Oh My Dog!

obsessed with dogs

Lessons from the Campaign to End BSL

You want to hear something crazy?

I am STILL getting postcards emailed to me! It’s one month past the deadline, and I’m still printing and going to the post office on a weekly basis!

Plus, as a reminder, I’m still collecting comments to be postcard messages. Click on this post to leave your comment to help end BSL!

When I launched the campaign, I was terrified that no one would participate. But I’ve been so surprised and so thrilled around every turn. Throughout this process, I’ve learned so much… more than could fit in a single blog post, but here are a few of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from the Campaign to End BSL:

  • I learned that there are a lot of people who care, people who care enough to take action: create a postcard, write an email, tweet, post on Facebook, and so much more. There are literally thousands of people willing to step up and do something because of how much they care.
  • I learned that there are many, many people who have never heard of breed-specific legislation. Even if it takes a lot longer for Denver to enact change, I learned that the education component was just as – if not more – important than the protest component. I wish I would’ve kept track of how many people said, “I never knew.” Or how many of you told me about the opportunities you had to educate. That metric would have been invaluable.
  • On the flip side, I learned just how far there is to go in rehabilitating the “pit bull” image. I only received a couple angry emails, but while I was researching bully news stories, I started reading the comments sections. And oh boy. Bully breeds have a huge obstacle to overcome: public perception.
  • Lastly, I learned that if you just put an idea out there, there are people everywhere who want to help. While the postcards may not have been the best idea (too expensive, too complicated to create, etc.), it activated people.

So it’s time to launch the next idea. I have a few thoughts floating around that I need to get down on paper. But I’d love to hear your suggestions.

What else can we do to rehabilitate the public’s perception of bully breeds?

We’re going to get Denver’s attention!

The current count is ::drumroll:: 568 postcards!!!!

At last count two weeks ago, we were at 409, so this has been a huge leap forward. Keep up the momentum, everyone!! Have you posted the campaign on your Facebook page yet? Here’s the direct link to the postcard instructions: http://ohmydogblog.com/campaign-to-end-bsl-operation-denver/

I am so proud and so excited! When I launched the campaign, the mile-long stretch of postcards was sort of this crazy idea, albeit a little gimmicky. After I posted the first post about the campaign, I remember turning to hubby and saying, “Oh.my.gosh. What if I don’t get a single one?”

So the fact that you have made 568 postcards ready to be a loud voice for these animals… I consider this a humongous success already!

We have SEVEN WEEKS left until BlogPaws, the postcard deadline. If we all work together, I think we can double that number. What do you say?

Here are some ways you can help:

  • Make another postcard! I’ll be making 10 this weekend!
  • Share the campaign link on your Facebook page.
  • Blog about BSL and encourage your readers to ACT!
  • Tweet with the #endBSL hashtag.
  • Any other ideas? Anything I’m forgetting?

And, once again, thank you so much for all your help and support and everyone’s time in creating postcards and spreading the message. We are definitely going to get Denver’s attention!

Puppy love

Can you even stand this darling face??

“My doctrine is this: that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and we do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.”
— Anna Sewell, English Novelist

*Have you checked out Be the Change for Animals yet? I’m excited and honored that the Campaign to End BSL is the first featured project, but bookmark the site and check in weekly for simple steps you can take to help animals!

I’d rather be snuggling my puppies

Today’s going to be a little short… I’m heading off to do a Women Build project for Habitat for Humanity. In the rain. At 7:15 am. The forecast is for a torrential downpour starting at 6 am, with intermittent sprinklings of thunderstorms until 6 pm. The kind of day perfect for snuggling under some blankets with puppies and a movie. Not wielding a hammer. Ah, well. It’ll be fun!

Depending on the thunder situation, this may be what Lucas does today!

So instead of a full post, I thought I’d leave you with a few bullet points:

  • Don’t forget to submit your postcard! Thanks to everyone who’s taken the time to create really inspiring postcards. We can bring about change, I just know it.
  • With humongous thanks to Rod at GoPetFriendly.com for his brilliant idea, today at 3:00 pm EST, please tweet with the #endBSL hashtag. We can make BSL a trending topic! (I scheduled my tweet in advance, since I’ll be knee-deep in mud and construction equipment.)
  • I started collecting BSL-related blog posts. If you have one, please leave it in the comments, and I’ll add it to the End BSL link library!
  • Check back on Monday because I’m holding a giveaway! Two, actually!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Make sure to schedule some time to just sit and snuggle your pets – it’s as good for you as it is for them!

Why it’s crucial to end BSL

Note: Every Tuesday during the Campaign to End BSL: Operation Denver, I will write about BSL and related issues and provide a campaign status update. I’ll also link to other bloggers who do the same! And just as a reminder, the official hashtag is #endBSL.

Emmett, my inspiration

So now that the Campaign to End BSL: Operation Denver is underway, let’s take a step back to think about exactly why it’s so important to stop any breed-discriminatory legislation. In my opinion, here are the three most important reasons that BSL must end:

  • While most cities target “pit bulls,” other cities are starting to expand breed bans. For instance, Clarksdale, MS arbitrarily added Rottweilers to their ordinance. As BSL starts to take hold, it will become easier for legislators to tack on additional breeds, further restricting responsible dog owners from owning the dogs they truly love.
  • BSL lets irresponsible dog owners off the hook. A neglectful owner who, for example, chains his dog in his backyard will chain his dog regardless of whether it’s a pit bull, a husky, or a Golden Retriever. Dog bites are usually caused by owners who haven’t properly socialized, trained, or contained their dog. The responsibility needs to be on dog owners, not dog breeds.
  • And, most importantly, dogs are dying. They’re dying simply for how they look. It’s cruel, and it’s unfair. I stumbled across an image that drove this point home and has made me become even more resolute in this campaign. I debated on whether or not to include the link to this image. I decided to post to it to help drive the severity of the situation and the seriousness behind this campaign. However, I have to warn you: THIS is a very graphic image.

There are a lot of phenomenal bloggers who will be tackling this issue as well, and I’m excited to compile all the links to share. Because, really, education is power. The more we empower people with BSL knowledge, the more likely it is that we’ll effect change.

And now for the campaign update (pause for drum roll):

The postcards are coming in! I’m so, so excited! Amy and Rod from GoPetFriendly.com made a great one with a message from their dogs, Buster and Ty. I’m going to start posting them to the Oh My Dog! blog Facebook page.

And I can’t wait to see YOUR postcard! So get creating, and start encouraging your networks to create postcards, too! We need a total of 10,560 (minus the few that have come in!) and some of you have more Twitter followers than that. I know we can do this. We can get Mayor Hickenlooper’s attention!

Also, I’ve received a total of $50 in donations to offset printing and mailing. That $50 will pay for 500 postcards! Thank you so, so much. When the first donation and the first postcard came in… you guys, I’m not gonna lie, I shed a few tears because I’m so proud of everyone for stepping up to end BSL!