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Two-thirds of American households have pets: “New National Pet Owners Survey,” American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Inc.

One-third of American households has children: “2005 American Community Survey,” US Census Bureau.

The American pet economy in 2006: MarketResearch.com, Packaged Facts report on Pet Travel & Convenience, May 2007.

The pet economy is resistant to recession: “Crazy for Their Pets, Americans Are on a Spending Spree,” News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, August 20, 2007.

One-third of women agree: Valentine’s Day Survey, January 2006, American Kennel Club.

Sharing beds with pets and buying gifts: “Pets Are ‘Members of the Family,'” Harris Interactive, The Harris Poll, December 2007.

Snoring pets: “Dog Tired? It Could Be Your Pooch,” ScienceDaily, Mayo Clinic research, 2002.

PetSmart CEO: “The Pet Economy,” BusinessWeek, August 2007.

Purebred dogs can be matched to their masters: “Do Dogs Resemble Their Owners?” Michael Roy and Nicholas Christenfeld, Department of Psychology, University of California-San Diego.

$24.5 billion on pet health care: “U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook,” American Veterinary Medical Association, December 2007.

Doggie anti-depressant: Reconcile, Eli Lilly & Co.

Doggie diet drug: Slentrol, Pfizer.

The obesity epidemic: Stop Canine Obesity campaign.

Urns for pet ashes: “New National Pet Owners Survey,” American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Inc.

Oprah’s dogs: “Oprah’s Dogs Will Inherit Millions.” Denied by Angela DePaul, publicist, Harpo Industries.

Tori Spelling’s pug’s blog: “Confessions from a Canine Drama Queen,” Dogster.com.

Leona Helmsley’s will: “Last Will and Testament of Leona M. Helmsley.”

Mr. Winkle: MrWinkle.com.

Social networking for pets: Dogster.com, Catster.com.

Pam Anderson’s chihuahua: “The Bride Wore Fur,” Daily Record, August 2005.

Michael Jackson’s pet chimp Bubbles: “Biography of Bubbles,” Center for Great Apes.

Juicy Crittoure: Dog Pawfum, Juicy Couture.

Pet hotels: Waghotels.com.

Walt Disney World’s planned pet resort: “Best Friends to Build Luxury Pet Resort at Walt Disney World Resort,” Walt Disney World news.

Number of animal trainers rises sharply: “A Chorus of Dog Whisperers,” New York Times, December 2007.

The parrot that helps with anxiety attacks: “Sadie the Parrot, at Your Service,” Sarah Casey, Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, October 7, 2006.

The iPond: “iPond Gone, Gilly Heads for Brighter Days,” The Age, December 2007.

British prime minister’s office rejects backyard elephants: “EPetition Reply: Elephants for Pets,” Office of the Prime Minister.

Exotic pets imported: “Exotic Pet Trade Booming in U.S.,” Margaret Ebrahim, Associated Press, November 2006.

Getting high off the dried venom of toads: “Cops: More Smoke Toad Venom to Get High,” Associated Press, December 2007.

Tiger in NY apartment: “A Tiger’s Keeper Says He Misses His ‘Friend,'” New York Times, October 2003.

Presidents and their executive pets: Presidential Pet Museum.

Fashionable choices in dog collars: “About Dog Collars,” New York Times, April 27, 1884.

Pet pigeon fad: “Pet Pigeons, Latest Fad,” New York Times, 1907.

The birth of an urban alligator legend: “Alligator Found in Uptown Sewer,” New York Times, February 10, 1935.

Cocker spaniels, poodles as top dogs: “AKC Registration Statistics, Fact Sheet,” American Kennel Club.

Sea-monkeys: “What are Sea-Monkeys Anyway?

Potbellied pigs: “Survey of Humane Organizations and Slaughter Plans Regarding Experiences with Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs,” Linda K. Lord, Thomas E. Wittum, Ohio State University.

Cocker spaniels once again top dog in 1983: “AKC Registration Statistics, Fact Sheet,” American Kennel Club.

Rottweilers in Russia: “Moscow’s Rich Flaunt Rottweilers,” Sara Koenig, New York Times, August 8, 1996.

Pet hedgehogs: “Hedgehogs Latest ‘Designer Pet,'” Shawne K. Wickham, Union Leader, April 1995.

Tamagotchi: Bandai.com.

Rudy Giuliani vs. ferret lovers: Giuliani responds to a caller on his radio show asking about the ferret ban.

Sugar gliders: SugarGlider.com.

Freeing Nemo: “‘Nemo’ fans net fish warning,” CNN.com, June 2003.

Monkeypox outbreak: “Control of communicable diseases; restriction on African rodents, prairie dogs, and certain other animals.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42 CFR Part 71.

Stag beetles: “Biological Invasion Caused by Commercialization of Stag Beetles in Japan,” Science Links Japan.

Toyger: Toygers.com.

Ratatouille: “Film Triggers Rat Craze in France,” BBC News, 2007.

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THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

At least we hope they will, because that’s our approach to raising the $350,000 in online donations we need right now—during our high-stakes December fundraising push.

It’s the most important month of the year for our fundraising, with upward of 15 percent of our annual online total coming in during the final week—and there’s a lot to say about why Mother Jones’ journalism, and thus hitting that big number, matters tremendously right now.

But you told us fundraising is annoying—with the gimmicks, overwrought tone, manipulative language, and sheer volume of urgent URGENT URGENT!!! content we’re all bombarded with. It sure can be.

So we’re going to try making this as un-annoying as possible. In “Let the Facts Speak for Themselves” we give it our best shot, answering three questions that most any fundraising should try to speak to: Why us, why now, why does it matter?

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