A Strong Tee that Puts the Hurt on Dog-Fighting

For all the dog lovers retiring their Philadelphia Eagles jerseys, we've found a replacement that you can wear. Designed by Ron Burns, artist-in-residence for the Humane Society of the United States, the Prize Not Fighter Tee ($26) makes a clear statement and a serious difference: 100 percent of all proceeds from sales go back to the Humane Society's efforts to stop dog-fighting.

Burns, a dog lover, says he was inspired to create the design — featuring a rescued pit bull named Cecil — shortly after quarterback Michael Vick's indictment in 2007. "I knew I had to do something," he tells PEOPLE Pets, adding that his wife, Buff, helped him come up with the tee's slogan. "I knew that Cecil’s sweet face would be the perfect spokesmodel to spread the word that dogs are to be prized, not fought – they are our prizes, not fighters."

An artist for almost 20 years, Burns frequently uses shelter animals in his work, but this is the first time he has put any of his designs on a T-shirt. He says it was his idea that the sale of each shirt would go toward saving dogs from vicious dog-fighting rings, via the Humane Society's efforts in legislation and community education. "I wanted to be a part of the solution and couldn’t just sit on the sidelines," he says. "Dogs, through their innocence, purity, resilience and giving, are constant inspiration for me in my painting and philanthropy."

See more style stories on PEOPLE Pets:
From Woof to Warhol! Turn Your Pet's DNA into Modern Art
Love Your Pet? Say It with a Tattoo – for Your Car!

Amy Jamieson