A Prince George-based web and graphics designer and a San Diego-based animal rights activist were thrown together by a deadly Oklahoma tornado, resulting in the creation of a news website devoted to sharing animals' stories.
PG Designs owner-operator Trish Clark is the editor of The Hendrickson Post (http://thehendricksonpost.com), a volunteer-based animal news site founded by David Hendrickson -owner of Hendrick Boards and founder of A Loving Goodbye.
"He started The Hendrickson Post as a place to put eulogies for pets and to bring awareness [about the number of pets euthanized in U.S. shelters,]" Clark said. "Eventually it evolved into what it is now, to become a Huffington Post for pets. It encompasses everything from cupcake day at the B.C. SPCA to a case in Pennsylvania of a man stomping on a dog."
Since the site relaunched with its news focus late last year, interest has been growing, Clark said. The site has already received over 100,000 likes on Facebook and many of the stories have been reposted on various social media sites.
The Hendrickson Post is now looking for volunteer contributors from around the world to submit stories, photos and videos on animal-welfare-related topics, Clark said.
"Right now we've got stories from around the world" including Canada, the United States, Brazil and England, she added.
Some of the site's content is hard to stomach as an animal lover, Clark said.
"A lot of people, they do love animals, but it's hard for them to look at these kinds of pictures," she said. "[But] our goal is to bring awareness to it. Any injustice that is out in the open will be bettered."
Clark said it was a disaster in Oklahoma which put her in touch with Hendrickson.
On May 20 a powerful EF5 tornado hit the city of Moore, Okla. killing 25 people and injuring 377 others. In addition, the tornado left many pets killed, injured, homeless and lost. Clark said she decided to put her passion for animal welfare to work, and reached out online to volunteer her help. The first person to contact her was Hendrickson.
Hendrickson asked her to design online posters to help residents displaced by the disaster and animal shelters reconnect lost pets with their owners.
One dog - a poodle found with an injured leg, matted fur and missing an eye - particularly touched her, Clark said. She was later sent a photo of the poodle, named Bentley, reunited with his owner.
"You look at these pictures and you realize money doesn't matter, you're reuniting a family," Clark said. "You just could see the joy in both their faces."
When Hendrickson decided to expand the focus of A Loving Goodbye from putting names, stories and faces to pets euthanized in U.S. animal shelters to include animal welfare news, he contacted Clark.
Clark said the project has been a great opportunity to pursue her passion for animal rights.
"I'm just amazed at how it's taken off so far," she said.
Clark said she's also donated her web design skills to other organizations which do pet rescues, including Pilots N Paws Canada (www.pilotsnpawscanada.com).
