On June 22nd, David Duchovny launched the “Lick My Face” campaign to support Target Zero, a nonprofit working to get animal shelters across America to zero kill.
He released a video online featuring his rescue canine, Brick Duchovny, devouring him in licks whereby for every lick, he would donate at least one dollar to the cause (to get the lick count up, Duchovny shamelessly spread all natural peanut butter across his face and let the pooch go to town!). Duchovny then challenged all of his social media followers, as well as fellow celebrities, ex-wife Tea Leoni and X-Files co-star, Gillian Anderson, to do the same. Word has it some other influencers are planning to show their support for Target Zero by partaking in the ‘lick off’ as well, so stay tuned. For more information about the “Lick My Face” campaign and how it works, visit http://www.lickmyface.org/.
Target Zero is a nonprofit organization that mentors shelter and animal welfare leaders, city by city, proven best practices to get to ‘zero kill’ (also known as no-kill), ideally in three years or less. Approximately three million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters each year in the US due to overcrowding. Launched in 2013, Target Zero has already gotten two cities to zero; Waco, Texas and Huntsville, Alabama, with Brevard County, Florida not far behind. The organization currently works in eleven Fellow Cities. “No kill” is defined as 90% or more of cats and dogs getting out of a city’s shelters safely. 10% or less is accounted for by animals that will die from illness regardless of medical treatment and/or large dogs with non-rehabilitative aggression issues.
“Target Zero is showing a clear path to end the euthanasia of adoptable shelter animals through its proven-to-work program. We’re currently in eleven cities, but I’d like us to be in 20, 30, 40 more as quickly as possible to keep saving more and more lives. My hope is this campaign will get the word out far and wide that we’re here to help.” —David Duchovny, Target Zero board member
Actor David Duchovny is an active board member of the Target Zero non-profit. Co-founded by social entrepreneur and goodwill activist Tracey Durning, Target Zero provides comprehensive strategies to decrease shelter intake and increase live release rates to achieve the 90+% shelter save rate.
“Lick My Face is a fun way for people and their pets to get involved in saving a lot of shelter animals. Every dollar donated will go towards our work in getting shelters across the US to zero kill. This problem is entirely fixable if we all just come together and make it happen.” says Tracey Durning, Target Zero Co-founder and CEO
Lick My Face Guidelines
- Participants may join the lick-off just by having a smart phone or video camera and enthusiastic four-legged partner.
- A pet friendly substance such as all natural peanut butter may be applied to one’s face to up the donation count (and fun!).
- Participants post their videos to their favorite social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc
• With hashtags: #lickmyface, #targetzero
• Challenge others to join the cause - Participants will donate at least one dollar for every lick received at http://www.lickmyface.org/
About Target Zero
Co-founded by CEO Tracey Durning, Target Zero launched in January 2013, mentoring proven ‘getting to zero kill’ methods to leaders in Fellow Cities (at no charge) to help them reach zero, ideally in three years or less. Waco, Texas became the first Fellow City to hit zero in 2015, having gone from a 36% shelter save rate in January 2013 to over 90%. Huntsville, Alabama was next in line to hit zero, also in 2015. Target Zero Alumni are expected to ‘pay it forward’ by mentoring organizations in neighboring cities and communities to continue the no-kill ripple effect. For more information about Target Zero visit: http://www.target-zero.org/