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Happy National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week! This week, Nov. 1-7, is the time to show our local rescues and shelters how much we appreciate the work they do. We've teamed up with Romeo the Cat and Big Paw Designs to recognize animals and their people who are making a difference in their community.

Today's featured do-gooder is artist Patrice De Avila of Portland, Ore., who's mom to cats Bubba, Pinkerton and Loki. She's thinking "outside the cat box" and giving original artwork to the Harlequin Great Dane Rescue to sell or auction as a fund-raiser. Additionally, she's generously waiving the design and printing costs of business cards for her favorite cat rescue, Persian and Himalayan Cat Rescue.

De Avila's pledged to spend the days ahead educating her not-so-involved friends and relatives about the week's events and how they can help. And since she regularly donates to animal rescue causes on the 5th and 20th of every month, she's promised to double her donation tomorrow, Nov. 5, in honor of this special week. Way to go!

Send your shelter appreciation story to romeo@romeothecat.com, along with a photo, and you may be featured on Romeo the Cat and PEOPLEPets.com, too! Every day, Romeo is selecting a winner to receive a Rescue Mom or Rescue Dad car magnet or sticker, courtesy of Big Paw Designs.

Read more about National Shelter Appreciation Week on PEOPLEPets.com:
Pets (and People!) Step Up for Day 2 of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
Pets Step Up for National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week