A Furry, Fun Fourth

The 4th of July is a time of celebrating our independence from the British back in the 1700s. Everyone has so much fun of making a production of shooting off fireworks to show their joy! These light shows may be fun to us, but not to our pets.

More dogs go missing on the 4th of July than any other day of the year! Why? They can’t handle the blast of the fireworks. They get stressed and scared and run away. Please make sure your pet is wearing a collar and identification tag just in case you aren’t able to find them after the noise stops.

Also, NEVER leave your pet in a hot car. Cars can reach up to 116 degrees in just a matter of minutes. Would you want to be in this type of heat? Your pet doesn’t want to either!

Please be respectful to the sensitive ears of your pet by keeping them inside and away from windows while fireworks are going off. Don’t let your fun make your pet run!

Jurnee Carr

Donating to Arizona Humane Society

While in Arizona, I was able to visit the state’s largest non-profit animal rescue group. The Arizona Humane Society is one of the nicest facilities I have ever seen. From a spay/neuter clinic to a training area, they have it all! Parks, stables, education rooms, and a gift shop are just a few of the things the AHS has to offer.

This little guy got adopted while I was there! Yay!

An astounding walkway that goes from the main building to the horse stables. The bricks were engraved with the names of people who have donated. I am excited to have a brick of my own there!

I got to tour the facility where animals from bunnies to goats took refuge. They get hundreds (yes, hundreds) of animals in a day (yes, DAY!). I am still blown away at how they do it all!

Writing the check for a donation!

It was an honor to donate to the largest animal rescue group in the state of Arizona. I know they will continue to do amazing works and end the cycle of inhumanity in Arizona.

Jurnee Carr

Woofstock - Dogs, Love and Happiness

Woofstock Festival was the happening place for dogs in Bristol, Virginia! Hundreds of two-legged and four-legged creatures came out for a good time and to raise money for the Margaret B. Mitchell Spay/Neuter Clinic!

4K 4 Paws was just one event out of many at the festival! My sister-Jaecee Rae, my friend-Courtney Woolwine, and I all volunteered on race day!

We registered people and their furry friends for the race and gave them their numbers.

While the race was going on, Courtney and I were at the half way point of the race and gave runners water as they jogged along. Of course, the dogs had bowls waiting on them too!

After the race it was time for the festival! There were so many cool things to watch: a sheepdog herding presentation, the Smoky Mountain DockDogs had a competition, and a police dog demonstration!

My dog and Jurnee’s Journey mascot, Chi-Chi, made a new extra furry friend!

The day went to the dogs! It was so rewarding to not only be at the festival, but to volunteer to help save our furry friends!

Jurnee Carr

HSUS International Animal Care Expo

One of my greatest passions is helping others. God placed a specific burden in my heart to help animals. I am so honored and blessed to be a voice for the ones who only have a bark or meow. My trip to Vegas was not a vacation or appearance; it was an answer to a call to help my furry friends.

The Humane Society of the United States holds an annual event called the International Animal Care Expo, which networks animal loving people from all around the world. In 2010, I attended the conference in Nashville, TN as an International Pageants state titleholder. It was such an honor to attend this year’s event in Las Vegas, NV as Miss Teen International and as a volunteer. My mother, father, and I all volunteered at the Stop Puppy Mills booth for the HSUS.

All week we asked expo attendees to sign a support letter to the USDA for their tremendous efforts recently to make an important change to the Animal Welfare Act. Currently in the Act, there is a loophole which allows large-scale online breeders that sell puppies to go unregulated from basic humane standards as long as they do not have a storefront and ship animals sight-unseen. In other words, currently anyone can sell animals over the internet (ie: Craigslist) and not have to comply to humane standards or even be licensed.

Puppy mills are inhumane and must be regulated!

This exclusion has gone overlooked for too many years and has taken a team of many to make this correction in the Act. Online breeders MUST be held to the same regulations and standards as commercial breeders. Please encourage your legislators to vote for this change! You can help by taking action today: The USDA is seeking public comments on the proposed rule. We urgently need as many caring citizens as possible to speak out in support of the rule.

https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5493&autologin=yes

We got over 750 letters! That’s more support and a better future for animals!

While at the expo, I got to network with Wayne Pacelle-President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. It was so cool to meet him!

I also got to catch up with Summer Wyatt-a former pageant queen and the current HSUS West Virginia state director!

It was so good to see Marit Ortega of Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud, MN! We met at the 2010 expo and I donated to them while in Minnesota this year!

Drawing door prizes for the HSUS!

