Remember Kyla Duffy? If you attended Blog Paws West last September, you do. Kyla hoisted herself up drapes hanging from the ceiling and proceeded to do impossible acrobatics without a safety net.
Enter Don’t Kill Bill, for which the Blog Paws West performance was merely a warm-up.
Don’t Kill Bill offers a unique twist on humane education. It features Kyla risking life, limb, and dignity in an unforgettable night of acrobatics, multi-media, and inspirational storytelling about the joys (and trials) of fostering and adopting amazing dogs.
Best of all, this production of Don’t Kill Bill features the awe-inspiring Clementine, an adopted 7-year old Australian Cattle Dog. Clementine was mere days from being killed when she was matched with her forever mom, Aly, some five years ago. Now the once shy Clementine is an avid participant in flyball, agility, Treibball, and soon-to-be stage star. Check out this video clip from Clementine’s and Kyla’s first rehearsal together at Kyla’s house earlier this week. (Yes, it’s true, Kyla’s living room sports black drapes hanging from the ceiling so Kyla can practice her acrobatics whenever the sprit moves her.)
Okay, so you probably have some questions:
Who’s Bill?
Bill is Kyla’s rescued Boston Terrier. Bill is as sweet as he is shy.
Can you tell me more about Kyla and her message?
Kyla and Bill
Kyla Duffy is the editor-in-chief of Happy Tails Books. Since May 2009, with the help of volunteers, Kyla has collected thousands of stories from people who have fostered and adopted dogs (and occasionally cats), compiling them into the Lost Souls: Found! series, which uses the written word to reach out to animal lovers about rescue and rehabilitation, breed by furrific breed.
From the age of 15 until 21, Kyla was a professional snowboarder. With sponsors like Airwalk, Nixon, 686, and Dragon, Kyla toured the world for photo shoots and competitions. Since then she and her husband, Dylan, have pursued adult gymnastics and high-flying trapeze. Kyla also regularly performs cirque-style aerial fabric routines.
Kyla and Dylan, live in Boulder, CO with their two cats, (Tux and Chewie), their dog (Bill), and a perpetual stream of foster dogs from MidAmerica Boston Terrier Rescue. In their “spare” time, they transport rescued animals for Pilots and Paws via small private aircraft.
Kyla wants you to know:
- Adoptable dogs are GREAT dogs
- Today, at this moment, hundreds of thousands of animals are suffering at the hands of puppy mill owners who keep them shut in small cages and breed them again and again until they can breed no more
- WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
- By voting with our dollars not to support these unscrupulous breeders and opening our homes to those breeding dogs who have been rescued, we can put an end to the suffering.
Who’s sponsoring Don’t Kill Bill?
Up For Pups is the sponsor. Up for Pups is a Boulder-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded by Kyla, that is dedicated to improving the lives of mistreated domestic animals by raising public awareness through creative, memorable initiatives such as Don’t Kill Bill.
How much do tickets cost?
Tickets are priced from $12-$19. You can purchase tickets for the Boulder performance on February 12, 2011 at 7:30 pm here.
And, because Up with Pups is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, all Don’t Kill Bill ticket purchases are tax-deductible.
Where does the money go?
Some of the money from the ticket sales will cover the costs of the production. The rest will be used to support the creation and publication of standards for operating rescue organizations and matching dogs with new homes. Right now there are no standards. Some rescues are stellar in every way. Others? Not so much. But, many rescues want to become the best they can be and this publication will provide guidelines and best practices. Many top notch rescue organization will be participating in the creation of this publication.
Will there be rescue organizations at the performance? I mean, what if I’m interested in adopting a dog?
Great question! Yes, representatives from rescue organizations will be present in the lobby to answer your questions, and show you pictures of and tell you about dogs in need of forever homes.
I live in Boulder, or near by. Can’t I just send money? I mean, how important is it that I attend Don’t Kill Bill?
The important thing is that we want people to come. If you have financial hardship or would like to bring someone who really needs to learn about puppy mills and adoption, Up for Pups will sponsor their ticket for them. This is a community education event, and what community means to Kyla is encouraging people to come and not letting financial barriers stand in the way. Anyone in this situation can contact Kyla for assistance by clicking here.
Clementine sounds awesome. Is there anything else special about the Boulder performance?
Here’s Kyla’s answer to your question: “I’ve been keeping this simple – just me – so as to be able to replicate it across the country. However, recently I’ve decided to use esources available to me here in Boulder to augment the show. My 15-year-old aerial partner, Jessie Miller, will be performing the first aerial act with me, which will be set to a slideshow of the adoptable dogs from rescues present in the lobby. This is also the act that will involve Clementine. It should be very special and memorable, as I’ve never seen a dog involved in an aerial act before, and the aerial act itself is fairly unusual (fabric duet with dynamic partnering movements).”
