Countdown to Black Friday for Pets Event at Wal-Mart: Day Three

Mad Press for Pets

Black Friday for Pets is getting some good press: ABC News (NY), NBC News (Bay Area), PawNation (AOL news), Dogington Post, Food Poisoning Bulletin, the Examiner, King5 News, MUTTerings & Things, Everyday Cats, TopNews Today and more. Dogington Post reaches up to 2.5 million dog lovers each week, the site also publishes the latest dog news, safety information, “and most recently, a Black Friday for Pets consumer initiative to ban Wal-Mart stores for selling dangerous jerky treats from China“.

Location, Location, Location, Baby

Meanwhile, our Black Friday for Pets event map is filling in. Check it out! Google maps is your go to Black Friday for Pets event location locator. Now you can see events happening near you. If there is an event already planned near you, you can see some details and who’s hosting it. Click on event details to find out more about what’s going on. If the Wal-Mart you want to go to does not have a pin in it yet – that’s OK because you can click on your Wal-Mart location and adopt that store as your very own! Exciting, huh?

You’re Invited to Black Friday for Pets!

WHAT Black Friday for Pets
WHEN November 23, 2012 11 AM
WHO Everyone!
WHY Because dogs shouldn’t have to die for a treat & businesses shouldn’t profit from selling them.

GOAL

Show your solidarity & stand with and for all the pet parents who have lost a pet to a deadly treat. Demonstrate to Wal-Mart that you care about pets more than their profits. Let Wal-Mart know that pet parents and consumers will stop shopping at Wal-Mart until the toxic treats are removed from their stores “out of an abundance of caution“.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION

If you’ve never step foot inside of a Wal-Mart you haven’t missed much, I can tell you, so this is your chance to do so and this handy map will help you find a Wal-Mart location nearest to you. I, personally, will not step foot in one of those big box stores, but for BFFP I will be there with bells on, baby!
Leaflet at your local Wal-Mart Store: Pass out flyers to customers as they are going to and from Wal-Mart (links below)
Lead a delegation to the store manager: Ask to speak to the store manager in which you tell them the reason why Wal-Mart needs to remove the deadly treats from their stores, citing the thousands of reports to the FDA and the ongoing investigation into finding the toxin(s). If you like, you may hand the manager a copy of the letter addressed to the CEO of Wal-Mart
Hold a prayer vigil for the dogs that have lost their lives to the toxic treats
Call your local station and newspaper and tell them what you’re doing and why
Ask your friends & family to join you
Encourage others to join you on your social networks: Facebook, Twitter & Google+
Post it on a community group page or neighborhood newsletter
Google Map it – let us and your friends know where you’ll be
Post it on Black Friday for Pets Facebook Page
Sign our letter to the CEO of Wal-Mart on Change.org
Write me if you have any questions, concerns, ideas or just to say, “Hey Mollie, you crazy cat lady!“

MATERIALS

It is entirely up to you what you want to do, how far you want to take it (just don’t do anything crazy). Get creative – have fun! These are some of the suggested items to bring with you:

Print out flyers: Black Friday for Pets jerky treat warning or this warning flyer or one of these flyers (strongly suggested)
Print out the letter addressed to the CEO of Wal-Mart or the one on Change.org (optional)
Print out the press release for the media (suggested)
Print out the talking points script for speaking to the manager (strongly suggested)
Bring a photograph of your pet(s) (strongly suggested)
Bring a video camera, digital camera or a smart-phone (strongly suggested)
Make a picket sign. If you need inspiration view how to make your own picket sign (optional)
Make a banner (optional)
Cellphone (strongly suggested)
Pen and paper (optional)
Snacks (optional)
Beverages (optional)
Appropriate clothing (wear bright colors, layers & comfy shoes)

TIPS

Remember this is a non-violent protest. Peaceful demonstrations are much more effective at making a point anyway.
Be polite & courteous. In other words – try not to be an ass and get yourself arrested (unless that is your goal – in which case go for it – more power to you, man)
Stay on public property (the sidewalk is best, except for when you are speaking to the store manager inside Wal-Mart).
Stay out of the way of traffic: that includes shoppers as well as cars.
Follow common sense and local laws when protesting. In case your group is going to be enormous, don’t worry about getting a permit, then you may be required in some cities to get one to avoid traffic and crowd problems.
Wear something bright or white – you will be more visible and much safer that way
Relax! This is for the animals, not the press. If you want to be interviewed – great! If that’s not your style, no problem.
Even if you are the only one who adopted your store – that does NOT matter, because we are all there with you in spirit – at 11 AM on Black Friday you will be there along with the thousands of people who have lost a pet. This is not a popularity contest – you’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do – it’s what stores like Wal-Mart should do and aren’t:Taking a stand.

FINALLY

Take a picture of you (and your friends) at your Wal-Mart (with the store in the background) and tell us your story – we want to honor your effort by sharing with others your tremendous spirit, strength and passion! And give yourself a big ol’ pat on the back!

CJTs Still Under Investigation

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem and its origin. Veterinarians and consumers alike should always report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

To Find Out More About CJTs, Visit

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently published Questions and Answers Regarding Chicken Jerky Treats from China. Read about it on TruthAboutPetFood: Black Friday for Pets and more about it here by yours truly on Poisoned Pets Black Friday for Pets, a Protest to Stop the Sale of Deadly Pet Treats – Poisoned Pets.

Peace & love, you crazy cats,

Mollie Morrissette

Your guide through the anti-establishment, down with Big Boxes, counter-culture revolution for kitties & doggies, man