Animal Heroes of 2018 : You Rock our World!
Jessica Lohmann ?
Helps eco creative entrepreneurs craft ethical marketing strategies | Fractional CMO for sustainable tourism, greentech, regenerative agriculture | Creator of Marketing by Nature | Voice Talent | Animal Welfare Author
To all Animal Rescuers out there, I salute you!
The end of the year is a good time for reflection and looking forward to the year coming up.
When I look back, I not only think about my own impact and how I can improve in the coming year, I also remember and honor fearless and amazing heroes who’ve saved the lives of animals.
Looking forward, I’m seeing all animals, human included, thrive. I’m seeing brands that give back and doing something good in this world shine. The future looks bright because we’re working together out of love and compassion!
This post is solely dedicated to the changemakers who show unconditional love and respect for all living beings and our planet.
And, I’ve got a couple of special announcements at the end that will help you shine!
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Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!
Where to start! There were so many animal heroes this year and I know for a fact that I didn’t list them all, so please, if you know of other animal heroes, let me know in the comments below.
There’s no better resource for animal love stories than The Dodo, so I’ll start there!
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Boys and their Best Friends
This young boy is amazing! At just 4 years old, Roman started to help find homes for dogs in shelters. He’s saved over 1,000 dogs and is still counting! You rock, Roman!
And this pumped up savior, Lee Asher, is also inspiring and yes, insane – I love it! Stop life, get an RV and find homes for these fun pups!
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Shelter Life isn’t always Hard Knock!
Oliver was hanged, but luckily had enough loving people to help him through his trauma and is now a happy pup at one of the 4 shelters in Tanzania. Only 4 shelters in an entire country???
Ever wonder what life is like at a shelter? Especially as an older dog who apparently no one wants to adopt? Nonsense, says this senior dog hospice; heaven on Earth for these sweet canines.
And wow, talk about fun at this no-kill, free run stray dog paradise in Costa Rica! Squeeeeeee!
There’s no place like home. For all animals, human included.
The Bee and Butterfly Heroes
Bees especially are so very important for our own survival that I couldn’t have an animal hero post without mentioning saving them. And life without butterflies would just be sad, very sad.
This video of one lucky and grateful bee went viral this year. I truly love Fiona Presly’s compassion. The fact that she noticed this little bee had no wings is amazing in itself, but to also build a haven for it to thrive proves that stopping to smell the roses has its advantages and there is faith in humanity.My friend, Sian Conway from the renowned Ethical Hour, wrote me about her experienceof getting a text from her boyfriend and running outside – in her pjs – to try to save a bee! She wrapped it up in a kitchen towel soaked in sugar water and laid her in the sun and 20 mins later, she was moving her legs! She couldn’t get full strength to fly though, so it was probably her time to say goodbye. But last year, Sian did the same thing with another bee who gained her strength enough to fly away! YAY!Not only that, Sian planted 16 trees on her #PlantATree day and invested in 5 @standfortrees projects!
And thank you, Barbara Lewison, aka my sister, who saved 7 Monarch butterflies in their 2nd stage of metamorphasis, the caterpillar stage. It all started when she saw a Monarch butterfly feeding off and laying eggs on a Milkweed plant in her garden. After losing 10 large caterpillars to predators and 1 chrysalis to fly infestation, she decided to take action! She brought 7 caterpillars inside her home to provide them sanctuary during their transformation. Monarchs are in danger because Milkweed is the only plant they eat and with the increased use of pesticides and drought conditions, Milkweed is currently a threatened plant which has led to decreased Monarch populations over the past decade.
Photos of Monarch Rescue Mission by Barbara Lewison.
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Farm Animals
As a vegan, I can’t help but cry when I see farm animals being saved. Get your tissues ready!
Farm Sanctuary for the disabled
How this Vegan Farm Sanctuary was born
The moment when 35 rescued farm animals turned into 70 at Broken Shovels Farm and how the community came together to offer help and support.
