Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I am the one who introduced Mickacoo/ Mickaboo and Ruth and can't help but take offense to comments against Ruth :-)   I am a staunch supporter of both groups and vote for both of you (I've supported Mickaboo for 10 years and have been friends with Ruth since early 2011)   Yes, poor doggies indeed. Here in Missouri where the winter temps get bitter cold, there are stupid, ignorant people who leave their dogs outside. Chained to a tether. With frozen water to "drink". Other than the civilized urban areas of KC and StL, Missouri is a hick state where agriculture rules (and that is why our arrogant legislature overturned Prop B - the puppy mill bill we passed in 11/10). I ask myself everyday, what the hell was I thinking to leave Cali.   Elizabeth -   I didn't know Ruth was sending you codes! That speakes volumes about her level of support.   And, I'm glad the tip I shared about contacting the recycling centers seems to be panning out for you this round!   I helped Ruth enter codes last round and would be happy to help you enter some this round if you need it. Also, if you want to send me a few recycling centers I'd be happy to call them as well.   I was shocked to see on your FB page that the codes are being sold on eBay - oh my! The competition is indeed fierce!   Let me know if I can help and thanks for your support :-)   Laura     Message: 6 Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:42:07 -0700 From: Elizabeth Young Subject: Re: [Mickaboo Discuss] [MickaCoo] MickaCoo has slipped to #16 and needs more help-To: Kymberleigh Richards , discuss@mickaboo.org,     MickaCoo@mickaboo.org While I definitely appreciate the strategic thinking and these concerns are valid in a way, Ruth's group is helping us A LOT and sending me codes that volunteers are entering for us.  They don't need our votes to win but they are supporting us because we have been partners from the beginning and appreciate our help and want us to win. There are lots of rescues helping us behind the scenes (some that were so far behind they have dropped out, others that are so far ahead they can afford to help.  They are working hard to help us and Peaceful Paws too. We're making some life-long friends despite the Pepsi madness. I have to tell you all that I once again underestimated how ferocious the competition would be.  This round has been tougher than June when we were competing for $25K!! After Mickaboo won the $5K so handily without ever breaking a sweat, I thought our "big" effort would be enough for the $10K. Alas- it is requiring a HUGE effort.  If anybody wants to see the gory details, join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/160198601451/ Elizabeth & MickaCoo On Sat, Sep 24, 2011 at 12:49 PM, Kymberleigh Richards wrote:

I'm going to repeat my earlier concern about supporting Ruth Elledge's latest proposal.  She has been consistently in the top 5 almost from the beginning while we have been slipping back and forth out of the top 15.  We are competing for the same grant amount and I think we are hurting ourselves by giving her votes.

We can't do anything about people going "awwww, poor doggies" when Ruth proposes buying them insulated doghouses and "ewwwww, pigeons" because they don't know that there is any kind of pigeon or dove besides the ones that poop all over statues and public buildings.

But we can try to prevent her from having enough votes to just edge us out of the #15 spot.  We should stop voting for her project (it has enough votes now to win anyway) and promoting others to vote for her.

Thank you for putting up with this rant and have a good weekend.

KMR