The Denton Animal Shelter and the Denton Animal Shelter Foundation Inc. announced they had reached the second of three goals in a pet adoption competition for a $100,000 grand prize.
“We reached the 1,182 adoptions [goal] set in order to remain competitive,” said Bette Sherman, foundation chairwoman, treasurer and co-founder.
In March, the shelter began participating in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. The competition is designed to inspire animal shelters nationally to increase pet adoption rates, reunite lost pets with their families and save more animals.
Between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31, the shelter needed to increase its adoptions by 300 pets over the same period last year in order to keep going in the competition.
Now, in the third phase, the shelter is trying win the most votes through social media.
The Denton shelter could win a $100,000 grand prize or one of several smaller prizes.
In April, the public voted to support the shelter during the first stage of the competition. The votes would allow the center to continue in the challenge and become one of 50 remaining competitors.
At the end of September, the shelter was in fifth place overall, behind Phoenix’s Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA, Canyon Community Shelter of Caldwell, Idaho, Animal Outreach of the Mother Lode of Diamond Springs, Calif., and the city of San Antonio’s Animal Care Services.
Any money the shelter wins in the Rachael Ray Challenge funds will be used for medical expenses, adoption subsidies and other expenses at the shelter, officials said.
During the weekend, the foundation held its third Tails & Trails event, with an estimated 5,000 people in attendance and 700 participants in the walks and races.
“We were all thrilled,” Sherman said, “and think we made good money.”
Though the event tends to draw dogs and their owners, one fearless feline — on a harness — joined the pack.
“We never had a cat before,” Sherman said. “It was 200 dogs and one brave cat.”
The public can still support the shelter during the third phase of the Rachael Ray Challenge and vote once daily through Oct. 31.
To vote, visit www.facebook.com/DentonASF and click on the $100,000 Challenge tab under the banner.
Winners will be announced in mid-November, Sherman said.
For more information, visit http://challenge.aspcapro.org .
KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com .
