I LOVE the Seattle Humane Society

Hey, hey this is Emma Brethauer – co-founder of Poppystamps! For those of you who don't know, I started this company with my brother Cooper (and my mom and dad's help) two years ago as a summer project in 2008.

I've learned and mastered invoicing, packing, shipping with UPS and the Post Office, and how to use a website as an order system. I especially love the dog and cat stamps that we sell…

,,, this is the big pooch (225C), and I also like…

… this is the large kitty (228C). The big pooch reminds me of my cairn terriers (like Toto!) Biscuit and Kip.

In November 2010, my family went to see Jane Goodall speak at the Seattle Center. She is the founder of the Roots and Shoots organization and after we met her, we were inspired to start our own group, called The Purple Polar Bears! Our goal is to help animals in need and we decided to use our company, Poppystamps, to do just that.

In February, we helped our dad, Dave Brethauer, teach a card-making class at Impress Rubber Stamps in Tukwila, Washington. My mom and dad own Memorybox and he teaches TONS of classes! This was the FIRST time we got to go and help out.

To see a picture of the cards we helped my Dad teach in class, click here. 

Since it was a charity class, we charged $10 per person – and then we donated all of the class fees to the Seattle Humane Society. 62 people attended the class (I was overwhelmed) and we raised $620!

We finally went to the Humane Society in Bellevue, Washington in April to deliver our donation. Jenna Pringle, the executive assistant in the whole animal saving operation, took us on a tour around the huge headquarters.

We learned about all sorts of interesting facts:

1. 130,000 TONS of food was collected for the cats and dogs in 2010. This comes from individual donations as well as donations from pet food companies.

2. All the dry food is mixed together (cat food and dog food stays separate) to minimize allergies from one type of food.

3. The Seattle Humane Society has 1,600 volunteers and 75 employees.

4. They have a 94% save rate – and the animals that they can't save are treated with kindness and compassion. They've even begun a pilot program called Fospice – animals who are at the end of their lives are fostered out to volunteers.

5. Kittens socialize best when they are separated from other kittens. When kept apart, they'll bond with humans more quickly.

6. Cats were offered wheat grass, cat grass, salvia and allowed to try all different food types. They were even given resting rooms when they seemed stressed.

I got to see over 50 cats and dogs, the kennel area, cat condos, and the dog meeting area where potential owners interact with the dogs they want to adopt.

This is my mom meeting with the cats (we almost couldn't get her to leave!)

This was the kennel area where animals waited to be adopted.

To keep each other company, they'll allow 2 or 3 dogs to buddy up, but only if they get along.

I thought this dog was VERY CUTE!

We thanked Jenna and gave her the donation and left feeling like we left our own, unique mark in the world. I'm thinking of participating in the pet food drive – they give you a barrel to collect food and posters to put up around your school.

 A couple days later, David Loewe (CEO of the Seattle Humane Society) sent my brother and I a thank you letter and a certificate of appreciation.

I learned a lot with this fundraiser and hope that my brother and I made a difference in the lives of some animals. Thanks to everybody who supports Poppystamps and thanks to my mom and dad for helping us out. If you're interested in the Seattle Humane Society click here!