4 Reasons BlogPaws Made Me Cry

I have always enjoyed attending BlogPaws, and this year in Myrtle Beach, SC was no exception. Each conference has broadened my horizons, given me ideas to improve my blog and social media experiences, and has strengthened existing friendships and formed new ones. The Cat Writer's Association track has provided insight on writing skills and ideas for articles and posts, and this year I was a finalist in their annual Communications Contest in two categories. I was also officially named as treasurer for the association at the member breakfast.

This year BlogPaws touched me in a different way because there was a big focus on rescue and the bond between people and their pets. I try to make this a big part of my blog, and in a world where bloggers are supposed to “find their niche” and “solve their audience’s problems”, BlogPaws's focus on this gives new meaning to my work. Read on to see why I needed several tissues over the course of the weekend. 

FOUR REASONS BLOGPAWS MADE ME CRY

1. Paws: Share the Story

Representative Katherine Clark has reintroduced the Pet and Women Safety Act, H.R. 909/S.322 to congress. Did you know that there are currently no laws that protect the pets of survivors of domestic violence? About one million pets per year are abused because of domestic violence, and women in an abusive relationship often won’t leave because they fear for their pets. 

Photo courtesy of Bayer Animal Health US

That’s where Noah’s Animal House steps in. Noah’s Animal House in Las Vegas is a full-service boarding facility on the grounds of the largest women & children’s shelter in Nevada, The Shade Tree Shelter. Bayer donated $20,000 to help support their work to keep both pets and pet owners away from the dangers of domestic abuse. A woman who received services for herself and her dogs spoke at the conference. When she finally found the courage to leave an abusive relationship, she had nowhere to go. Friends offered her a place to stay, but she could not bring her large dog. With nowhere to turn, she went to Shade Tree and found a haven that kept her and her pets together. Today she is back on her feet and doing well. I supported the PAWS Act at BlogPaws, and you can do the same by filling out this form. This bill will help protect victims of domestic violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by acts of violence or threats of violence against their pets by establishing a federal grant program to help ensure that domestic violence survivors have access to safe shelters for their pets.

Bayer presented a video on the role that pets play in our lives, which included a photo of Lola sleeping in my arms. 

2. K9s For Warriors

Did you know that 1 in 5 veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? The goal of K9s for Warriors is to empower these veterans to return to civilian life with dignity and independence. A representative from Merrick presented on their involvement with this wonderful program. Merrick has expanded its partnership with K9s For Warriors with the launch of Merrick Backcountry Hero’s Banquet recipes, a new lineup of natural dog food & treats to raise awareness for K9s For Warriors’ work. 94% of K9s for Warrior's dogs are rescues. The non-profit group carefully selects dogs for their program from animal shelters across the country and professionally trains them at their facility. The dogs are then matched with warriors with whom they live, learn and bond together for three weeks before graduating and returning to home and family life.

Merrick showed a video about a warrior and his K9. The voice over was in a man’s voice, but the video featured a dog. The narrator spoke of things such as being rescued, learning to trust again, and being able to go outside. I thought the video was from the rescued dog’s point of view, but it turns out it was from the warriors’ perspective. There could not have possibly been a dry eye in the house, and it was a struggle for me not to sob. What a wonderful program to help the brave men and women who fight for our country. 

We were also treated to the trailer for the Megan Leavy movie a story about a marine and the K9 who became her best friend. The movie hits theaters June 9.

During the month of June, Merrick will donate $1 for every purchase of the BackCountry line to K9s for Warriors. 

3. Hope for Paws 

I think I was one of the few people in the room who had never heard of Eldad Hagar and Hope for Paws. How I missed this rescue team is beyond me. BlogPaws shared a video of Eldad and his team rescuing a litter of puppies from a drain pipe on the side of a highway.

As you can see the puppies were deep inside the pipe, and the rescue was a difficult one. The end of the video, with the puppies romping with their surrogate mom, definitely hits the "awwww" spot. A few things entered my mind; 1.  They undoubtedly would have died in that drain pipe on the side of the road without intervention and 2. How many animals perish in similar situations that people never know about? Eldad received a well-deserved standing ovation from the crowd as everyone wiped a tear from their eye. Now that I know about Hope for Paws, I will not only follow them but will support them in their mission as much as I can. 

4. Donations, Donations, and More Donations!

BlogPaws has always been very generous in their donations, but this year, thanks to an anonymous donor, they were able to go above and beyond. Three rescues received $10,000 donations to their animal hospitals to help cover medical expenses: North Eastern Veterinary Hospital, Willamette Animal Hospital, and Pet Haven Animal Hospital. Pet Haven is in Brooklyn, which means many animals right here in my backyard will be helped. I don't have a complete list of donations but I know they flowed freely all weekend. Thank you, BlogPaws, and your anonymous donor, for caring so much to help animals in need.

This year I gained more knowledge about topics such as SEO and Canva, as well as how to improve my branding. For me, a conference has proven to be useful when I walk away with an invigorated mind full of new ideas to implement. But it's a huge success when I can walk away with a happy heart. 

Did you attend BlogPaws this year? What resonated most with you? 

Dawn