Hey, it’s been a minute since I last wrote, hasn’t it?
Lately I’ve been distracted by a HUGE project that is exciting and scary and so, so important to me. It’s a dream I’ve had ever since the first time I stepped into a southern animal shelter and saw what was happening, and thought, “How the heck can this be going on in this country?”
This country is big-hearted, generous, and completely obsessed with dogs. How do I know this?
Beyond the sheer numbers (approximately 80 million), and my own personal addiction to dogs, I’ve seen evidence elsewhere.
I have a weird habit of reading the obituaries every day in my local paper. I’m so fascinated by the characters I meet there and the impact they have on their worlds. Every single day at least one obituary requests that memorial gifts be donated to the local SPCA or another animal charity.
One of the unexpected but wonderful parts of fostering 200 animals has been the people I meet. The adopters who have driven up my driveway to meet their future furbabies come from every walk of life and political spectrum. The other volunteers come in every stripe and flavor. No matter, they all become friends because we care about these animals. Animals are bigger than politics, attitudes, prejudices, and histories. We rise above in the name of saving these animals.
So I was stunned each time I’ve walked through nearly fifty shelters, rescues, and dog pounds. How can this be happening? Is always my first thought, and the second is—If only other people could see this.
In my book, 100 Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues, I mentioned that I wished I could make a film to show the world what I was seeing.
Well, that is finally happening. Our initiative, Who Will Let the Dogs Out, in partnership with Farnival Films, is creating a short documentary, Amber’s Halfway Home, about rescue in the dog pounds of western Tennessee.
The film crew has already donated so many hours to this project, but to finish the film and get it to festivals, theaters, and ultimately the hearts and minds that can bring change, we need money. I’ve created a Kickstarter to raise those funds and we are running out of time.
If you’re familiar with Kickstarter, you know it’s a fundraising platform that offers a great way to showcase a project and raise money. It is also an all or nothing venture, which means if we don’t raise our money by the deadline (March 31), we won’t get any of it.
The days are ticking down, and I am reaching far and wide with this plea. I’m not asking for your money, not really, what I need more is your reach. If you can share our Kickstarter with the dog-hearted people you know, I will be eternally grateful.
On our Kickstarter page, you can find more information about the project and the creators, plus learn about the potential rewards for our backers. You’ll also find buttons there to share the Kickstarter on Facebook or twitter, or by email. Please help us spread the word.
This is a fixable problem. I believe that with all my heart. Dogs do not suffer and die in this country because people don’t care, but because they don’t know.
Help us tell them.
Kickstarter link: http://kck.st/3uWPmO7
Hey, thanks for reading. I know you’ve got lots of options, so thanks for sharing a few of your minutes with me.
Honored,
Cara
My latests novel, Blind Turn is a mother-daughter story of forgiveness in the aftermath of a fatal texting and driving accident. Learn more about it and find out how to get your copy here.
If you’re curious about what else I’m up to, check out my website, CaraWrites.com.
If you’d like to subscribe to my (sometimes) monthly e-newsletter, click here.
And If you’re a dog lover, check out my other blog, Another Good Dog. And if you want to know what is really happening in the animal shelters in this country, visit, Who Will Let the Dogs Out.
I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, twitter, or Instagram, and I’m thrilled to get email from readers (and writers), you can reach me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.
My book, 100 Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues was released July 2020 from Pegasus books and is available anywhere books are sold, but if you’d like some help finding it (or want to read some lovely reviews), click here.
My Life in Paragraphs 