r ere! (eg x / Ct SJ es Join the Mutt-i-grees Movement: Save an Animal’s Life by Beth Stern (NAPSA)—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 mixedbreeds—puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats. And while their individuality makes each of these Mutt-igrees 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 wasdelighted to participate in the recently launched Mutt-i-grees Movement Campaign. This included the debut of a Public Service Announcement, which you Animal advocate Beth Stern says anyone can help protect animals by adopting a pet—orat least supporting no-kill shelters. http://www.animalleague.org/even ts-news/events/the-mutt-i-greesmovement.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 Mutti-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-igrees Curriculum educates the next generation to be confident, caring and to make 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-themedactivities. Raising awareness of the Mutti-grees Movement can change the can view, download and share at b Bid 2 = 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 homesfor 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 Howardare the proud pet parents of Bulldog Bianca and three adopted Animal League cats, Apple, Walter and Leon Bear.
