Lead singer Rob Thomas confirmed that the band is pulling out of its July 18 show at Cheyenne Frontier Days, a very large outdoor rodeo. 

Regrettably, Matchbox Twenty will not be able to perform at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July, 18th.

After careful consideration, it was decided that participating in this event would directly contradict the mission statement of SIDEWALK ANGELS FOUNDATION, our non profit organization.

The other members of Matchbox Twenty support this decision and while we understand that a great deal of effort went into the planning of this show, and apologize to any and all fans who purchased tickets to see us.

We ask that they please understand that it would be impossible for us to put ourselves in the position of making money from what we believe to be the mistreatment of animals.

Sincerely,

Rob and Marisol Thomas and The Sidewalk Angels Foundation

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Rock Star Rob Thomas helps save animal shelter and more on The Sidewalk Angels Foundation.

Pet grooming tool reduces dog shedding up to 90%. A patented grooming tool, The Furminator quickly, painlessly, and efficiently removes the loose, dead undercoat hair that causes shedding. Uniquely designed with a stainless-steel edge that gently pulls away the undercoat without cutting or damaging the topcoat.

That was the commercial.  Now I can tell you that I saw this thing in action and I couldn't believe so much fur came off one animal without it being shaved!  My neighbor's dog is a shepherd / pitbull mix.  She bought hers on ebay for $79 bucks! Much cheaper at Orvis but anyhoo... the fur was flyin' and that was after she used the shedding blade on good Charlotte.

A few recommendations, buy one big enough for the type of dog you have and use it outside or you'll choke on all the dog hair.  Our doorman was none to happy when he saw all that dog hair flying around. 

THE 2008 CHUMP CHANGE CHALLENGE

What can you buy with a quarter?
Not much but together our small change can make big change!

We all have piles of loose change in a jar, dish or drawer. Maybe it's the classic - change under the sofa cushions.

Well brothers & sisters, I ask you, "What good is it doing under your sofa?"  Your small change can make a big change in someone's life. It can house the homeless, feed the hungry, rescue animals.

Our goal is to collect 44,000 quarters by year end, so please send in a few quarters.
Join the Chump Change Challenge today!

How much do should you donate?

Note the name of this campaign. We're just looking to collect some dusty change. Whatever you can give is perfect - a nickel, a dime a couple of quarters.

Where's the money going, you ask?

How come that spare change didn't mean much when it was sitting in a jar, but now that I ask you for some, you're getting all possessive?

98% of all monies collected will be donated to the area which you choose within the 4 categories:

Animals:  World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

Why did we choose to support WSPA?
By supporting WSPA, you are given a unique chance to help animals around the world.  Many of our members see the importance of helping animals in other countries & want to support animals outside of their own community, since the US and Europe are making efforts to protect animals but animals in developing countries are in great need; many countries don't have any legal protection for animals. The WSPA programs allow them to do this is a very effective manner.  We are finding increasingly that US supporters see the importance of helping animals in other countries. WSPA is the only animal welfare group to hold consultative status with the United Nations and the Council of Europe.  READ MORE and DONATE (please?)

Children:  Save the Children

Why did we choose them?
Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. It is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, comprising 28 national Save the Children organizations working in more than 110 countries to ensure the well-being of children.  READ MORE and DONATE, (por favor?)

Environment:   The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Why NRDC?
"NRDC is, by many accounts, the most effective lobbying and litigating group on environmental issues." — The Wall Street Journal.  They use law, science and the support of 1.2 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. 
We chose NRDC because their mission is quite clear - To safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends
READ MORE and DONATE, (s'il vous plait?)

Health:TBA

Where's the remaining 2% going?

Well, we're hoping to upgrade from gov't cheese to Krafts.

How will donations be collected?

1. Securely and easily through PayPal.
2. Or for those who enjoy making my life just a little bit more difficult, you can tape your change to an index card, state your charity preference and mail to:
StyleStationNYC PO Box 286865 New York, NY 10128

Little Shelter Animal Adoption Center, one of Long Island’s oldest no-kill shelters, is dedicated to saving all companion animals whose lives are in jeopardy. They save thousands of animals from all over New York. Through rescue from kill facilities, rehabilitation of sick and un-socialized pets, and a 100% spay/neuter program, Little Shelter hopes to end pet overpopulation and place all dogs and cats in loving homes.

Call the Friends of Animals Spay/Neuter Hotline, and they'll send you a list of participating veterinarians in your area and an order form for your low cost spay/neuter certificate. It's as simple as that!