The expo was a huge success! I can’t wait to be a part of this conference again in Nashville in 2013!

Jurnee Carr

Crazy for Criss Angel

One of my favorite magicians was performing in Vegas while I was in town, and I got to see him! I’ve been watching Criss Angel’s television show for as long as I can remember. I was elated and bouncing off the walls to see him live!

We got tickets our first night in Vegas! I couldn’t bare to wait 3 days until I saw the show, but I managed!

As I walked through the entrance, Criss Angel’s motorcycles were lined up down the halls. He had so many!

I got an official Criss Angel cup the night of the show! Thanks for getting it for me, Dad!

Inside the auditorium, the stage was set with all kinds of mystical props. The atmosphere was so intense; everyone was on edge to see the Magician of the Century!

One of Criss’s first acts was getting himself out of a straight jacket in 30 seconds, while hanging upside down! He was right above us, so I got to see his every move! So cool!

THERE HE IS!

In one of Criss Angel’s shows on TV, he walked on these very nails! It was so bizarre to see the screen come to real life when I saw these!

Thank you so much to my dad for getting us tickets to go see Criss. It was an experience I will never forget!

Jurnee Carr

Crown Tote Bags

Can you believe we have just a few short weeks until nationals?! I can’t believe it’s almost here! One of the things that I used the most at nationals was my huge tote bag. It carried my autograph cards, shoes, snacks, makeup, and anything else I needed!

This year, I am customizing tote bags for my International Pageant family! All the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association!!

The tote bags are $35 with the International Pageants logo crown and $10 additional if you would like your title. The size is 18” x 14”.

To order yours:

1. Email us at: jurneesjourney@gmail.com

         We need the following info to process your order:
           a. Name
           b. Shipping address (to determine shipping cost)
           c. Phone #
           d. Color choice: (red or black)
           e. Details*:  Crown only? Title only? or both?
              (*Directors/staff may order their name or "State Director",
                    "International Pageants", "Your State International
                     Pageants" or other -  just ask us (2 lines only).

2. We will forward an invoice total to you via Paypal.
     Pay safely online via Paypal (payment is requested within
     3 days of invoice).

3.  Your order will ship in 3 - 4 weeks of payment received. 

      All orders must be received by June 24, 2012.

Can’t wait to see everyone wearing these gorgeous totes at nationals! See you soon!

Jurnee Carr

Food for Our Furry Friends

Last month at a local elementary school’s Career Day, I was a special guest. I got to show my crowning moment to each class and tell them about my work with animals.

Speaking to a class about animals and how they can help!

It turns out that every student loves animals! I challenged them to bring in food and blankets for the Sullivan County Humane Society/Kingsport Animal Shelter. They brought in all kinds of blankets and food!

A class holds up some of their supplies!

My little brother, Daxx, and I dropped the supplies off at the shelter. They were so grateful!

Shelters are always on the lookout for food and blankets! I challenge you to stop by and visit the animals in your local shelter! Pets deserve your love!

Jurnee Carr

Donating to Pulaski County Humane Society

This Vol fan had an exciting weekend in Razorback land! Yes, our teams may be rivals, but I can’t help but love the Diamond State!

What made Arkansas so special, you ask? The first cool thing I did was meet Ernie Bowman on the plane!

Ernie played in the 1962 World Series as an infielder for the San Francisco Giants! I even got to hold his World Series ring!! He signed a baseball card for me and I signed an autograph card for him! So cool!

Upon arrival, I headed over to the Humane Society of Pulaski County to tour the shelter and make a donation. The facility was absolutely beautiful!

I first walked in and was welcomed by a floppy bloodhound puppy named Oakley! He lost his eye from abuse, but saw me enough to where he could give me lots of slobbery kisses!

Some amazing ladies were running the shelter. I also got to meet some women who drove down to Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina to recuse dogs and cats. What amazing stories they had!

These puppies were getting spay/neutered the next day! Yay!

It was such an honor for Jurnee's Journey: Helping All God's Creations to give to this amazing organization. This facility is run on a love for animals and desire for their justice. Many blessings to the Pulaski Co. Humane Society as they continue to bless animals!

Jurnee Carr

National Pet Day

Although National Pet day is April 11^th, it seems as though every day is pet day in my house!

My precious dog, Chi-Chi, is a part of our family. Not only does she have a bedroom in every room in the house, her wardrobe can out-do any single one of Gucci’s latest fashions! Sometimes I carry her around in one of my purses. Hey, she loves to shop!

