2^nd Annual Pets and Wonder:

Get Inked for the Animals

A Fundraiser benefiting the Athens Area Humane Society

In order to gain more attention for our adoptable pets and for our Spay & Neuter Center, the Athens Area Humane Society (AAHS) has partnered with Pain and Wonder Tattoo Studio again to host its 2^nd Annual Pets and Wonder fundraiser where people can get tattoos (including kids temporary tattoos), piercings and/or specially-designed t-shirts on Monday, January 14, 2013 from 12:00pm to 10:00pm and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to AAHS! This fundraiser will allow us to raise money for our adoption program and our spay/neuter program to help the animals in our community by lowering local euthanasia rates.

But what do tattoos have to do with pets, you ask? Whenever a pet is spayed at the AAHS Spay & Neuter Center, each animal receives a small green tattoo on her underside to easily indicate that she's already been spayed and can no longer get pregnant. All the cool pets are spayed and neutered, so why don't you join them in your support to end pet overpopulation by coming out to Pets and Wonder to get a tattoo, piercing or t-shirt!

There's also another important connection between tattoos and pets... they are both lifetime commitments. When you get a tattoo, you should think about what you want to get and make a serious decision on whether you should the tattoo and when--after all, it will be on your body for the rest of your life. The decision process is very similar to that of adopting a pet, in that you weigh all options and details. When you decide you want to add an animal to your family, you think about whether a dog, cat or other animal would fit best into your home and lifestyle. Cats are more independent, dogs require more daily care and attention, and small animals can be very low maintenance pets (like gerbils) or they can require much more special care (like rabbits or ferrets). Once you decide which type of pet you want, you think about the type of personality and temperament you'd like them to have: friendly, independent, outgoing, energetic, calm, cuddle bug, etc. You may decide to adopt a young animal because you have the time to spend potty-training them and such, or you may choose to adopt an adult pet because kittens and puppies tend to be adopted more quickly and need more frequent care. Even after you weigh all of the options for the type of pet you want to add to your home, you have to make a commitment to keep that animal in your home for the rest of its life--think about whether you'll be moving, if you live in pet-friendly housing, if you are financially able to care for them, and whether the other people and animals in your home will adjust well to a new addition.

Whew, that's a lot to think about! It's all about being a responsible pet owner and remembering that pets can live a long time, and by adding one to your family, you are making a commitment to them being a part of your family for a lifetime... just like the commitment when you get a tattoo.

TATTOO APPOINTMENTS:

If you would like to make an appointment to get a tattoo during Pets and Wonder, please make your appointment in person at Pain and Wonder Tattoo Studio on Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 12:00pm to 10:00pm, and bring your artwork ideas with you at that time. Walk-ins are also welcome the day of the event. Tattoos should take no more than one hour to complete per person during the Pets and Wonder event.

If you would like to see some artwork that you can choose from for the event, please email Amanda. (Please note: you do not have to choose from the artwork board, so long as the tattoo you would like to get doesn't take more than one hour to complete.)

T-SHIRT ORDERS:

Specially designed t-shirts will be available for $15 at the event. T-shirt preorders are also available if you cannot attend the event by completing the Pets and Wonder T-shirt Order Form online and making payment by Friday, January 18, 2013. Payments can be made through PayPal on the AAHS website or in person at either of the AAHS locations. (Please find more details in the order form.)

SPONSORS NEEDED:

How the proceeds will help the animals:

The Athens Area Humane Society pulls over 300 animals each year from local animal control shelters to give them a second chance at a new life through our no-kill adoption program. Around half of the animals that enter local animal control shelters never leave... so along with our goal to find new, loving homes for homeless pets, we provide over 3,000 low-cost spays and neuters to the public each year at our Spay & Neuter Center in order to reduce the number of unwanted animals who end up at shelters in the first place due to pet overpopulation. The 2^nd Annual Pets and Wonder fundraiser event will help us to save more animals and prevent more unwanted litters in 2013!

Pets and Wonder: Get Inked for the Animals

A Fundraiser benefiting the Athens Area Humane Society

Monday, January 14, 2013 from 12:00pm-10:00pm

@ Pain and Wonder Tattoo Studio (285 Washington St., Athens, GA)

(70% of piercing sales, a third of tattoo sales and two-thirds of t-shirt sales will benefit AAHS.)