Ex-lovers names in litterboxes are just a part of RISPCA fundraiser
WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — After taking a year off, the RISPCA is bringing back its viral Valentines Day fundraising campaign called "Love Stinks!" offering donors the opportunity to get some smelly retribution on scorned exes.
For a small donation, the RISPCA staff will write the name of an ex-lover on a paper heart and place it in a litter box used by the shelter cats.
The cats then "do their business" on the hearts, getting the donor "retriPOOtion."
"I think the idea of a cat pooping on someone you don't like or something you don't like is just really cathartic," RISPCA Vice President of Development and Communications Stephanie Van Patten said. "It gives you a sense of relief. You want to get it off your chest, you want to put it to bed, and that's one way to do it."
"It's just part of their litter box and they're just happy to make it happen," humane educator and creator of the viral sensation Heather Paglarini said.
The submission does not have to be an ex-partner.
RISPCA said the cats will accept whoever or whatever the donor dislikes.
In the past, donors submitted inanimate objects, illnesses, and ideologies.
This year, along with names of exes, some have submitted things like "homework," and "kidney disease."
For an extra $4, donors can submit more than one name.
"There was Sean that got four times," Paglarini said. "Someone donated enough to make sure that his name went in that box four times. I like that kind of pettiness,"
The "Love Stinks" campaign took social media by storm in 2024.
The RISPCA raised almost $10,000 after receiving over 1,000 submissions from all 50 states, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Africa.
"Because of the dollar value, it's a $10 donation; it's very difficult to reach those high donation amounts," Van Patten said. "But we did raise $10,000, and we would love to repeat that. It takes a lot of $10 donations to raise $10,000."
"I think there was one from Africa maybe," Paglarini said. "It was wild that people from other continents were donating to the SPCA in Rhode Island."
The campaign has been up and running for about a week.
The RISPCA says they have received over 100 submissions already.
