My Experience Fundraising for Operation Baghdad Pups

By SPCA International Volunteer, Nicole Venutolo

You’ve heard of the phrase, “if the thunder don’t get you, the lightning will.”  I feel the same way about Operation Baghdad Pups. If helping support our brave men and women overseas doesn’t inspire you to volunteer, then helping abused and stray puppies will!  Caring for our troops and rescuing abused animals are part of the American patriotic fabric. We are a compassionate country and for us it is hard to see a member of our armed forces hug his family goodbye, or to see an animal emaciated and wounded from neglect. Operation Baghdad Pups is like two wonderful charities rolled in one as it serves both man and his four-legged best friend. The dual-win is part of why I am so impressed and so deeply touched by its mission.  With a brother in the Marine Corps, and as the proud owner of a rescue puppy, I saw Operation Baghdad Pups as the perfect opportunity to help two of the causes that I, and indeed so many Americans, feel so close to.

A local fundraiser is a great way to earn a lot of money in a short period of time and can be done single-handedly! From my own experience, I was able to raise almost $1,000 in one day by setting up a card table in front of my local supermarket on Memorial Day Weekend.  A simple phone call to the store manager was all it took for permission. I decorated posters with images from Operation Baghdad Pups’ website, and by using Google images to search Operation Baghdad Pups. I sat with a large glass collection jar and put lollipops in my brother’s overturned Marines cover. (A word of advice: an empty donation jar is bad, bad, bad! Start off by putting about five singles, a five dollar bill and about two handfuls of change inside before you begin). I printed 100 flyers and arranged them near the lollipops. Finally, I said hello politely but loudly and clearly to every patron who walked in and out. Never doubt the force of one dedicated person- and never feel as if you’re “too small” to make a difference. You will find that most people are more than eager to help you get set up and see that you succeed. 

The store patrons were only too eager to donate. I think the heartwarming pictures of troops deployed in the hot Iraqi sun nurturing baby puppies was just too much cuteness to bear!  And although it is a beautiful image, the cuteness only carried so far. I think the true reason for its effectiveness was because it raised awareness about Iraq’s homeless animals and the emotional and physical hardships the troops endure as a daily part of combat.   I had people tell me stories about their own family and friends who were serving. I had people thank me for donating my time- something I hardly expected but was greatly appreciative of.  And still others told me they wished they could “fly an airplane into Iraq and bring home all of the dogs and soldiers.” I can count the day of the fundraiser as one of the proudest in my life.

I saw the idea for the fundraiser itself on Operation Baghdad Pups’ website. The fundraising site URL is http://www.spcai.org/act/become-a-fundraiser.html and it’s full of great fundraising ideas and tips. The fundraiser flyer that you will find there was one of my biggest tools for success. If anyone had questions about the organization I was able to hand them one and they would read an overview of the program plus success stories- which everyone wants to hear.  The fundraiser was actually really easy with the tools I found on the site.  If a supermarket doesn’t work, try a community pool, the entrance to a beach, or apply to set up a table at a county fair, air show, or block party.  Anywhere with a lot of traffic will get you a lot of publicity.

Regardless of what you do to help SPCA International’s cause, every minute you spend counts, and every coin that is collected counts. But the true value is in knowing that you and your community are helping the GI’s and their Little Guys!!