FoA's system has helped people avoid the unnecessarily high costs of spaying and neutering of approximately 65,000 animals each year.The recommended age for spay/neutering is 2-6 months of age.

Female animals should be spayed before their first heat (estrus cycle.) They do not need to have a litter before spaying.

FoA certificates are not valid for a cat if the cat is to be declawed. Cats need their claws for protection and for their physical and mental well-being. Declawing is painful, cruel and psychologically damaging.

Friends of Animals Spay/Neuter Hotline -- 1-800-321-PETS

Marine Maj. Brian Dennis' best friend from the Iraq war was waiting to greet him when the fighter pilor returned from battle.  His best buddy— a 2-year-old dog named Nubs.

It is not only the people who are affected by war.  Major Dennis rescued the dog while on patrol in Iraq and nursed him back to health after finding him stabbed with a screwdriver.  He named the dog Nubs because someone cut his ears off!

The Dennis family and close friends helped raise $3,500 to fly the dog to San Diego about a month ago.  (Source: Associated Press)

Thank you to the Marines and all the armed forces who risk their lives everyday seeing and doing what most of us cannot imagine let alone have the bravery and fortitude to carry out and still maintain a loving, compassionate heart, obvious by Major Dennis' actions. 

From all of us at StyleSwag Magazine

Remember when I told you guys about an urgent letter sent to me from Leonardo DiCaprio asking for help for polar bear protection? 

Well, it turns out that the Department of the Interior (who comes up with these names?), doesn't seem to feel it's that urgent so 3 conservation groups, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace sued the Bush administration for missing (?on purpose, I'm just sayin') the January 9th decision deadline to list polar bears on the Threatened List due to loss of Arctic sea ice.

As per an NRDC press release: "...science paints a dim picture of the polar bear’s future. In September, the U.S. Geological Survey predicted that two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population would likely be extinct by 2050, including all polar bears within the United States. Several leading scientists now predict the Arctic could be ice-free in the summer as early as 2012.

We have documented the events that have led up to former NFL quarterback, Michael Vick's dog fighting arrest.  Many of you have expressed a wish to help in some way.  Welllll... since you asked (we would have told you anyway), here's your chance to put your money where your mouse is.

Excerpt from Best Friends Animal Society:

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary has received 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the estate of after he was arrested and charged with "conspiracy to engage in dog fighting in violation of the animal welfare act.  

Many of the Vicktory Dogs, as they are called, are suffering from serious psychological and emotional trauma, similar to what you see in children from situations of abuse and neglect. Many of them had been forced to fight to the death - like gladiators in some primitive arena.

Other national organizations had simply called for the dogs to be killed. But what kind of message does that send about how our society treats the victims of such horrible abuse? There are real options, and with your support these dogs can have good lives that make up for everything that went before.

Your $25 sponsorship of one of these animals helps provide for the work of
Best Friends at the sanctuary. You can sponsor as many as you like.

 

Lucas' face is covered with scars, but not his spirit. Lucas wants to give love.
Back in his days as a fighter, Lucas was one of the grand champions. His big, muscular body has the scars all over that prove he was one of the most fought dogs out of the entire group that came to Best Friends. Yet somehow after all that tragic life history, Lucas is still nothing but kisses and smiles...Read more or Sponsor Lucas.

 

With Bonita, trust must be earned. Not surprising, given how people disappointed her in the past.  She came to Best Friends with filed teeth and scars all over her body. Fighting dogs with filed teeth are either a bait dog (a punching bag for training, more or less) or used for breeding. Since Bonita doesn’t seem to have been bred much, and the scars speak for themselves, it’s a safe bet her life was about as rough as it could be in that world...Read more or Sponsor Bonita.

 

Little Red's face tells a thousand sad stories. She arrived at Best Friends covered in facial scars, and with teeth that had been filed down.  Needless to say, when she arrived at Best Friends, Little Red was scared of everybody. If you walked up to her, she would quickly scurry away in fear. But then, after just a few weeks at the sanctuary, something incredible happened. Little Red smiled. She actually smiled. The corners of her mouth lifted and she wagged her tail. Now, when she sees her caregivers coming, she runs toward them instead of away!


Please be her sponsor and help support her new life here at the sanctuary...where she has Best Friends' promise that nothing bad will ever happen to her again.

 

Click here to meet the other brave Vick-tims and other fabulous animals
(from dog to donkey) at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.