Lakeshore PAWS releases their first calendar for 2016, a collaborative effort that combined some creative thinking from Lakeshore PAWS members and local businesses who were eager to help out for PAWS's first-time project.
"We came up with ideas around the end of August," said Lakeshore PAWS member Amy Mores. "Originally we were aiming for a 2016-2017 calendar date, but after we got started, we realized that we could get this calendar out this year for 2016."
Mores along with Lakeshore PAWS member Audrey Rodriguez planned the calendar to be community-based and bring in mostly small businesses to participate in the project.
"We designed it to involve small businesses," said Rodriguez. "We wanted to have these businesses featuring adopted dogs that found homes with the cover featuring dogs currently looking for a home."
Both Mores and Rodriguez along with two other members split up a list of 50 businesses and approached each one with a pitch of the calendar. Despite the vast list of businesses, both Mores and Rodriguez were happy to report that all the businesses were eager to participate with their idea.
"We not only received plenty of help and support from businesses," said Rodriguez. "We received help from people who had previously adopted dogs and agreed to help us by letting us photograph them. We also had a volunteer photographer who agreed to help out and take photos of the dogs."
Mores and Rodriguez were happy to have the massive amount of support from all fronts, including AMA Design & Print who agreed to help print 250 copies of the calendars with first editions already selling out within the hour they were available.
"The thing is that everyone was very willing to help out and donate whatever was necessary to make this project a success," said Mores. "Everyone was fabulous, from businesses to owners. We even had one owner bring their dog here to stay overnight with us in order for the photo to be taken the next day."
While the calendar is already made and in many ways, already a success this year, the Lakeshore PAWS staff is already looking forward to next year's calendar.
"We're looking to continue with new ideas since this year was great to bring together," said Rodriguez. "We know that people already want to do it and in terms of flexibility with dogs and businesses, we know we can do it."
"We can't thank the people enough," said Mores. " We asked for pictures of adopted dogs and wanted a large variety of dogs for the calendar and people and owners came out of the woodwork to help us."
A special thanks to the following businesses for participating: Anytime Fitness, Century 21 Alliance Group, Dagger Mountain Roastery, K2 Construction, Healthi Paws, Ideas in Motion Media, Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso, Napa Auto Parts, Lifestyles Unique Gifts, Blackbird Cafe, Valpo Trailer, Martinis
The calendar can be purchased from Lakeshore PAWS, Healthi Paws and Lifestyles Unique Gifts
To learn more about Lakeshore PAWS, visit their website at http://www.lakeshorepaws.org/