They Work So Hard...

Since there is a little "lull in the action" for the Beagles team, I thought I'd share some news from our county Animal Welfare League, which is my "charity of choice." The Trumbull Co. (Ohio) AWL was founded 40 years ago, and their non-kill animal shelter has been helping unwanted and homeless animals for 25 years. So many of these animals have found happy homes through the efforts of the AWL's volunteers. The AWL is totally a volunteer-run, non-profit organization, and this year they have plans to build a new, modern, eco-friendly Animal Welfare Care and Education Center. The TrumCoAWL (AWLTC) has recently opened a big new thrift shop, The Menagerie, and people donate unwanted items to the store. All sales directly benefit the shelter and its inhabitants! :0)
I love the thrift store, and shop there frequently! Don't be surprised if many of my necklaces contain components bought at The Menagerie. I also do my part by donating necklaces to the AWL's fundraisers for the Chinese auctions held at the events. All my sold team challenge entries also have a percentage of the sale donated to the AWL. In these tough economic times, I wish I could do more, but the AWL ladies I've dealt with have been very appreciative. In other words, every little bit helps!
When I received the latest AWL newsletter, I was surprised by the statistics. Bear in mind, Trumbull County, Ohio is not a huge metropolitan area. Even so, the numbers were staggering. I'm sure many people have no idea, as I did not, how many man/woman-hours are involved with running the shelter. I hope my AWL doesn't mind if I share a condensed version of their 2008 statistics that were published in the "Paw Prints, Fall 2009" newsletter: Shelter received 7,016 calls. 1,399 animals were taken into shelter. There were 846 adoptions through the shelter. 83 animals were returned to their owner (BTW, the AWL offers micro-chipping for your pet). 28 animals were released to rescue, and 2 squirrels were released to the wild. Working Hr. emergencies included 129 calls re: 168 animals. These calls required 115 hrs., 55 min. of time and 2,028 miles. After Hour emergencies included 233 calls re: 304 animals. These calls required 321 hrs., 39 min., and 5,874 miles. The shelter Volunteers Hours were 6,277. These volunteers were able to help 4,089 animals and 3,358 people. The AWLTC also had 668 calls for Cruelty/Neglect Investigations for 2,218 animals. The calls required 699 hrs. and 11,557 miles. The top two reasons for the calls were animals with no shelter and/or no food.
These wonderful volunteers are very busy people with incredibly unselfish and caring hearts! Huge "Paws Up" to all of them, and best wishes for success with the new shelter and thrift shop! You can visit the AWLTC website for more information, ways to help, and animals up for adoption. Thanks to all the caring people who give their time and open their homes and hearts to animals!

We Have A Winner!

The Etsy Beagle Street team would like to thank all 18 people who voted in our Bark to School team challenge blog giveaway! The following link shows how we choose the winner in our giveaways. It's not a high-tech method, but it is so very beagle! The "judge" is Flash, who owns MsAnomaly, and is sort of our team mascot. I'm sorry I had to use photos and video together, but controlling the hound made a continuous video a little difficult! Here is my flickr set with the photos and video. They are in order in the set, and I hope you enjoy seeing Flash in action! Congratulations to QuirkynBerkeley! Please contact Kerrie at Cody's Creations to claim your prize. Remember, you get to choose the collar of your choice from Kerrie's shop. You lucky dog! :0)

EBST's Bark To School Team Challenge Giveaway!

Want to win a fabulous prize from Cody'sCreations? Then enter to win the Etsy Beagles Team challenge giveaway contest!

Check out our awesome entries:





Here are the links to the entries above (as shown in picture left to right; top to bottom):

Codyscreations: The Pocket
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30824843

2RavenChicks: Hey Diddle, Diddle Charm Necklace
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30266003

creativecomforts07: Bark to School Pooch Poncho
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30237181

CodysCloset : Bark to School Dog Coat with Pockets
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30822290

MsAnomaly: Beaded Linked Necklace with Dog Brooch Pendant
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30111382

BeagleBeads: Rainbow Bracelet
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29559051

FrumsGlassMenagerie: Waiting Beagle Hand
Painted Fused Glass Pendant/Necklace
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30404258


Here's how to enter:

First, visit the entries from the shops linked above for a close-up view of our Bark to School challenge entries. Then, come back here and post to tell us your favorite challenge item and/or shop (the item doesn't have to be from your favorite shop and vice versa). And that's it! You're entered.

