
ANIMALS 24-7 editor & photographer/social media editor Merritt & Beth Clifton
Good question!
Why are we talking about chocolate while asking you to donate?
As an ANIMALS 24-7 reader, you know you get a different pro-animal perspective from us.
We don’t just repeat what the major mass media have already reported, or the one-sided watered-down kibble that you get in fundraising appeals from the biggest national and international charities, who don’t dare to tell you anything new because fundraising gurus advise against confusing donors with new information.

One of our investigative reporters.
(Faye McBride photo)
Like a monkey
You come to ANIMALS 24-7 precisely because you want and crave new information.
You want to know what is going on in the animal protection world, and you know that when we report it, we have investigated and looked at all sides of it at least as thoroughly as a cat would inspect a new toy.
We’ve sniffed it like a dog and looked at it upside down and backward like a monkey. We tell you everything we know or reasonably suspect about it, and follow up as often as we find out more.

(Danny Walsh photo)
Say the gurus
And that is why we are talking about chocolate.
The fundraising gurus also contend that a charity absolutely positively must, without fail, have a shiny new appeal in your hands on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, called “Giving Tuesday” in the fundraising industry, because almost half of all charitable donations will be made during the month of December.
Most of the donation decision-making will be done during the first week of December.
Accordingly, charities line up in your mailbox and your e-mail inbox and your Facebook notifications like waifs at a Dickensian orphanage pleading for gruel.

“Please, Sir, may we have more?”
(Beth Clifton photo)
Or your cats and dogs at the sound of an opening can.
We don’t dare not join the line, with our bowl out, because we need to be fed too.
Why should you feed us?
Because we feed you, all year long, with the news and in-depth information that you need to be a better informed and more effective animal advocate and donor.

Cub reporter investigates a nut.
(Beth Clifton photo)
Almost every day you get a free alert summarizing new ANIMALS 24-7 content, with links for quick and easy reading.
This requires that we are literally on the job for you almost 24-7, investigating and verifying. We work for peanuts, by the standards of animal charities, but we do need our peanut ration.
Twice as far!
Meanwhile, you have the chance to make your donations to ANIMALS 24-7 go twice as far!!! Two generous benefactors have offered to match all donations made to us by the end of the year, up to a total of $101,000.
Send ANIMALS 24-7 a gift of $100, in other words, and $200 will help us.

(Beth Clifton photo)
Think chocolate!
ANIMALS 24-7 needs your help. But we don’t want to leave you thinking about watery kibble, gruel, and peanuts. Think chocolate!!!
(Why? Just because you like it. But chocolate is not good for dogs, so please give your dog something safer.)
And then please send us your most generous donation.

(Beth Clifton photo)

(Beth Clifton photo)
P.S. – A P.S. is always the “tail” of an appeal. Fundraising gurus advise to never forget to add a P.S., because they think you won’t remember to make a donation without one. We think you will remember, and we are taking this opportunity to wag our tails in appreciation.