ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge saves more than 36,000 shelter pets in first two months

ASPCA
Jax was one of the dogs adopted from the Lawrence, Kansas, USA, Humane Society as part of the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) announced that 36,790 pets were adopted or reunited with their owners during the first two months of the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. The three-month competition involves 49 animal shelters across the US that are working to increase adoptions and win some of the more than US$600,000 in ASPCA prize grants being awarded. 
During the first two months of the contest, many shelters continued to try new methods of driving traffic to their adoption centers, such as by holding big adoption events, unique promotions and discounts on adoption fees.
"Not only are both the shelters and animals winning, but so are the new families," said Bert Troughton, vice president of community outreach for ASPCA. "We've heard from hundreds of new adopters who have submitted entries to this year's photo contest, proudly showing off photos of their newly adopted family pets...Watching these pets leave the shelter and start their new lives with their new families is what this contest is all about."
The 49 contestants are working to save more animals during the months of June, July and August than they did over the same period in 2012. The 2012 competition's shelters saved more than 56,000 cats and dogs during the contest, an increase of 14,376 over the same period in 2011.

ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge saves more than 56,000 pets

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced that a total of 56,232 pets found homes during the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, a three-month competition where 50 US shelters worked to increase the number of animals saved in order to win a portion of the more than US$500,000 in prize grants from ASPCA and pet food brand Rachael Ray.
Shelters competed to place more animals in homes, either by adoption, alternative placements or being reunited with their original owners. During the competition, contestants saved 14,376 more cats and dogs from August through October as they did in the same three-month period in the 2011 competition.
ASPCA and Rachael Ray awarded the following prizes:
•US$100,000 Grand Prize and South Central Division Prize: City of San Antonio Animal Care Services in San Antonio, Texas, USA
•US$25,000 2nd Place Prize and $20K West Division Prize: Canyon County Animal Shelter in Caldwell, Idaho, USA
•US$25,000 Community Engagement Award: Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
•US$20,000 Southeast Division Prize: Humane Society of Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
•US$20,000 North Central Division Prize: Toledo Area Humane Society in Maumee, Ohio, USA
•US$20,000 Northeast Division Prize and $10K Most Improved Player: Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
•US$10,000 Most Improved Player North Central Division: Medina County SPCA in Medina, Ohio, USA
•US$10,000 Most Improved Player Southwest Division: Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA in Phoenix, Arizona, USA
•US$10,000 Most Improved Player Central Division: Animal Outreach of the Mother Lode in Diamond Springs, California, USA
•US$10,000 Most Improved Player Southeast Division: Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Wellington, Florida, USA
Applications for the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge open on January 3, 2013.

Rachael Ray announces Mutt Madness winner, runner-up

TV cook show host Rachael Ray named the Angel’s Gate Hospice & Rehabilitation Home for Animals the winner in her first annual Mutt Madness Awards Program, a program set up to benefit pet charities from the sale of her Nutrish petfood line.
The public voted Angel’s Gate of Delhi, New York, USA, as winner of the US$50,000 grand prize. Last Chance Ranch Inc. of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, USA, was voted runner-up, receiving US$25,000 for the second place finish.