Pet project: Colorado girls transform grief over dog into nonprofit to help animal-welfare groups

Maria, right, and Sophia France play with a litter of puppies that are up for adoption. After the sisters' ill dog had to be euthanized, the two decided to take action to help other dogs who might face euthanasia because of homelessness. They now sell lotions to raise money for a network of animal shelters. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)
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Michael and Melissa and their two daughters, Maria, 6, and Sophia, 4, loved Christmas. But this time, a member of the family would be missing: Rocky, a 12-year-old pug, had to be euthanized after a lingering illness. The girls were devastated.
At the emergency clinic where Rocky died, Melissa France knew it was time for a heart-to-heart with the girls. She told them of the many other pets that had to be euthanized — not because they're old or sick, but solely for lack of a home.
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They didn't have to look far to figure out how. Michael France is CEO of Colorado Quality Products, a company that makes personal-care products. Melissa writes for skin-care trade publications. The girls decided to sell specially made Christmas lotions and donate the proceeds to shelters and groups that support them.

They called their project "Make A Sale, Save a Tail."
Melissa told Maria she needed a business plan, so Maria penned a hand-written, one-page document.

Michael and Melissa hit the phones, using their contacts to work out the details. There would be shea-butter body creams and soaps in four holiday scents: Christmas Apple, Sugar Cookie, Cinnamon Sticks and Christmas Tree. They would sell the lotions online (through etsy.com); at mariasophia through retail vendors (listed at mariasophiaproject.wordpress.com); and face to face — and donate all their profits to animal-welfare organizations.
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Read more: Pet project: Colorado girls transform grief over dog into nonprofit - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/athome/ci_22242654/pet-project-colorado-girls-transform-grief-over-dog#ixzz2FsLy6VTw

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