More than 4,900 Animals Adopted in First Week of 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge

Animal shelters competing for chance at $600,000 in prize grants
June 13, 2014

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that 4,914 dogs and cats were adopted in the first week of the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. A total of $600,000 in prize grants is up for grabs to help shelters save more homeless cats and dogs.

The 50 contestants are working to save more animals during the months of June, July and August 2014 than they did over the same three-month period in 2013. Last year's competing shelters saved more than 56,000 cats and dogs during the contest, an increase of 12,050 over the same period in 2012.

"We’re only one week into the contest and there are already nearly 5,000 animals enjoying new homes, all thanks to the hard work and dedication of the contestants," says Bert Troughton, vice president of Community Outreach at the ASPCA. "This contest continues until the end of August, though, so there is still plenty of time left to head to your nearest shelter and help make this another record-breaking year of life saving."

The 50 contestants in the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge are:

  • Shelby Humane Society in Columbiana, Ala.
  • Pinal County Animal Care in Casa Grande, Ariz.
  • Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix, Ariz.
  • HALO Animal Rescue in Phoenix, Ariz.
  • Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, Ariz.
  • Burbank Animal Shelter in Burbank, Calif.
  • Ventura County Animal Services in Camarillo, Calif.
  • City of Chico Animal Shelter in Chico, Calif.
  • Central California SPCA in Fresno, Calif.
  • Moreno Valley Animal Shelter in Moreno Valley, Calif.
  • City of Stockton Animal Services in Stockton, Calif.
  • Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Colorado Springs, Colo.
  • Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden, Colo.
  • First State Animal Center - SPCA, Delaware in Camden, Del.
  • Alachua County Animal Services in Gainesville, Fla.
  • Clay County Animal Care and Control in Green Cove Springs, Fla.
  • Osceola County Animal Services in St. Cloud, Fla.
  • Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement in Lawrenceville, Ga.
  • Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society in Thomasville, Ga.
  • The Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, Ill.
  • Humane Society Calumet Area in Munster, Ind.
  • Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption in Mission, Kan.
  • Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, Maine
  • Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) in Baltimore, Md.
  • The Humane Society of Washington County in Hagerstown, Md.
  • Humane Society of Charles County in Waldorf, Md.
  • Oakland County Animal Control & Pet Adoption Center in Auburn Hills, Mich.
  • Southern Pines Animal Shelter in Hattiesburg, Miss.
  • Kansas City Pet Project in Kansas City, Mo.
  • Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, N.J.
  • Humane Society of Greater Dayton in Dayton, Ohio
  • Humane Society of Delaware County in Delaware, Ohio
  • The City of Oklahoma City Animal Welfare Division in Oklahoma City, Okla.
  • Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Ore.
  • Anderson County P.A.W.S. in Anderson, S.C.
  • Pet Helpers in Charleston, S.C.
  • Spartanburg Humane Society in Spartanburg, S.C.
  • McMinn Regional Humane Society in Athens, Tenn.
  • Williamson County Animal Control and Adoption Center in Franklin, Tenn.
  • Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County in Memphis, Tenn.
  • Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter in Georgetown, Texas
  • Houston Humane Society in Houston, Texas
  • City of Pasadena (TX) Animal Control and Adoption in Pasadena, Texas
  • San Antonio Animal Care Services in San Antonio, Texas
  • Lynchburg Humane Society in Lynchburg, Va.
  • Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, Va.
  • Everett Animal Shelter in Everett, Wash.
  • SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. in Spokane, Wash.
  • The NOAH Center in Stanwood, Wash.
  • Fox Valley Humane Association in Appleton, Wis.

The ASPCA and Rachael Ray will award a $100,000 grand prize to the shelter contestant that achieves the greatest increase in lives saved during this three-month period. The contestant that does the best job of engaging its community members in helping to save more animals will win $25,000. Those organizations that do the best in their divisions will be eligible for between $10,000 and $25,000 in additional grants. In total, $600,000 in grant funding will be awarded for increases in animal lives saved, as well as a photo contest and general participation.

All her life, Rachael Ray has been an advocate for animals and a supporter of animal welfare groups. Her love for animals and for her pit bull, Isaboo, inspired her to create a pet food called Nutrish® to raise money for animals in need.  Ray donates her proceeds from the sale of Nutrish® to organizations like the ASPCA so they can implement programs like the $100K Challenge and support shelters and animal organizations around the country.

The ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a groundbreaking contest that challenges animal shelters across the country to come up with innovative ways to engage their communities and get more homeless cats and dogs into loving homes. For information about the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, please visit www.aspca.org/100K.