Other Valentine Art on
T-shirts, Gifts, and More

Valentine Gifts for
Your Loved Ones

Below: Sample Valentines
from Many of our Helpers

Is Your Dog the Love of Your Life?
Help Us Make Other Dogs as Lucky
During our Have a Heart for Chained Dogs
2012 Valentine Campaign

Join us February 7-14th for Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week. OUR GOAL in our 10th Anniversary Season is to SEND OUT 18,000 VALENTINES TO CHAINED or PENNED DOGS.

We are striving to raise awareness for chained and penned dogs in a positive way...by delivering Valentines, a brochure and a treat coupon to dogs living outside all over the U.S. and into other countries where we have representation, such as Canada and England.

Here's where you come in:

1. Make Valentines. Teachers, Students, Scout Leaders, Group Leaders, Individuals please make Valentines! Please note: Sizes should be no bigger than 4"x8.5" so they can fit in a mailing envelope. We're asking you to stress quality over quantity this year...we'd rather have 18,000 awesome valentines that REALLY hit home with dog caretakers. To see what others have done, see the link above. The valentines can say anything along the lines of 'Bring us into the home and family.' Mail them to us by February 5th at 1915 Moonlight Rd., Smithfield, VA 23430.

2. Mail Coupons for Free or Reduced Cost Treats or Dogfood. Last year we did not have enough treat coupons to fill all the Valentines. Can you help us out this year by mailing any and all treat or dogfood coupons you have to us at 1915 Moonlight Rd., Smithfield, VA 23430?

3. Send addresses for Chained or Penned Dogs. This is so CRUCIAL! Please, take the time to find out the address of that chained or penned dog near you, even though it takes a little time...To make our goal, we need to mail Valentines to at least 18,000 dogs. Send addresses via mail, call 757-357-9292 to report addresses, e-mail them to info@dogsdeservebetter.org. or fill out the form, below (preferred). You remain anonymous!

(Important Note: this form does not give you a thank you, but is designed to automatically reset to this page for those with multiple addresses...don't worry, the addresses are coming through fine, please don't resubmit.)

<a href="https://secure.blueoctane.net//forms/3ERO53KA2N44">Click Here To Load This Formexperts.com Form</a>

In 2011 we delivered almost 17,000 Valentines to dogs worldwide!

“Winter is the best time to reach out to those who chain and pen their dogs, and Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to show these forgotten canines a little love,” says Tamira Thayne, founder and director of the ten-year-old non-profit. “Every winter our rescuers see dogs that have frozen in the snow, suffered frostbite, or otherwise endured horrific living conditions because of the longstanding misperception that it is ok to chain a dog outside in any kind of weather.”

“This is the perfect opportunity for people who see chained or penned dogs in their neighborhoods every day to make a difference,” continues Thayne. “People can anonymously provide us with the addresses of these dogs, or mail us a batch of Valentines, and we'll do the rest.”

The creation of the Valentines is an ideal project for schools, scouting troops, and other similar organizations. “Children love animals and they enjoy making art projects,” says Thayne, an artist herself. "In this way we teach our children how to better care for the family companion, and we educate the recipients of the Valentines as to what a dog needs and wants."

Valentines are needed at the Dogs Deserve Better headquarters in Smithfield, VA by February 5th. The group is also seeking coupons for free or low-cost dog treats to include with their packets. To participate by creating Valentines or mailing coupons, send them to 1915 Moonlight Rd., Smithfield, VA 23430. Interested parties may e-mail info@dogsdeservebetter.org, or call 757-357-9292 for further details.

Dogs Deserve Better invites volunteers and other nonprofit groups nationwide to deliver Valentines to local chained dogs. The group is greatly in need of addresses for chained/penned dogs, and sponsors for the program.

All valentines will be sent anonymously, unless you specifically ask for your first or full name to be included. And any information that is sent out with the valentine will include only the name of the Dogs Deserve Better organization. Therefore, any information you give us is strictly confidential, unless you direct otherwise.

5. Stuff Valentines. Once we get all these Valentines, they have to be matched up with the addresses of 18,000 dogs! And we need HELP stuffing all these envelopes!

Dogs Deserve Better will Hold Valentine Stuffing Parties
at the Below Locations and Times

PLEASE try to make one of these Valentine stuffing parties! We hope to be totally swamped and overwhelmed with Valentines this year, and need as much help as we can get. Please forward to all your dog-loving friends. We try to make this a very fun party, and you're working for a great event: you could possibly save a life with each Valentine you stuff!

Valentine Stuffing Parties

Delaware Rep Renee Albert will be hosting a stuffing party in Delaware on Sunday, 2/5, from 12-4 pm at the Hockessin Memorial Hall. Snacks will be provided.

Hockessin Memorial Hall
1225 Old Lancaster Pike
Hockessin, DE 19707

DDB will hold two stuffing parties at the Good Newz Rehab Center in Smithfield, Virginia

February 4th, 11-4 p.m.
February 5th, 11-4 p.m.
1915 Moonlight Rd.,
Smithfield, VA 23430

DDB Rep Jan Mier will hold a stuffing party in Illinois

February 9th, 5:30 p.m.
2406 W. Jefferson St.,
Springfield, IL

DDB Volunteer Amy Smith will hold a stuffing party in PA

Sunday, February 5th, 1-4:00 p.m.
Country Inn & Suites
1357 East College Ave.,
State College, PA

DDB Rep Coordinator Melody Whitworth will hold a stuffing party in MO

February 7th, 2012
Pizza Hut, Conley Rd,
Columbia, Missouri from
3:00-7:00 pm.
Pizza will be provided

Sponsor Valentines

1 for $3.00

2 for $5.00

5 for $10.00

12 for $20.00

30 for $50.00

65 for $100.00

As always, you are more than welcome to sponsor by phone at 757-357-9292 or mail, just send a check or money order and ordering information—what, how many, etc. to 1915 Moonlight Rd., Smithfield, VA 23430, and we'll follow your request! Be sure to provide contact information in case we have questions.

From Cathy Staniunas, Massachusetts: "I hope these help with the Valentine campaign for chained dogs. Any animal abuse breaks my heart. I teach private art classes in my home. I have 17 students, and they all love animals. They were glad to make Valentines."

From Kay Grantham, Louisiana: "Thank you so much for what you do. We are the Magnolia Chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana. The valentines enclosed were made by a local Girl Scout Troop. We will start our program earlier next year and hope to be able to send lots more."

From Valerie Belt, California: "These cards were made by Ms. Bononi's Elementary students after I recently did a presentation on animal cruelty issues, including Dogs Deserve Better and chained dogs."

From Maru Vigo, Arizona: "It's a pleasure and an honor to help you guys in this noble campaign for the first time. My students were eager to help chained dogs and also help to raise awareness about their plight. We sincerely hope people will open their hearts and minds and finally understand that dogs deserve safe, happy, and loving homes."

Please help fund the project! It's a large undertaking, and we need your help today. Any donations you make will be tax deductible.

If you'd like to donate via regular USPS mail, you may send to 1915 Moonlight Rd., Smithfield, VA 23430