As many of you may know, I founded and directed the successful Pet Overpopulation STAMP OUT Campaign (1996-2002). This grassroots effort championed by American pet lovers nationwide resulted in issuance of millions of social awareness postage stamps urging the public to “Spay/Neuter — Save a Life.” Gracing the stamps were an adorable former shelter puppy and kitten photographed by veteran stamp photographer and pet lover, Sally Andersen-Bruce. Spay/Neuter sold out, sending a strong message to the Postal Service that kindness isn’t only contagious. It’s profitable, too.
That humanitarian tradition continues in a big way with “Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet.” The AR Stamps were unveiled to the public by Ellen DeGeneres on her Ellen Show on March 17th and released for sale on April 30th in a star-studded First Day of Issue gala in North Hollywood. Watch the cool video segment from the Ellen Show.
But there’s more. Because shelter pets deserve a first-class meal, Ellen, co-owner of Halo, Purely for Pets is donating this high-quality pet food to feed one million shelter pets!
Sold in panes of twenty, the 44 cent stamps feature ten images, photographs of former shelter pets by Ms. Andersen-Bruce. The animals, five dogs and five cats, have all been adopted. But millions of other homeless dogs and cats aren’t so fortunate.
The Animal Rescue stamps will remain on sale in post offices around the country as well as online at the USPS store while supplies last. With 300 million AR stamps released nationwide, you may have plenty of time. Then again, given the cuteness of those furry faces and the goodness of all the human hearts involved in bringing the program to fruition, on second thought, best stock up now! In doing so, you’ll be helping to get the word out for the millions of shelter pets waiting for good homes–maybe even…yours?
To find animal shelters and rescue groups in your zip code, go to PetFinder.com.
Hope
