[UPDATE 4/27, 4:36 pm] I had some technical difficulties earlier with the post; it seems as if WordPress deleted a huge chunk of my original article! My apologies for not seeing the error sooner. I have edited the article significantly, so please read on below for details on the campaign and giveaway!

Did you know that I adopted one of my cats from the ASPCA? It’s true! I remember that day like it was yesterday, even though it was about five years ago now. I spent a long time looking at all the cats, specifically wanting a kitty who was older and/or had special needs because I knew those are the kitties most often overlooked in shelters. I circled the floors of the ASPCA and met many beautiful cats but something was telling me that my soul mate was still out there. So I decided to look around one more time before I left, and there he was: A crying, confused, dizzy little kitty (he had been diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia and is deaf) I would take home and name Raskolnikov.

I’m happy and proud to be one of many who have rescued their furbabies at the ASPCA. It’s an organization that dates back 150 years and is responsible for our country’s landmark anti-cruelty law. To celebrate its amazing history and 150th anniversary, the ASPCA has a new campaign called 150 Days of Rescue. This campaign seeks to inspire the nation in reaching 150,000 actions for animals in just 150 days… so please take part! 150 Days of Rescue is supported by many celebrities, such as Martha Stewart, Kesha, 50 Cent, Edie Falco, Nathan Lane, Julie Bowen, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman, and others, all of whom are speaking up for vulnerable animals in the promotional video I’ve linked to, below.

To participate in the campaign, all you have to do is simple: Be an advocate for animals! You can do this by donating at least 15 minutes of your time between now and September 7, 2016, to helping animals in need, which can include volunteering at a local shelter, donating, fostering, adopting a shelter pet. Animal lovers who log their good deed will also be given the opportunity to nominate their favorite animal shelter to receive a grant prize of $150,000. I’m also giving away a prize to a lucky reader; read on to find out how to win a gift pack, courtesy of the ASPCA!

To log your animal advocacy during the campaign, please see the ASPCA 150 official page, available here. On the site you’ll also find suggestions about different kinds of advocacy that you can do. Successfully helping animals takes all kinds of work, and everything you can do will make an impact!

Please share the above video with your family and friends to help promote this cause!

And now, onto my giveaway (the first of its kind on my site!). I’ll be giving away a commemorative ASPCA gift pack to one lucky reader of my blog. To enter, please follow this link to my Rafflecopter. You can enter as often as allowed, and the giveaway will end on May 11th. Please allow a week or so for me to send the gift pack, which will include a beach ball, towel, luggage tag, frisbee and tote, all courtesy of the ASPCA!

How will you participate in 150 Days of Rescue? Leave a comment below or tweet me @ThePawReport with your ideas! Remember to join the raffle for the giveaway!