Rocky, a rescued bully breed mix, proudly became the face of the “I’m Not a Monster” Holiday Shelter Drive for the Tampa Bay area — and his impact was nothing short of incredible. During his final Holiday Drive, Rocky helped collect $65,843.29 worth of toys, blankets, food, medicine, treats, and enrichment supplies for homeless dogs and cats in our local community.
Rocky was a rescue himself, and he deeply believed in “pawing it forward.” The donations he helped gather supported five local Tampa Bay & St. Petersburg rescues:
St. Francis Society Animal Rescue
Through Rocky and the generosity of our community, hundreds of homeless pets received comfort, care, and hope during the holiday season.
The “I’m Not a Monster” Holiday Drive was created to spread holiday cheer to homeless pets in shelters and temporary boarding facilities by donating much-needed food, treats, toys, blankets, medicine, and supplies. It was designed to be like a “Toys for Tots” — but for dogs and cats.
At its heart, the drive exists to change the narrative around homeless pets. Homeless animals are not “monsters” — they are loving, playful, loyal companions who simply haven’t found their forever homes yet. By bringing together caring, compassionate people for a shared cause, the drive shines a light on the real needs of shelter pets while uplifting their image in local communities.
With “Monster Elves” in cities across the country, the drive becomes deeply personal — empowering local volunteers to improve the lives and visibility of pets right in their own neighborhoods.
The “I’m Not a Monster” Holiday Drive has grown into the largest crowd-sourced pet donation drive in the nation, raising over $5.6 million since its inception. Today, more than 60 Monster Elves support over 125 shelters and rescues, with a community of over 2 million animal lovers and advocates following and supporting the mission nationwide.
No other animal welfare campaign has united communities on this scale for a single, shared mission. The overwhelming response proves one thing: people want to help — and together, small actions create massive change.
Whether it’s donating one bag of dog food, encouraging a local business to offer discounted pricing, or simply spreading the word, every single effort matters. This drive exists because ordinary people choose to do something extraordinary for animals who need them most.
About I’m Not a Monster:
I’m Not A Monster is an advocacy initiative whose aim is to dispel myths associated with misunderstood dog breeds, particularly pit bulls. Along with educating the public, the initiative promotes shelter and rescue pet adoption and networks animals in need. It is a 100%-privately funded philanthropic effort and all profits are donated to animal welfare organizations across the US. For more information, visit imnotamonster.org, call (646) 391-1080 or email info@imnotamonster.org.
How to Help:
We welcome all donations!! You can follow Rocky and his Monster Drive Collection efforts at https://www.facebook.com/HappyTailPetSupply/ For local information about the drive please email Rocky Elf at MonsterElfRocky@gmail.com
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