*One entry per person. Sorry, only those in the U.S. are eligible to win. Contest begins Wed., 9/16, and ends on Sat., 9/19 at 11:59 PM, EST. Winner will be chosen randomly from all entries on Sunday, 9/20.

*We'll announce the winner here on our blog, so make sure you check back to claim your prize! The winner will receive a dog collar of his/her choice from Cody's Creations. If you're the winner, contact Kerrie at Cody's Creations via her Etsy shop.

*Winner will have until Wed., Sept. 23rd to contact Kerrie to claim their prize. If winner doesn't claim prize before that date, we'll select an alternate winner, who will then have until Sun., Sept. 27th to claim their prize.

*Sorry, Beagles Team members, you aren't eligible to enter this contest.

Thanks for checking out our latest team challenge! MsAnomaly and the Etsy Beagle Street Team

Shine A Light on "Gertie Gear ... an end to throwaway pet beds."

Hello beagle lovers. I'd be grateful for a couple minutes of your time and your "vote" by SEPT 13TH... double that if a few others you know can help too. ;-)

Gertie Gear has been nominated in Amex sponsored Shine A Light on small biz contest for a chance to win up to $100,000 in grants and marketing support.

Each "voter" needs to REGISTER and provide their contact info to prove they are a human -- then vote (endorse) just once. No spam, they just want to hinder "ballot stuffing".

The top three finalists, chosen by judges each receive a $10,000 grant.
Then the winner will be chosen by popular vote an receive a $50,000 grant plus $50,000 in marketing support.

Link to my endorsement "story": http://shinealight.ivillage.com/sbo-profile/?ProfileID=3496

TO VOTE/ENDORSE (first round deadline is SEPT 13)
1) you have to "register" (there's a word only link on the top right of the page).
2) then either link back to my page or search the nominees for "Gertie Gear".
3) finally, click the "Support this story ENDORSE NOW" button on the top left side.
The button text should change to indicate your choice was recorded.








Thank you SO much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Julie and GERTIE, CSB (Chief Senior Beagle @ www.GertieGear.com)

Team Spotlight! interview with The Ginger Card Company

MsAnomaly's interview with gingercardco:

1. When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?
December 07, I think.

2. How did you select your shop's name?
Ginger is my first dog's name. I've been making cards for my parents with the GingerCardCo "copyright" on them since I got Ginger from the Humane Society 8 years ago.

3. What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?
A 'zine called Peace to All Creatures that I designed and edited with a friend I met through the Etsy for Animals Team. I make necklaces, notecards and notebooks with dog illustrations. I also have some felt (spun from reycled plastic bottles) accessories, and jewelry with city maps.

4. How did you become involved in your craft?
I've made handmade cards for my parents since I was a kid.

5. Explain your favorite part of the creative process.
When the glaze is dry and I don't have to worry about ruining it! Also, I'm on the computer all day for work, so it's nice to sit at the craft table and NOT look at the computer!

6. Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?
I also sell at a local art co-op in Orlando.

7. So far, what project are you most proud of?
The zine, for sure. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26606237

8. What advice can you give to someone who would like to learn your craft?
hummm... making jewelry takes patience - I always ruin it by checking to see if the glaze is dry - and it's not!

9. What motivated you to join the Etsy Beagle Street Team?
I have a beagle, Buddy, that I adopted from Orange County Animal Control when he was 5 - he's 9 now. I volunteer at the local dogpark, and I bring my other dog Kyanne, (who is not a beagle) to Beagle MeetUps there - Buddy can't handle a bunch of big strange dogs at one time, so he can't go to the dogpark. My friend who runs the MeetUp group has adopted 4 beagles and has 2 foster beagles, so Buddy goes to her house for playdates. I volunteer on Sundays at Pet Rescue by Judy's shelter. I'm on the Handmade4Hounds management team, and I'm about to join the Vegan Etsy Team, since I have recently become vegan. Teams are GREAT places to meet like-minded people. I recently met in person for the first time the friend I do the 'zine with - we went to an animal rights conference in L.A.

10. Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, etc.)?
I don't keep up my blog very well, but I'd like to... www.loveginger.blogspot.com/
Flickr, where there are some really cute pictures of Buddy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24627761@N02/