How I Came Across Pets Alive

I was surfing the web, looking for rodeo abuse articles to link to, and I came across this article on SHARK:

After seeing videos of the 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo from SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20 decided to withdraw from the line-up.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Headliner Withdraws! Matchbox Twenty Cites Rodeo Animal Abuse

Press Release Found on SHARK:

April 10, 2008
Regrettably, Matchbox Twenty will not be able to perform at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 18th. After careful consideration it was decided that the participating in this event would directly contradict the mission statement of SIDEWALK ANGELS FOUNDATION, our non profit organization. The other members of Matchbox Twenty support this decision and while we understand that a great deal of effort went into the planning of this show, and apologize to any and all fans who purchased tickets to see us, we ask that they please understand that it would be impossible for us to put ourselves in the position of making money from what we believe to be the mistreatment of animals.
Sincerely,
Rob and Marisol Thomas and The Sidewalk Angels Foundation

How incredible is that?

Plenty of people just go about their business every day, not doing anything more than they need to in order to get by. Some people find it's good PR to "sponsor" or be founding members of a non-profit organization.

And then you have Rob and Marisol Thomas and Matchbox 20 actually going out there and doing incredible things with their non-profit organization, and standing ground with it. They could have easily still headlined that show, but they chose to stick with their beliefs and not play.

I thought that was just incredible. Here are people that don't need to think about anyone but themselves showing the entire world they really do care.

On that note, Bon Jovi and several others have been shown videos of rodeo abuse as well. The show went on.

So of course I checked out the Sidewalk Angels Foundation website.

From there, I found a link to Pets Alive, read about Rob and Marisol Thomas's experience there and passion for them, and just fell in love with the place.

Sidewalk Angels Foundation

"Established by Rob and Marisol Thomas, Sidewalk Angels Foundation is a New York-based non-profit organization that works hand-in-hand with charities in and around America's big cities. Life in the city can be so fast that those in need are often passed by. People who are destitute or homeless and get lost in the system; those who cannot afford proper medical care; animals that have been abandoned or abused -- these are universal problems that Sidewalk Angels encourages people to address locally."

Rob and Marisol Thomas also help support Pets Alive.

Pets Alive

"Pets Alive is a no-kill animal shelter, located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, about 1 1/2 hours from New York City. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and place animals in need. Victims of neglect, abuse, and violence, many of them have special needs and have been rejected by other organizations.
Animals at the sanctuary range from dogs and cats to farm animals, exotic birds, and many others. Many of the animals at Pets Alive are older, have special needs or require special care."

I think any organization that really helps the sick and the homeless (human or non-human) is just incredible.

But the heart and passion that go directly into Pets Alive is like none other. It's not like larger organizations where they mostly encourage you to donate your wallet to them, then spend it all on mass mail and advertising.

Pets Alive has actual NEEDS, and they're not evening gowns for events praising all the good they do. Have some new dog toys? An extra 100 foot garden hose? 3-lb paper trays? Paper towels? Know how to paint a fence or a barn maybe? Monetary donations are of course welcome as well, and it all goes towards these things in the first place.