a rubber chicken), and using her big doe eyes to convince us all to give her treats whenever we had them. Her photos were on all of the adoption sites, and she often made an appearance on facebook looking for suiters, but she didn't score any dates. (If only we could photograph inner beauty, online-dating and dog rescue would be a whole different ball game.) Another year passed, and still Betty's only family remained the volunteers, kennel staff, and barking neighbor-friends that surrounded her.

"Did I say you could stop rubbing my belly?"

Somehow time has flown, and Betty's third anniversary with our rescue is quickly approaching. Nothing in this sweet dog's life has ever been fair, but each day when we are greeted by her exuberant wiggles we're reminded to keep our heads up and persevere, because she's not going to let anything ruin even one single day for her, and we know her forever home is out there. Betty ended up homeless due to no fault of her own, and the only reason she hasn't found love is because she's overlooked due to the grey around her muzzle. She's an amazing dog, and she will be someone's very best friend some day. #BeTheOne to see past the grey.

Betty is a huge inspiration for our new campaign, #UnforgettaBULL, in which we hope to educate the community on the plight of pit bull-type dogs and other dogs that are overlooked based on health, age, or appearance. These dogs often end up falling through the cracks, and no dog deserves to be forgotten. Our goal is to remind you that all they need is a second chance and a little extra time, and to think of dogs as individuals, not statistics.

#GivingChallenge16 #SeniorDogsRock #GreyIsGreat #OldDogNewTricks #Adopt

Betty makes an appearance on our UnforgettaBULL t-shirts (far right)

Interested in meeting Betty? Fill out an application here, we'd be thrilled to hear from you!

Follow us on Facebook for more updates on our dogs and the #UnforgettaBULL campaign.

Giving Challenge 2016: Reflecting on 2015

Before Forget-Me-Not, Inc. begins our second year of participation in the Giving Challenge, we would like to take a moment to share how your monetary donations were used during the Giving Challenge 2015.  All of the Forget-Me-Not family appreciates your donations.  We strive to maximize their impact on the lives and welfare of the dogs in our no kill rescue.
Your monetary gifts from the Giving Challenge 2015 allowed us to:
• Double the kennel space for our largest dog.
• Make 35 dog kennels more comfortable by improving the flooring and bedding.  Our volunteers built 10 new beds and painted them in bright Disney colors.  
• Purchase new toys designed for strong chewers (most weigh 50 pounds or more).
• Provide heartworm/flea/tick preventative for all dogs.
• Buy dog food, $25-$30 feeds one dog for one month.
We are fortunate that many of our donors are also volunteers.  The experience of working together was invaluable.  The Giving Challenge 2015 afforded us the opportunity to increase our knowledge and the community’s awareness of our rescue.  We added a small army of committed volunteers, which includes our millennial multimedia crew.  The millennials revamped our graphics to appeal to a wider demographic.  As a result, we gained fosters, donors, volunteers, and followers on social media. 

We are especially proud and thankful that 14 of our awesome, long-term dogs (over one year in shelter) found homes after the Giving Challenge 2015.  Your donations allowed us to continue to provide excellent care to these special dogs. The donation you made during the 24-hour period of the Giving Challenge 2015 resulted in the largest donation in the history of Forget-Me-Not rescue.  Each and every person who donated made a difference.  It means the world to us that you decided to Be The One to open your heart to our homeless dogs.  
Although our dogs receive love and attention each and every day, it is the only thing we provide that is free.  We rely 100% on donations to pay for  food, toys, medical care, shelter, cleaning, upkeep, and transportation.  Without your help, we could not continue to care for our dogs.
We ask for your continued support during the Giving Challenge 2016, from noon on September 20 to noon on September 21.  During this 24-hour time period, your donation will make the greatest impact.  The Patterson Foundation will triple donations of up to $100 from new donors and double donations of up to $100 from returning donors. You can Be The One to make a difference and help our homeless dogs.
We will be announcing events over the next few weeks leading up to the Giving Challenge 2016.  
The 2016 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation, as well as support from Manatee Community Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, and the Herald-Tribune Media Group. View our Giving Partner Profile here: Forget-Me-Not, Inc. Giving Partner Profile