Hi Furriends,
It’s hard to believe that this is my final letter to you as the Unleash the Dream Campaign Spokesdog, but if I do say so myself, I think I did a great job keeping you up to date with the construction project. Since my first story, a lot of things changed—construction, a pandemic, supply chain delays, and so much more—but it’s thanks to you that the animals that come to the Cleveland APL in the future will be able to get better care than ever before!
In August, I got to visit the Cleveland APL with my mom for its official ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was a wonderful event where donors, key community members, legislators, volunteers, and staff members gathered to celebrate the amazing renovation they all had a part in completing. And Aunt Sharon showed me the largest pair of scissors that I’ve ever seen! More than 80 people came to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of construction at the APL. I even got to meet Bryan Shaw, pitcher for our Cleveland Guardians! He gave me lots of scratches and belly rubs. My Aunt Sharon, the APL’s Board Chair, Kathy Tatman, Cleveland Councilman Kerry McCormack, and Ohio Representatives Michael Skindell and Juanita Brent gave speeches to commemorate this wonderful occasion. After the speeches, anyone who had not seen the inside of the building was given the chance to take a tour.
In the last issue of Pet Patter, I was able to show you some of the big changes around the Cleveland APL, but the most important change isn’t the building. It’s the services the facility will allow my friends to provide for animals in Cleveland. Now, not only is the APL a state-of-the-art animal shelter, but it’s also a resource center for pets and pet owners in the community. Now the APL can expand existing programs for animals, add new critical programs, and better meet the needs of pet owners and animals in need. They will be able to offer more advanced medical care for the shelter animals and offer qualifying pet owners access to veterinary care for their pets in the new, low-cost Community Pet Clinic. The recent APL ad campaign puts it perfectly; the APL is more than a shelter. And that’s all thanks to you!
If you haven’t visited the Cleveland APL, I truly hope you can stop by and see just how great it is. But if you can’t come in person, don’t worry, a virtual tour will be available soon!
More than anything, I hope you remember just how important your belief in the Cleveland APL’s mission has been in helping them Unleash the Dream! Animals in Northeast Ohio are so lucky to have my friends at the APL and friends like you on their side! Thank you for helping us Unleash the Dream!
While I really loved being the campaign’s spokesdog, it’s time to sign off and get back to playing, snacking, and napping!
Here’s to a wonderful holiday season with your two-legged and four-legged family members!
Pawsitively Thankful,
Indiana Bones