GIVE a Dog a Bone: Helping Dog Meat Trade Survivors

Here at Project Pawsitivity, we love featuring people and organizations who do their part to help animals in need and today is no exception!  As a result of our volunteer efforts at the Kauai Humane Society last year, I was fortunate enough to  of connect with Marjon Tondravi, a fellow animal rescuer and the founder of GIVE a Dog a Bone.

GIVE a Dog a Bone is an amazing Etsy shop run by Marjon where you can buy high quality leashes and collars Marjon makes herself. She then donates 100% of her profits to help dog meat trade survivors. Since starting GIVE a Dog a Bone in 2012, Marjon has been able to donate close to $70,000 to rescues who help save dogs from the meat trade industry. Last year alone she donated over $30,000!

Marjon’s passion for helping dogs in the meat trade industry began on her honeymoon in Phuket. She learned about Soi Dog Foundation, one of the rescues she donates her profits to. On a subsequent trip to Thailand, she visited Soi Dog Foundation and learned more about the horrors of the dog meat trade industry. She ended up adopting meat trade survivor Yogi, and quickly became even more immersed in the efforts to help dog meat trade survivors, spending money out of her pocket to help support the $1000 per dog flights to the United States. She later adopted meat trade survivor Lily.

“I had to find a way to raise money,” said Marjon. “I started with selling dog cookies and other small things. Slowly I grew and had some great ladies help me. I learned to sew and now I do all the dog accessories. There was never a point that I did this to make money for myself. It started as a fundraiser and will always be 100% donated to the dogs. I work full time and can’t get to a local shelter during their volunteer hours and this is my way of giving back.”

Marjon originally donated all her profits to Soi Dog, but over the years has expanded to support four additional rescues including K9 Aid, LIFE Rescue, International Street Dog Foundation, and Nami Kim. Each rescue she supports is one she has personal experience with, be it through protesting, education, or even being an escort for dog meat trade survivors to fly back to the United States.

When asked how she continues to find the drive and motivation to continue to give back on such a huge level in spite of the time constraints of a full time job, Marjon’s answer was simple:

Yogi and Lilly are really what drive me because of what they survived. Yogi was rescued by Soi Dog off a truck of 800 dogs. It was the very first truck intercepted by Soi dog. He led the way for us adopting Lilly. Lilly was a dog meat trade survivor also from a huge truck. I believe she was a street dog. Yogi had a collar on so he was a stolen pet. They are my reason for dedicating all I have to fighting the dog meat trade. How many others are there just like them that need homes? They are my mascots.

Marjon’s handmade collars and leashes cost anywhere from $5 to $25 and if you can’t find a style you like, she accepts custom orders! Diamond and I are very happy customers and not only love the anchor leash Marjon made, but we love that the profits from the leash went to a good cause. We highly recommend Marjon’s products!

If you are in the market for a new leash or collar for your dog, be sure to check out GIVE a Dog a Bone. After all, why not ensure the money you spend on your dog’s needs helps support dogs in need? It’s a win-win!