On National Pet Day, I encourage everyone to spend some extra time with your pet. Whether it be petting your cat, talking to your parrot, or brushing your hamster, give your pet a special treat! Take them out to the park or for a ride in the car! Either way, pets deserve our love and attention.

Jurnee Carr

April is Going to the Animals!

April is such an exciting month! The new fragrance of spring, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter, and not mention, it’s National Pet Month and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month!

This month is very important to animal lovers everywhere, because animals of all kinds are being abused every day. These innocent creatures are forced into animal testing, dog fighting, puppy mills, and slaughter for their fur.

Puppy mills really hit me hard. When I was 8 years old, my mother and I stumbled upon a dirty, nasty place on the side of the road that was overflowing with animals in cages upon cages. I saw three cages stacked upon each other with multiple rows of them all around. Hundreds, yes hundreds, of newborn puppies were crammed together in such a confined space, abundant with infectious insects.

In the middle of the mill, I found a small cage with about 15 Chihuahuas in it. All of them were tan, except for 1-the runt of the litter. As I tried to reach out to the poor thing, her brothers and sisters trampled on top of her, trying to get my attention. She shimmed her way out of the mob and over to the other side of the cage in the corner. She was so scared and looked at me with her big brown eyes as if to say, save me.

A recent article in Happy Tails magazine about my story and an insert about Chi-Chi in pink! The title reads “Meet Chi-Chi: From puppy mill to mascot”



At that moment, she stole my heart. My mother and I knew we were meant to rescue her. After doing some research, we discovered that we did in fact unknowingly adopt her from a puppy mill. That is why I have made it my mission to fight for the silent, and to make that puppy mill runt the “cover dog” of my organization, Jurnee’s Journey: Helping All God’s Creations. Their barks deserve to be heard.

Prevent cruelty by being a responsible pet owner. Pets deserve your love!

Jurnee Carr

Donating to Tri-County Humane Society

In 2010 at the International Animal Care Expo, I sat at a lunch table with strangers. By the time we finished lunch, we had made friends with everyone at the table, and one woman bought 10 of the paw pins I was selling at the time. She took them and gave to all the staff at Tri-County Humane Society. I mailed a donation to them thanking them for purchasing the pins and for the work they do to help animals.
 
Little did I know that 2 years later our paths would cross again when I got the opportunity to visit St. Cloud, MN, where Tri-County Humane is located!

Here with Marit Ortega and volunteer Rachel at the 2010 at the International Animal Care Expo sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States!

It was a beautiful shelter with super cute puppies, precious kittens, and even a huge rabbit! The shelter is strictly no-kill, meaning they do not euthanize when there is not enough space to hold animals. They simply give them to a foster parent to wait!

At the end of the tour I presented them with a donation, my second one to them! It warms my heart to be able to reach out to these animals in Minnesota.

To learn how you can help and to participate in their awesome events, check out www.tricountyhumanesociety.org and follow them on Facebook!

Jurnee Carr

Career Day

Being Miss Teen International is the best job in the world! I get to meet new people, advocate for what I love, and of course wear the most incredible wardrobe from the Competitive Image! I got to share what it’s like to be Miss Teen International and share some information about my organization, Jurnee’s Journey: Helping All God’s Creations to a group of Kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders on their Career Day!

I showed every class my crowning moment! They were all so excited to see!

We also talked about animals! Every class seemed to have a pet; one kid even had a lizard and another had 15 birds!

I told them about how and why I began advocating for animals. We also talked about ways we can help animals in our community!

I challenged every class to hold a blanket and food drive for our local shelter! I can’t wait to see how much they bring in!

I am so thankful I got to share my journey with the crown to this group of incredible students.

Jurnee Carr

February 28th is World Spay Day!

World Spay Day is presented by The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International in partnership with animal welfare organizations, veterinary professionals, businesses, and individuals worldwide to shine a spotlight on spay/neuter as a proven means of saving animals’ lives.

My dog, Chi-Chi, is spayed!

Every 6 seconds, an animal is euthanized in the United States, simply because they are unwanted and the shelter cannot hold the massive amounts of new animals coming in daily.

A mobile spay/neuter unit outside of my father’s store!

How do we stop this mass killing? By getting your pet fixed! Spay/neuter is a permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for cats, dogs, and rabbits. When we spay or neuter pets, feral cats, and other street animals, we ensure those animals and their offspring will not add to the millions of already suffering animals. 

I encourage you to get your pet spay/neutered and help save the lives of many animals! We can make a difference! 

Need assistance for a spay/neuter? Check out this site: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/tips/afford_spay_neuter.html

Jurnee Carr