What else can I do to help to help Don’t Kill Bill “be the change for animals”?
Don’t Kill Bill desperately needs sponsors especially as Kyla starts making plans to take the show on the road around the country. Here are ways you can help:
- If you would like Don’t Kill Bill to come to your town and are able to help with securing a performance space (and help pay for it), and cover the cost of publicity, that would be great!
- If your organization would like to be a Don’t Kill Bill Sponsor you can do that too. Just click here to learn about different sponsorship packages.
Or, simply make a donation by clicking here.
And, don’t forget to “Be the Change for Animals” by spreading the word about Up for Pups and Don’t Kill Bill on your blog, Twitter and Facebook, and anywhere else you hang out in social-media land.
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[…] and adopted dogs as featured in the show. Clues can be found at the Up for Pups website and on Boulder Dog’s blog. The winner will be randomly selected from this post’s comments on Tuesday, January 18, […]
I saw Kyla at BlogPaws West and she is an inspiration.If you live anywhere near Boulder this show is a must/see and it benefits causes we all can support!
Thanks so much for your support!
Lovely post, Deborah! I’m thrilled that you’ve chosen Up for Pups as the Be the Change topic. It’s been rewarding working with Kyla, you, and all the other volunteers for Don’t Kill Bill. And Aly has trained Clem so well! Fun clip! 🙂
Thanks Hilary! I can’t wait to see Clementine proudly parading across the stage at the performance. I’m keeping all paws crossed for her.
Terrific piece on Kyla’s show, Deborah! I too covered Up for Pups for BtC, yet I learned so much here that I didn’t already know. Good thing I sent my readers here for clues to our giveaway!
Wishing I could attend Don’t Kill Bill too, I wish you a wonderful time. It’s such a worthy event. I can’t wait to see the video!
Hey Kim. I enjoyed your post as well. The giveaway is a great idea!
Thanks for sharing this… very cool stuff!! I’ve never seen anything like this… thanks again for sharing!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rod Burkert. Rod Burkert said: Reading: Be the Change for Animals: Don’t Kill Bill! http://bit.ly/i46oBi [via @BoulderDog1] […]
Great cause, Kyla is so talented and has such a big heart!
Thanks, Shauna. Kyla’s energy is also boundless!
I did see her show on a video stream from Blogpaws, it must have been awesome to be there in the room. Great to hear the story behind the person (and the dog!)
Thank you. I’m so hopping Clementine knocks it out of the park.
I agree — you’ve added a lot of interesting information to Kim’s post on this topic. I’ll just add here that Kyla is awesome (and I want arms like she has without needing to hang from high places).
LOL. Me too. The arms.
Wow, wish we lived closer! This sounds awesome!
Maybe “Don’t Kill Bill” will come to a town near you 🙂
This is one of the most creative fundraisers I’ve ever seen. I hope you have a full house!
Isn’t though? Thanks for wishing Kyla a full house. I hope so too.
Wow! You all wake up early! Thank you so much for a great post, Deborah, and for everyone’s kind comments. Putting this together hasn’t been easy and your support means the world. For those of you who can’t make it, I will have PC Pro Video there filming (thanks for the connection, Hilary!). We’re going to put it on a DVD. Additionally, I’m available for conferences and events, so if you’re involved with any conference planning, keep me in mind. The Don’t Kill Bill show is a great way to entertain attendees and help inspire some people to BTC in their own way.
Conferences! Yes! And, might I add pet-related trade shows. I’m so glad the performance will be video taped and available on DVD.
Awesome, awesome post! Sounds like an absolutely wonderful show.
Thank you!
How brilliant! What a fantastic way to raise awareness and support animal welfare. Kyla sounds like a fascinating person. How awesome she is able to use her talents in such a way.
Thanks. And, you’re so right about Kyla. She’s amazing.
That has to be the coolest way to help pets yet!! Way to go, Kyla!
I agree. Can’t wait for the performance.
Wow! As always, Kyla continues to amaze me. I didn’t realize she was putting together a guide for rescues. A much needed and great idea!
I am so glad you highlighted her in your Blog the Change for Animals post Deborah. I wish I could come and see Kyla perform. I hope she or you post a video of the performance! How very cool! Go Kyla!
I think the performance will be available on DVD. I’m really looking forward to it. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
I’ve seen this around before but never looked in to what the whole “Don’t Kill Bill” message was all about. I’m glad I finally did! Thanks Deborah for posting this – you’re spreading the word about such a cool project!
Oh good. I’m glad you’ve seen the Don’t Kill Bill badge around the net. That means we’re getting the word out. Thanks so much for stopping by.
what a cool program! thanks for sharing
Great post, Deborah! I wish we were closer – I’m sure the show will be fantastic. Kyla is amazing and she has a powerful message.