Trying to understand animal body language
I read a book earlier this year that really makes you think: Riding on the Power of Others* by Ren Hurst (*affiliate link). She describes her long and painful journey of being a high roller in the horse industry to turning vegan and owning a sanctuary where no horse will ever be ridden again. To truly respect them on a level that is unheard of in today’s society is not only transformational but also deserves my utmost respect because the pain she must have gone through to completely stop doing something she loved most in this world – riding – is immense. But she is now free of that pain. And so are her horses.
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The Bravehearted
Here are short snippets of animal heroes both human and non-human, interspecies and all in the family. Which rescue is your favorite?
Getting a little help from your friends
Adrenalin kicking in to save a dangerout bear
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Natural Disaster Rescues
Oh my, this year was rough on many living beings. Here are just a few examples of heroic actions during the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Mudslide and flooding in India
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Just a Few Brands that Give Back
A special thanks goes out to those brands with a serious mission to save animals by bringing their talents to conscious consumers and supporting organizations that protect/rescue and care for animals in need.
Critically Endangered Socks designs sustainably-made comfy cozy feet huggers and give 20% of their total sale price to 4 charity partners around the world.
Elephant Gin and Ivory Ella both have a BIG mission to save the largest land mammal who is severaly threathened from poaching and habitat loss. Honestly, there’s nothing more surreal than seeing elephant families in the wild and I’ll never forget my trip to South Africa and Botswana in 2016. I’m ready to go back!
And who wouldn’t enjoy a quality fairtrade and organic cup of java knowing that you’re giving rescue dogs a good home? At Grounds & Hounds, they turn passion into action!
At Pet Plus, you’re in good hands as a pet owner and every time a new PetPlus member signs up, they’ll donate a FREE membership to a Best Friends adopted animal. Best Friends is America’s largest animal sanctuary.
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Buy1Give1
Speaking of Giving Back
My mission for Ethical Brand Marketing is to help save animals and our environment by working with brands in a strategic and ethical way so that they can master their marketing and thrive in this marketplace.
After donating to a couple of larger organizations, I felt I wanted to really know where my money went and as soon as Sian Conway from Ethical Hour (my bee-saving and ethical marketing friend above) gifted me a day of watermelon-eating fun for chickens at Edgar’s Mission, a rescue sanctuary for farm animals in Australia via B1G1 (Buy1GIVE1), I thought, this is IT!
B1G1 makes giving back easy and transparent and since I’m all over easy and transparency, I became a proud member today and won’t have to wonder where my money actually goes. And I no longer have to spend much time finding ethical non-profit organizations that I can really trust because B1G1 does the proofing work for me.
If you’re interested in becoming a member, too, talk to me so that I can send you a personal invite which will give you $11 of giving back credit and let the giving back begin!
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Be The Change Awards 2019
Giving Back has Never Been More Important
And because giving back is a perfect way to help save animals, humans included, and our planet, I’ve just now become a proud sponsor of the Be The Change Awards for the category of BRANDS THAT GIVE BACK!
This event will be held on April 26, 2019 and organized by Sian (yeah, she’s everywhere!), from Ethical Hour and Jo Salter, owner of Where Does It Come From?
Not only that, I’m also on the judging panel! I’m SO excited to be a part of this ceremony because it’s people like you who are moving mountains and it’s a great honor for me to celebrate you!
The first ever Be The Change Awards in 2019 will bring together ethical and sustainable brands across a range of sectors that have a powerful impact story to tell.Entries are open now until 31st January 2019. It’s FREE to enter so check it out today to try to walk home with an award in April!
Are you an animal-loving business owner, too? Let's talk!
This year is ending with a powerful and harmless BANG! I’d love to hear the impact you’re making in your business, so please comment below and let’s talk! In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season with your family! I’m looking forward to seeing you in the new year!
Be the change,
Jessica
p.s. This article was first published on the Ethical Brand Marketing Blog on December 18, 2018.