Thank you for your interest in HeARTs Speak, and the welfare of animals. Truly, they are our "raison d'etre."
Companion animals change a life positively and immeasurably. Unfortunately, there is often a stigma that those found at shelters or rescues are somehow damaged or deficient and therefore, inferior. Sadly, shelters are also frequently overpopulated and work on a shoe-string budget, so if an animal isn't quickly adopted, it is euthanized. Often, these animals are victims of circumstance. The top reasons an animal is surrendered have nothing to do with them, rather: the owner is moving to a place that doesn't allow pets - there is a new human baby - allergies - finances - more work than was expected, etc.
To stop unnecessary killing of adoptable animals, we need to increase the numbers adopted from shelters by just 3%. That's not an insurmountable goal, but it does require reshaping the idea of shelter animals. Rescue animals are great companions, as loyal, family-friendly and worthy as any animal bought from a pet store or breeder. We need to get that word out.
We have the ability to change the reality of good animals needlessly dying through a medium that speaks volumes without words: art. The
soft eyes of an animal can convey trust, love and desire for companionship; a camera can wordlessly translate that in a powerful way. The creativity and passion of an artist's eye is a brilliant bridge for animals that have been underestimated or cast aside. A picture really can speak a thousand words directly and succinctly.
But many artists who are passionate about animals and animal welfare are weighted down by the decidedly prosaic: money. Animal shelters typically cannot afford to pay artists to better represent their animals. Artists wanting to help must then close their businesses to clients and donate their time, equipment and expertise to help the animals.
We do not believe an artist should have to choose between doing what they love - fostering the idea of all animals as deserving and helping to place good animals in good homes - and paying the bills. We believe that enabling artists do what they feel passionately about, will simultaneously help thousands of animals and the thousands of people who adopt them.
A compelling photograph can reach into the heart of a potential adopter, and bring an animal one step closer to a long-life outside of a shelter. An artist can be a life-changer, and that is priceless. HeARTs Speak was created to harness the power of art to effect social change, to connect artists with shelters and animal relief organizations, and ultimately, to save and better the lives of animals and people.
