On August 1, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA ) launched a contest to help save more homeless animals -- the ASPCA;s $100K Challenge to save more lives. . 46 animal shelters across the country are now competing to save at least 300 more animals -- during the months of August, September, and October 2010 -- than they did over the same three-month period in 2009.
The ASPCA $100K Challenge motivates shelters to come up with innovative approaches to increase adoptions, improve return-to-owner rates and engage the community. The contest ends October 31, 2010.
The shelter contestant that achieves the greatest increase in lives saved during that three month period over last year will receive a $100,000 grant from the ASPCA to continue their lifesaving work. A second grant of $25,000 will be awarded to the shelter contestant that engages the largest number of community members in helping to save more lives.
In addition to rewarding the most successful shelters in the Challenge, the ASPCA is also offering its expertise and resources to participating shelter staff on useful strategies for increasing adoptions, improving return-to-owner rates, engaging the community, and increasing awareness through the media and other channels.
According to ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres, 60 percent of US households have a cat or dog, “yet 80 percent of these households did not adopt their pet from a shelter. The ASPCA $100K Challenge is designed to encourage shelters to mount their best efforts and innovative new approaches for providing positive outcomes for homeless animals, by getting pets adopted, reuniting lost pets with their owners, or transferring pets to adoption partner organizations."
"It has long been a priority of the ASPCA to create a country of humane communities, where there is no more euthanasia of homeless animals simply because of a lack of space or the resources to adequately care for them. The ASPCA $100K Challenge hopes to build on that work by inspiring shelters and their communities to innovate and act to save more lives" says Ed.
Bert Troughton, Vice President of Prolearning at the ASPCA said “Contestant shelters are pulling out all the stops to save more lives. They’ve lengthened their adoption hours, increased their promotions, recruited more volunteers, and created zany, fun events to get their communities to help them save lives. It’s inspiring!”
The only Virginia contestant is the Richmond Animal Care and Control. Among their innovative community outreach initiatives is the sale of really cute tee shirts and hoodies with slogans like “Got Mutt?” and “Adopt a Pet Today,” all featuring their RAC&C Shelter Spokesdog Extraordinaire, "Platypus"!
What makes Richmond a tough contender? “We are experts in getting the word out in a grassroots manner,” says Platypus. “And the best way you can support us in the ASPCA $100 K Challenge is to come over and Adopt—and if it isn’t the right time to adopt, we would love both monetary donations and donations of items from our wish list. Currently on the wish list are leashes and collars of all sizes, towels, biscuits, and toys--especially new or gently used Kongs and tennis balls! And the kitties love soft beds and toys, too!” says Platypus.
For more information on the ASPCA $100K Challenge, please visit Challenge.ASPCAPro.org
Comments
Elissa - thanks for the plug about the Challenge, the more people hear about adoption, the more lives we can all save! Virginians can follow their local shelter - Richmond Animal Care & Control - and even become one of their "friends" at http://challenge.aspcapro.org/profile/RACC?xg_source=profiles_memberList. Thanks again, Bert
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