Dollars 2 Dogs: Hosting events, raising funds & building community around rescue dogs
For Jaid Willis, a second chance can change everything.
It’s a belief that began with a dog named Sasha who was considered too difficult to save. Willis took the dog in after learning she was at risk of being euthanized and quickly discovered that the label didn’t tell the whole story. What looked like aggression was the aftermath of abuse and a difficult past.
That experience stayed with her and became the foundation for Dollars 2 Dogs.
Supporting local rescues and local businesses
Willis typically hosts one to three events each month, working with shelters and rescue organizations to showcase dogs in need of homes while also creating opportunities for local businesses to connect with the community. The events have taken many forms—from farmers markets and breakfast gatherings to happy hours, gym events and other creative collaborations.
The concept is simple:
Help dogs find homes while helping the people and businesses that make up the community.
Local shelters can bring adoptable dogs.
Businesses can showcase their products or services.
Vendors can participate.
Attendees get the chance to discover something new while spending time with the dogs
When Arizona's summer heat makes outdoor gatherings difficult, Willis shifts her focus online. This past summer, Dollars 2 Dogs launched its Paws It Forward Instagram campaign, encouraging people to share the ways they give back to the dog community. The campaign reflects Willis’ belief that helping animals doesn’t always have to mean adopting a dog or becoming a foster.
About the founder
Jaid Willis is the founder of Dollars 2 Dogs.
"I have always been the biggest dog lover for as long as I can remember and I love hosting events and creating community. My vision for Dollars 2 Dogs is to partner with rescues, host meaningful events, collaborate with incredible people, and paint murals all over shelters in Arizona. I will do anything to give back to the dogs and I can do so in a way that combines all of my passions. Every event, every mural, every collab is for them."
Jaid is currently caring for a puppy who was found abandoned on the side of the road at just six weeks old. The person who found the puppy knew about Willis and her organization and reached out for help. It’s one more reminder of why Willis started this work in the first place – to help create the resource for someone else to step forward."
Along with her work with Dollars 2 Dogs, Jaid's artistic skills and creative time have also gone to transforming old skateboards into pieces of hanging art, taking something that might otherwise be discarded and giving it a new purpose.
In a way, the project mirrors the philosophy behind Dollars 2 Dogs.
Dollars 2 Dogs' fall and winter event schedule will be announced soon. In the meantime, the organization is connecting with the community through its Paws It Forward campaign on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dollars2dogs.
Learn more at dollars2dogs.org.
Do you have something you'd like to submit that will help inform, inspire, or move someone toward helping end the pet crisis? Please email: Info@therescuedogproject.com
Your voice can help shift perspectives, encourage people to adopt successfully, volunteer confidently, advocate freely, inform rationally, and collaborate openly to help end the pet crisis in our own communities.
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