There are many ways businesses get involved with Pink Shirt Day, the annual bullying prevention campaign run by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
Morning teas. Quiz nights. And 'wear pink ’days.
But why should humans have all the fun? As the team at Auckland’s Pets in the City doggy daycare know, our four-legged friends also look good in pink.
But behind the frills, tutus and bows, there was another key driver for Layamon and Laura Bakewell who run Pets in the City.
“We employ lots of young people so having a positive workplace culture is really important to us, and taking part in Pink Shirt Day was a way for us to signal to staff that bullying isn’t acceptable, as well as raising money for a great cause,” says Layamon, CEO of Pets in the City.
On any one day they can have up to 350 dogs in their care across their three Auckland sites, in Mt Wellington, Wairau Park and Silverdale.
“Because the focus is on the dogs and making sure they’re happy every day, it’s easy to forget that we have a team of 40-odd people working across the business, and the wellbeing of our staff is critically important,” says Layamon.
Clients (the human versions) were asked to donate to the Pets in the City Pink Shirt Day fundraiser and go in the draw to win five days' worth of free doggy daycare.
Then it was time for the photo shoot.
Layamon says some dogs arrived on Pink Shirt Day dressed up already. Others donned the props the team provided.
“I absolutely love this business, it’s the easiest social media and marketing medium ever because everyone loves dogs and cute dog pics,” he says.
The Pets in the City fundraiser earned $750 towards Pink Shirt Day's bullying prevention efforts.
But perhaps the biggest win was the amount of joy spread by photos of dogs in pink.
And rest assured, there was no bullying to take part going on when it came to the dogs.
“If a dog doesn’t want to get dressed up, my advice is don’t force it,” says Layamon.
Scroll through the gallery above for a dose of doggy joy.
A massive thanks to the Pets in the City staff, clients and fur-friends for your support.
You helped bring this year’s Pink Shirt Day to life, by spreading the message to Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying – Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora.
Arohanui to everyone who donated, wore pink and helped share the kaupapa this year. All koha raised will help the Mental Health Foundation provide free bullying prevention resources to those who need them most, fund InsideOUT rainbow-inclusive workshops in schools and kura, develop a national wellbeing initiative for young people, and continue to build a movement of Upstanders – people who can recognise bullying and do something about it.
Here’s what we have achieved this Pink Shirt Day, together:💗 Nearly 40,000 official Pink Shirt Day tees sold by Cotton On
💗 All school and workplace event packs old out
💗 136,000+ Pink Shirt Day website visits since March; a hub filled with knowledge and resources
💗 Pink Shirt Day kaupapa was seen over 5 million times across social media
💗 Nearly 4,500 organisations, community groups, schools, and individuals co-signed the Mental Health Foundation’s open letter asking to retain current relationships and sexuality guidelines in schools
💗 66,000+ digital resources downloads to help teach about bullying and how to prevent it
💗 Radio, television, billboards, posters, and mall installations helped the kaupapa reach tangata nationwide.
If you'd like to support the kaupapa, please donate now.
