19 Year Old To Open Puppy Petting Zoo In Tempe To Fight Mental Illness

TEMPE, Ariz. - June 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Gretta Wallace, 19 year old art school graduate, has just launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $50,000 to open Doggypaws, an adoption center with a twist - a puppy petting zoo.

Wallace founded Doggypaws last August in an attempt to eradicate puppy mills and fight mental illness at the same time. “I believe animals are good for the soul, and I want to share that with everyone I can,” Wallace says. “If I can make one person feel better, then I’ve done something important.”

At Doggypaws, they team up with local shelters to find homes for at-risk Arizonan dogs. There is a “Play or Adopt” philosophy, making Doggypaws a great place for casual dog lovers that aren’t currently able to adopt, as well as a place for animal welfare education and activism.

“Playing with the dogs is so great for them and for you!” Wallace beams, citing several studies linking animal interaction to reduced blood pressure, stress, and management of mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and PTSD.

Community support has been positive, raising nearly $1,000 dollars in the first day. With a July 30th deadline, Wallace is optimistic that they’ll be able to raise the $50,000 needed to open the Tempe location and care for the animals for an entire year.

More About Gretta Wallace: I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder as a teenager and had struggled with managing my illness with day-to-day life, but I had always loved animals and found that I always felt better just from being around them.  I had dreamed about Doggypaws throughout my childhood, wishing that there was a safe-haven for me to see animals and feel normal again. After attending Metropolitan Arts Institute in Downtown Phoenix, where I had first started making Doggypaws a reality, I continued on to study Business Entrepreneurship in the WP Carey Program at ASU. I founded Doggypaws in August 2014 while juggling a job, two dogs of my own, and a spot on the Dean’s List. Against my family’s advice (as most decisions are), I decided to withdraw from classes to fully devote myself to Doggypaws, which has gained an unbelievable amount of support and momentum in the last couple of months. Every step, no matter how small, has been a huge leap that I’m extremely proud of.  I couldn’t have done it without this amazing community.


Indiegogo Campaign Page: https://www.indiegogo.com/at/doggypaws