Helping The Cause, Gaining A Friend

-Written by Erik Sargent

A life without pets is a life many people could not imagine, as animals have become integral members of families all around the globe.

The joy a dog or cat can bring to every member in a household can’t be measured, and the love people have for their animals has no limits. Unfortunately, many of these animals are reliant on living in animal shelters to stay alive, and they miss out on the style of life that is fit for them.

That’s why the people here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® have taken the initiative to help these animals in need, and how the Movers for Mutts program began. Each fall, the program partners with local businesses, schools, and organizations across the country to collect food, toys, and other items pets may need.

The program – like all TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® community service programs – has been a great success, and has brought joy to both the animals and the people involved. With these events, new relationships have developed, and many employees from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® that went in to help walked away with a new friend.

Here are a few of those great stories of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® employees walking away with a new pet after participating in Movers for Mutts.

Jessica Chapman – Marketing Specialist – Akron, Ohio

Working out of the Akron franchise, Jessica was on her way to a local animal shelter to drop of flyers for the upcoming Movers for Mutts event. What started as a work-related trip ended with a new member at her home.

“I had no clue I would be getting a fluffy puppy this year. I went to the shelter to drop off some flyers for our event, and I walked out with a fur baby,” Chapman said. “After the first time I held him, I knew I couldn’t put him down. We’ve had Bentley for three weeks and he’s been on three trips, so it’s a good thing he likes to travel.”

Bentley was an unexpected surprise for Jessica, but he’s a good example of how TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® community service events like Movers for Mutts can make a major impact.

“Bentley is a perfect example of how Movers for Mutts can change an animal’s life,” Chapman said. “I wasn’t planning on getting a dog, but I was at the rescue for Movers for Mutts, and now Bentley has a home he can feel safe to be a puppy in.”

Jenni Hargrove – Marketing Director – Nashville, Tenn.

Jenni was a part of the Movers for Mutts at the Nashville franchise, and going in, had absolutely no intention of adopting a pet, she already had a dog of her own.

“I definitely did not want to adopt a pet before the event. We had a dog already and lived in an apartment, so I didn’t want to adopt another dog until we moved into a house,” Hargove said.

Despite her intentions not to adopt, a certain puppy – Leela – was determined to get her attention, and it paid off for both.

“We met Leela at the event and she actually wouldn’t stop jumping into my lap every time I had to sit down to do something,” Hargrove said. “She was really energetic and sociable, just like our other dog, so I asked my husband to drive home and get our 3-year-old dog so they could meet.”

The meet and greet with their other dog went well, and Leela was on her way to her new home.

Anissa Manuel – Sales and Marketing Coordinator – Virginia Beach, Va.

Anissa works for the Virginia Beach franchise, and this year decided to make some donations to a local animal shelter to help support the Movers for Mutts campaign. She didn’t have any plans of adopting a dog, but a text message from a friend changed her mind.

“I was talking to my friend who volunteers at the shelter, I was telling her about Movers for Mutts, and that I was going to donate our items to that shelter in particular,” Manuel said. “She texted me about puppies, and I ran right there after work.”

Anissa was helping donate to the Movers for Mutts cause, and soon after, ended up meeting her new friend, Zoe.

“I adopted a sweet little puppy named Zoe. She’s about two months old,” Manuel said. “I love my Zoe, she’s a handful – which is to be expected – but she’s sure the cutest and happiest dog I’ve ever met.”

Kristin Touart – Marketing Manager – Alpharetta, Ga.

Kristin works out of the Alpharetta franchise in Georgia, and unlike the three others in this story, walked away with a new pet that wasn’t a dog.

“I had no idea or plans at all, it was random and spontaneous,” Touart said. “I was at a vet partner location to drop off boxes and flyers and one thing lead to another, and I ended up with a kitten.”

The kitten was a welcomed addition to Kristin’s family, as her daughter has taken kindly to the new furry friend in the house. Kristin is big on animal rights and has a soft spot for animals, and she was glad to make a difference in the kitten’s life.

“I’m happy I was able to give one kitten a home and make room for another homeless animal to take his place,” Touart said. “Serving our community is a way for us to share our success and resources with others. It’s a fun way to live out our core values and that shows the public what TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is all about!”

 

To learn more about the Movers for Mutts program and how you can get involved, visit our community service page. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is committed to supporting the communities we proudly serve. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the U