New organization dedicated to helping no-kill shelters, learn how you can help your favorite rescues.
by Medha Isaacs, Best Friends NetworkSo imagine your favorite no-kill shelter. Typically we’re talking about a small organization run by a staff as small as 1 or 2 people who struggle to provide the best quality of life they can for their animals as well as find homes for their adoptable rescues. In addition to daily animal care, shelter people also face the daunting task of fundraising so they can continue their work. Often they only get to ponder where and how to raise funds in the drive between their full time day job to their shelter!
How many times have you thought, “If I ever win the lottery, I’m going to give that shelter a huge donation ?” Well, thanks to
Zootoo House with just a few clicks of your computer’s mouse, your local no-kill shelter might win an up to a $1,000,000 makeover!!!!
Zootoo House TM is a new organization that was created to help deserving no-kill shelters save deserving animals (i.e. every single one of them!). In addition to the main prize, 19 other cash reward prizes will be given for needed and much dreamed about shelter improvements. A second shelter will win a $10,000 cash prize, and the 18 other top shelters will each receive $5,000.
Zootoo House was the brain child of Richard Thompson the former CEO and Top Cat of The Meow Mix ® Company who during his tenure, kept thousands of cats well fed and purring through mega donations of food to shelters across the country. He not only donated, he visited the shelters and learned first hand about their work and their needs. He said, "During my years in the pet food industry, I've seen the dedication and commitment of the people who keep our shelters operating and save the lives of thousands of animals every day," said Thompson. "Yet despite all their hard work, many shelters lack the financial resources and manpower to provide a proper place for animals to live while pursuing the ultimate goal - finding a permanent, loving home for every pet. That's why I started Zootoo House, to take us one step closer to achieving that goal."
Zootoo House is a cyber community where pet lovers can share their knowledge and opinions and help each other make well-informed decisions about placing animals. You can also read about animal services and products that promote a quality life for pets on this site. It’s a place where, "every click helps a pet"TM and every pet lover has a voice.” Once you register on the site, you can post a picture or an opinion or share information about a shelter or animal supportive organization as well as refer a friend to the site.
The Contest and How to EnterShelters will be able to win the makeover by encouraging their supporters to become active members on Zootoo House.
The 20 shelters that accumulate the most points between 10/1/07 and 3/31/08 will win the makeover and the other cash prizes.
All you need to do is
click here and register. Then, link your account to the shelter of your choice. Your shelter accumulates points with each posting, review and picture upload you add. The more you add, the more points your shelter accumulates towards winning.
The Zootoo House Advisory Board, which consists of Thompson, Bill Meade from Shelter Planners of America, Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, as well as other experts in the pet industry, will personally conduct site visits of all 20 shelters to evaluate their needs and how Zootoo House can best facilitate enhancements.
Make sure you cruise this easy-to-navigate site yourself and check out the abundant resources and wealth of information that Zootoo House is already providing. The makeover and the cash prizes could be a particular boon for the fire and wind damaged shelters in Southern California, so you may also want to pass this information on to your animal welfare connections and to that no kill shelter that has a particular place in your heart!