African painted dogs are no average pups! Each one wears its very own pattern of black, white, brown, and gold splotches—no two dogs look alike. These super-smart hunters live and travel in tight family packs across Africa. But painted dogs are in big trouble: fewer than 7,000 are left in the wild. They need huge, connected spaces to roam, and they’re running out of room as land is turned into farms and roads. They also catch dangerous diseases like rabies and canine distemper from other animals.

The Oklahoma City Zoo helps protect painted dogs through Painted Dog Research, a partner organization in Zimbabwe. Zoo funding supports GPS tracking collars, road-kills prevention, and community programs that teach people how to share the landscape with painted dogs. The Zoo is also part of the AZA SAFE African Painted Dog team. You can help by rounding up your purchase at the Zoo through the Round Up for Conservation Fund.