ThatMutt.com Features RIC!

Check out this interview and chance to win a free RIC tee on ThatMutt.com! Original is here.

Note: ThatMutt.com is an affiliate of RIC by Stacey Lauren. Save 15% off your order with RIC by SL by using coupon code THATMUTT.

I love the dog-related graphic tees and tops from RIC by Stacey Lauren.

“Love Rock Live” is the brand’s motto, and each shirt makes a statement.

Stacey Lauren is the entrepreneur and graphic designer behind RIC. The brand is named after her late father Ric who Stacey said will always be an inspiration. She believes he continues to help her in ways he never could.

Dog-themed shirts to help animals!

RIC by SL offers three clothing collections – LOVE, ROCK and LIVE.

The LOVE collection features animal-related designs.

Stacey is quite the dog lover, and a portion of the proceeds from her LOVE collection are donated to the Humane Society of the United States.

“The reason I began designing animal-related graphic tees is so that animal lovers like me can proudly and fashionably display their passion for four-legged creatures,” Stacey said.

Some of the tees have specific messages of adoption and love for breeds, but hopefully each top can be a conversation starter, she said.

My favorite shirts from RIC by SL so far are the tops featuring a cute pitbull with the words “Lover not a fighter.” Ace and I are modeling it for you at the bottom of this post :) Although Ace is most likely not a pitbull mix, many of his friends are pit mixes.

Cute tan and red pitbull mixStacey owns a rescued pitbull mix named Theo.

“I love him immensely, and he has taught me so much about what it really means to rescue a dog,” she said.

While she would love to say Theo is perfectly behaved and the ideal representation of a lovable pitbull (and he is very lovable), she said he has many issues.

Theo is very fearful, she said. He was probably taken from his littermates at a very young age. He was a stray, and he may have been abused. He has developed a territorial aggression, which is clearly fear-based as he shakes and cries whenever the door bell rings.

“I do not blame any of this on his breed, but rather his circumstances,” Stacey said. “He is a learning experience for me, and I cannot wait to rescue more pitbulls.”

It is important that no matter what breed you decide to rescue that you are prepared to help the dog through any issues he may come with, she said.

In addition to the “Lover not a fighter” graphic, other dog-related designs from RIC include paw prints or various dog breeds.

I love “the golden life” shirt with a golden retriever and the “guardian” shirt with a German shepherd. Other designs feature the doberman, the Chihuahua, the bull dog and others. I’m hoping to see a design featuring big, black lab mixes at some point! :)

The ROCK and LIVE collections

Additional graphic designs are available through RIC’s ROCK and LIVE collections.

The ROCK collection features music-related designs and helps raise funds for kids’ music programs across America. I am a band geek at heart, and I truly appreciate these designs.

The LIVE collection features inspirational sayings such as “hakuna matata,” and proceeds from these shirts are donated to The Adventure Project to help fight extreme poverty.

RIC by SL coupon code

I hope you will visit RIC by SL on Etsy! I think you will love the designs as much as I do. Check out some of the designs below, and don’t forget to use the coupon code THATMUTT to save 15% off your order!

Win a free shirt from RIC by SL

RIC by SL is offering a free “Lover not a fighter” v-neck unisex tee to one lucky That Mutt reader.  You will be able to choose the color and size from the available options.

For your chance to win, please visit RIC by SL’s site. Then leave a comment below telling me what other RIC designs you like. I will select one winner at random Feb. 12 and notify the winner by email and in the comments of this post. Must have a U.S. mailing address to win.

Cute white paw hoodie for women
Cute women's long sleeve Tshirt Keep Calm and Rescue On

Ace and I thought we would pretend we are models, too!

Cute pitbull themed tshirts for people, men and women

Don’t forget to check out the original post to enter to win!

Fresno Bully Rescue & RIC Join Forces to Raise Funds for Bully Breeds

Fresno Bully Rescue

Attention bully breed lovers! Check out Fresno Bully Rescue, an organization dedicated to rescuing bully breed dogs. Based out of Fresno, CA, FBR has rescued over 500 dogs since its founding in May of 2008. They currently house and shelter over 40 dogs at any given time. Many of these dogs were designated to be euthanized. Here is their mission statement:

FBR’s job is to provide a healthy and loving temporary home while we look for forever homes for our bullies. In addition, FBR is committed to promoting responsible ownership of bully breeds, fighting against breed discrimination, spaying and neutering pets, reporting dog fighting, and demonstrating to the community that bully breeds are loyal, loving, and wonderful forever companions.

RIC by SL is donating $2 to FBR for every shirt sold using coupon code FRESNO5. As an added bonus, you will also receive 5% off your order! AND a portion of the proceeds also goes to the Humane Society of the US. Spread the Bully Breed Love!

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Fresno Bully Rescue on Facebook!

2011 Victories for Animals by The Humane Society of the United States

If you don’t have time to watch it, here’s a recap of HSUS’ 2011 accomplishments:

  • Over 8,000 animals saved from cruelty cases
  • Hands-on care for more than 50,000 animals through rescue efforts & animal care centers
  • Push for federal agreement to reduce the suffering of millions of egg-laying hens
  • Shut down dozens of illegal animal fighting operations
  • Free spay and neuter for thousands of pets
  • The Shelter Pet Project, promoting rescuing from shelters and rescues
  • Massive relocations of animals to safety
  • Partnerships with law enforcement to crack down on poaching
  • New laws to protect pets, farm animals, and wildlife
  • Defending laws that protect polar bears
  • Exposing animal cruelty with undercover investigators
  • Convincing companies to adopt cruelty-free testing
  • Fighting to get chimpanzees out of labs and into sanctuaries

True heroes in my book. Keep it up in 2012!

New Canon Rebel T3i Photo Shoot

I just got a new camera for Christmas, so of course my first model is Theo. It’s a bit tricky to learn, not at all like a point-and-shoot, but the photos are amazing! I have to get the hang of aperture / shutter speed settings. Maybe I’ll update this post when I improve my skills. For now, here are some of my better shots:

Canon Rebel T3i Photo

Canon Rebel T3i Photo

Canon Rebel T3i Photo

Canon Rebel T3i Photo

Canon Rebel T3i Photo

Canon Rebel T3i Photo

Canon Rebel T3i Photo

I think Theo favors his right side – he always turns it towards the camera!

 

Missing Pit Mix Coming Home for Christmas After 8 Years

Petunia the Pit Mix Reunited with Family After 8 Years
Petunia (source)

Petunia, a staffordshire terrier mix, ran away from her family farm in Virginia on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2003. After an extensive search by her owners, it was presumed that she had not survived.

That is, until she was found in California this past Wednesday. She was brought to the Yuba County Animal Care Services Shelter, where they used her microchip to determine who her original owners were. Somehow, this pup had made it cross-country over 8 years, and survived!

Petunia will be reunited with her family in time for Christmas. Talk about a holiday miracle! This makes my heart warm :)