Friday, August 12, 2011

An AMBASSADOR'S BRAiN STORM

Did you hear about Beneful's "Dream Dog Park" contest? http://www.wagworld.com/DreamDogPark/
They asked people to write an essay, and (then if they were chosen from that pool), somehow how they would design the coolest dog park in the world, if gifted with the resources to do so.

The contest I’m thinking about would be similar. But it would be advertised as an "Ambassador Project Contest", sponsored by The Millan Foundation and CMI. This would (A) make people aware of, and be psyched to be a part of, the Ambassador Program (B) The outcome of a project like this would perfectly exemplify the goal of the Ambassador program: For people to work in their local animal welfare communities to implement Cesar's teachings through service work.

The contest: Redesign SHELTEReality. Design the DREAM SHELTER OF THE FUTURE. Answer the questions (1) How (in your dream shelter of the future) would you implement Cesar's Rules? (2) How would your dream shelter get the greater community involved and working proactively together; and (3) If you won the contest, how would you take advantage of a "visit from Cesar" - to bring attention and support to the shelter or rehoming or rescue organization, on whose behalf you are entering the contest.

Beneful gave the Dream Dog park winner $500,000. I realize that the Millan Foundation may not be able to dole out a prize that massive. But what if the contest was sponsored by a big corporation like Beneful, whose commercials are promoting positive movement forward in animal welfare work, and healthy relationships between people and their pets.

The winner would win the money specifically to build elements of their dream shelter: either into the shelter that already exists in their community; or - in our case here in Kona - the money would serve to bring to life the visions we have for our beautiful new property, a blank canvas just awaiting the unfolding of its masterpiece! Our dream shelter in Kona is ALREADY STARTED! The land is there, a few buildings are there. More importantly, the energy there is peaceful. It is meant to be the foundation for something totally new, totally different, totally amazing. But, as are all shelters, we are sorely lacking in the kind of funds necessary to implement our many ideas for the property.

This contest would not only help one struggling shelter/rescue organization. It would be a way to get a fundamental CONSCIOUSNESS SHIFT rolling - about what animal shelters ARE at their very core - and what they have the potential to become. The contest would be a way to get people thinking about how to set new precedents in the greater evolution of animal rescue. 

To get more specific, the projects' main goal and theme could be geared toward Cesar's Shelter Animal Physical Enrichment/SHAPE program.

When I am dreaming my BIGGEST I think, MAYBE THE PEOPLE FROM "Extreme Makeover" HOME EDITITION WOULD EVEN BUILD THE DREAM SHELTER that wins! Maybe eventually there is a whole new reality show dedicated to doing for shelters what Extreme Makeover does for homes! Building amazing exercise and play structures for the animals, bringing in treadmills and swimming pools, water features for dock jumping, agility courses...SELLING Cesar's Pack Tested products in a retail store, that would feed money both into the shelter, (to make it a self-supporting, financially thriving business - on top of being a rescue organization); and back into the Millan Foundation...Cesar's Way would infiltrate the very DESIGN of  shelters, so that the shelter of the future is best suited to put his methods into action!

I realize I am suggesting that my own “Dream Shelter” submission go up against thousands of others. But...I have complete faith in the "Redesign of SheterReality" that we here in Kona have in mind for our VERY FIRST DOG PARK ON THE WHOLE ISLAND, and the beautiful new Animal Community Center of which it is a part. In other words, I would hold myself accountable to the same rules that applied to every single other applicant in the contest.
At any rate - maybe the public would vote first - via social media - to whittle the entries down to a reasonable number - like the top ten. And then Cesar would choose the grand prize winner?

(The Center) is meant to be something AMAZING. Its existence could prove revolutionary - for Hawaii's historically backward animal welfare situation, and for the very definition of life in shelters for the animals who must be there. I know the ACC has the POTENTIAL POWER to become the world's first shelter that is also a "Fitness/Rehab/healing/Dog Psychology Resource & Community Center.

We simply need the platform...the resources...and the exposure to let ourselves DREAM our BIGGEST, and then see those dreams through to fruition! 

Liz R. Kover

No comments: