Animal Society plans for a classic billboard

Rebecca Malone

Friday, Aug. 10, 2001 | 4:24 a.m.

The following Southern Nevada companies have volunteered to help with the restoration of the 1959 Cadillac for the Animal Society:

To help: Anyone wishing to make a tax deductible donation to the Animal Society may call 316-3874 or log on to www.animalsociety.org.

Ari Burton is hoping to grab attention for the Animal Society with a 1959 Cadillac that will be restored and put on the road as a moving advertisement.

The broken-down Cadillac Sedan DeVille was donated to the Animal Society by a person from Sumner, Wash., who declined to be named publicly.

Burton, president of the Animal Society, is fixing up the car for use as a marketing tool.

"I decided to run a charity that promotes itself like a commercial enterprise," Burton said. "This is what led to the Cadillac. There was a local old car convention in town and I saw the intense interest people had in vintage cars."

Burton is trying to use people's interest in classic cars to gain attention for his organization. The nonprofit group's mission is to prevent suffering, neglect, and abuse and cruelty to animals, according to Burton.

Burton said he decided to create the organization when he saw hurricanes attacking Florida, causing people to evacuate and no one was worrying about the animals. He wanted to start a group that could be a voice for animals nationwide.

The Animal Society was started in May 2000 and uses donations to produce pamphlets that increase public awareness on animal issues. The pamphlets raise awareness about issues such as poaching, endangered species, and the danger of leaving pets in cars.

The group is planning a "seal of approval" program, which would rate products according to standards set by the Animal Society. If the product met the standards, it could carry the seal.

A long-term goal of the society is to be the first nonprofit group to offer health insurance for people who cannot afford to vaccinate or treat their pets, he said.

Burton hopes the Cadillac will lead to contributions for his organization. He wants to use it in parades and other events when it is restored.

After the car was donated, Burton immediately got on the phone and looked for local businesses willing to help restore the vehicle.

The Cadillac is in the starting phase of restoration with Brent Marshall, owner of Diamond Auto Painting & Body Works.

"I have animals and this is a good cause, so I try to do whatever I can," Marshall said. "What goes around, comes around and I believe that. I have been in this community for 17 years and Vegas has been good to me."

The Cadillac has dents, rust and has to be completely stripped before they can paint it, Marshall said. He believes the car will be with them for at least another month before it moves on to the next restoration process.

Once finished, the car will provide good, permanent marketing for the businesses that helped restore it, so it benefits both parties involved, Burton said.

"Any difference we can make with the organization is more than what animals had before we existed," Burton said.