In an effort to raise awareness about the barriers that domestic violence survivors with pets face, I planned to take a unique approach on my recent cruise. Armed with 60 rubber ducks tagged with statistics and information, race t-shirts, and our signature “No Dog and No Cat Left Behind” shirts, I was ready to spread our message on the high seas. But, as life would have it, my well-laid plans took an unexpected turn when Delta lost my luggage.
I flew to Florida three days before the cruise, excited and prepared to hide the ducks and distribute the shirts to fellow cruisers. Each duck was tagged with a startling fact: over 50% of survivors delay leaving their abuser due to lack of housing for their pets. My goal was to educate passengers about this critical issue and drive them to our mission at Praline’s Backyard Foundation.
Upon arriving in Florida, I discovered that my luggage, containing all the ducks and shirts, hadn’t made the trip with me. Determined to recover my items, I called Delta every day until the day of the cruise, but to no avail. The cruise embarked without my precious cargo. I was deeply disappointed but tried to make the best of the situation by sharing the ordeal with my board members and on social media in real time.
Thankfully, when I returned to Atlanta after the week-long cruise, my luggage was finally found. I was relieved to see my ducks and shirts intact, but the missed opportunity still stung. However, there’s a silver lining! One of our dedicated board members is going on the Carnival Jubilee cruise in a few weeks and has agreed to hide the ducks during their voyage. Additionally, a dear friend of mine will be going on the 25-day Carnival Panorama transpacific cruise out of Singapore in October and has also promised to take some ducks along.
The popularity of hiding ducks on cruises is not just a fun activity but also an innovative way to engage and educate people. By placing these ducks in various locations on the ship, we can reach a broad audience, sparking curiosity and conversation about the challenges survivors face when trying to leave abusive situations with their pets.
At Praline’s Backyard Foundation, our goal is to educate 10 million people about these barriers and provide solutions. The hidden ducks, each carrying our message, are a creative step towards achieving this goal. Despite the hiccup with Delta, our mission continues to sail forward.
Stay tuned for updates from our upcoming cruises and keep supporting our mission to ensure no pet is left behind. Thank you for your unwavering support and for being part of this incredible journey.
