 It's November 29, and Giving Tuesday is finally here! Giving Tuesday is a day when people can show their appreciation for non-profits by donating to them, and it is also Your Dog's Friend's only fundraising campaign. Plus, because of a generous $10,000 matching grant from Fitzgerald Auto Malls and additional matching grant funds from other businesses, friends and supporters (listed at the end), we have an $18,000 matching grant. So, your donation today will be doubled.
Since you have been receiving our newsletter, you already understand the value of good dog-related information, but you may not know much more about us. The goal of Your Dog's Friend has always been to help keep dogs out of shelters by educating and supporting their humans. Even when the pandemic hit, we continued with our positive, force-free classes; free webinars, live and taped for later viewing; handouts and resources on our website; advice and referrals by email and phone.
As most of you know, our training center, which helps support our free services, was closed for three months after a flood from upstairs destroyed our facility. However, we couldn't let this decrease in income affect our ability to help the many pet parents trying to prevent or already facing behavior challenges. Here is what some of them had to say:
We LOVE h ow helpful everyone is! Your response when I had a problem with my dog (resource guarding intense enough to be scary) was very helpful, it is the reason we still have him.
Thank you so much for your kind advice about helping our  aging Boston, Gracie. The seminar and follow up discussion led us to try meds, supplements and some toys that extended her quality of life. Dementia always wins, but with your help, she had a bit more time and enjoyment… She was a rescue and came to us later in life—6 1/2 years was not enough time for her to impart all of her wisdom.
Dear Team at Your Dog’s Friend: You never run out of ways
to make me smile,
to help me learn,
to give positive love to our furry friends.
Thank you for all the training, insight, resources, and positive support you’ve all given during a difficult year.
Thank you very, very much for holding my hand through this. It meant a lot to me. I can’t imagine what life would be like if I hadn’t found YDF!
Thro ugh learning training techniques with YDF's help (virtually!), Blue & Cheddar have truly blossomed into amazing dogs, we've become better humans, now have excellent management skills & they live their best lives. I think most of our friends & family who haven't met them don't realize they're both reactive because they always see photos of them out hiking in nature & going on camping trips with us throughout the southwest. Every day, they become better dogs & we're better owners. YDF has provided invaluable resources to help us all be our best selves.
They are just the best group of trainers!!! I've taken three different classes with them, one being online. You can tell the trainers love dogs...They take the time to address questions and concerns. They are positive reinforcement based and, unlike another place I went that used electric shock, this has been a positive experience for me and my dog...The weekend webinars give you information on all sorts of dog related topics. I just wish the rescues/breeders out there would require potential dog owners to attend the advice for adopters & puppy parents webinars before approving adoptions.
THANK YO U!! It’s so awesome to have help. I have an eight-year-old rescue who is scared of the world and anxious about everything, I’ll soon be 67, so sometimes a reactive, tail chasing, stressed out German shepherd can be a lot. 
 YDF's staff is incredibly responsive and kind. Even during the busiest time of the pandemic when so many people adopted pets and wanted help, the YDF staff persevered with compassion.
from a trainer at Cold Nose College & author of "The Original Rocket Recall - Teach Your Dog to Come" : Thank you for always sharing sound, humane information with your readers. Click/Treat to you!
This (webinar) was really, really fantastic and informative. I am very grateful and feel like I’m not failing!
I apprecia te all the great webinars, the YouTube videos and resources on your website, especially as a first time dog owner. Thank you for continuing to educate our community and making these resources accessible to us.
from CHAAMP Malamute Rescue: Thank you!!! I love your organization and encourage everyone to listen to your webinars. You are also on our website. We are thrilled and blessed to know you!
 
Since Giving Tuesday is our only official fundraiser, we depend on what we raise today to continue our work and especially our free programs. Here's how you can help us meet our $18,000 matching grant:
1. Donate by credit card or check. The link to pay by credit card is http://t.ly/P6YI If you prefer to send a check, you can mail it to Your Dog's Friend, 12221 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852. Just write Giving Tuesday on the memo line.
2. Check if your employer will match your donation.
3. Spread the word on social media. Let your circle of online friends know why they should consider donating to Your Dog’s Friend.
4. Forward this email to your family and friends along with a few sentences on why you are donating to Your Dog’s Friend.
We will always be here for you. Please be here for us today!   
*Special thanks to our matching grant donors: Fitzgerald Auto Malls, which donated $10,000 toward our matching grant – new and used cars at dealerships for Subaru, Hyundai, Toyota, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep; Wiener & Garg - certified public accountants for tax, audit, and business financial consulting; Zalco Commercial - real estate acquisition and management of commercial properties; The JM Group, Merrill Lynch, NY - investment management company; and these friends and supporters - Judy Danish, Daniel Schwartz, Ann & Art Melchior, Carissa Barry, John Mirsepahi, Lois Chelec, Charlotte Zaret; Patti & Dale Ross; Barbara Perry, and Your Dog's Friend Board members. Thanks also to our recurring donors: Susan Streufert, John Hill (in memory of Ginger Hill), Deanna Stanley, Susan Farag, and Susan Melzer.
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