In early October, we put out a call for submissions for our $100K Challenge Photo & Success Story, and boy, did you guys deliver! Anyone who adopted, fostered, volunteered or reclaimed an animal at a Challenge shelter during the months of August, September or October 2010 was eligible to enter, and we received some truly outstanding submissions. It was not an easy decision, but we selected 20 finalists, all of whom are now entered to win a grand prize grant of $1,000 for their Challenge shelters.
But we need your help! Please vote for your favorite submission that best represents the Challenge�2019;s mission to save more animals�2019; lives. The six submissions with the most votes will win a $1,000 grant for their shelters! Cast your vote today�97;the deadline is November 28 at midnight EST! Stay tuned to ASPCA.org, where we�2019;ll announce the six winners on November 29!
Names: Jhane Marello and Kashi
Location: Wynantskill, NY
Contestant: Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society, Menands, NY
Category: Adoption
Q-Tip came to the shelter as a stray. He was covered in fleas and scabs due to flea dermatitis. Much of his hair had fallen out. Every week I visit the new cats at the shelter, review their paperwork, and write their bios for our website. Q-Tip stole my heart since he was an affectionate and cuddly little ragamuffin. My husband and I had lost a very special cat to cancer in July. In August we adopted two young cats. We had not planned on adopting any more.
The second week that I visited with Q-Tip, one of our board members approached, and asked if I was considering adopting him. This was the anniversary of her dad's death, and she always does something for the shelter every year at this time since her dad loved animals. She offered to pay Q-Tip's adoption fee if I would take him home. I agreed. My husband was away on business. When he returned at the end of the week, there was a surprise waiting for him. We changed Q-Tip's name to Kashi, which means sweet in Japanese.
Vote for Jhane Marello and Kashi »
Names: Erika Leckington and Smellie
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Contestant: Tallahassee Leon Community Animal Service Center, Tallahassee, FL
Category: Adoption
Smellie arrived at the shelter on August 5 along with her sister, Josie. Both were surrendered by relatives of an elderly family member who could no longer care for them. After a brief medical and temperament assessment, Josie was placed up for adoption, but due to her age and medical issues, Smellie�2019;s fate was more complicated. As a new Boston Terrier lover, my heart went out to Smellie, and I immediately opted to have her join our family.
While I had no intention of adopting an animal during the Challenge (we thought our house was already full with four dogs), Smellie was a diamond in the rough. Her harried but soulful face expressed the years of neglect she had troupered through and without warning, her fate had changed. I wanted to be a part of that change, that second chance where she could appreciate love and life. We are thankful that we have benefited from the experience as much as she has!
Vote for Erika Leckington and Smellie »
Names: Karla Dempsey and Eli
Location: Newnan, GA
Contestant: Atlanta Humane Society, Atlanta, GA
Category: Adoption
This big fluff ball is Eli, a Great Pyrenees puppy I adopted in September. The munchkin is Smokey, a puppy I fostered through the Atlanta Humane Society at the time of Eli�2019;s adoption. I�2019;ve worked at the Atlanta Humane Society for over a year, and with some incredible willpower, I managed not to adopt any pets of my own. Until Eli came along. It was love at first sight, for both me and my foster puppy. I loved his soft fur, sweet face and calm demeanor. Smokey loved him as a jungle gym. He climbed all over Eli, pulling at his whiskers, tugging at his tail, licking him in the face. Who needs a dog bed when you have a 30-pound cotton ball to sleep on? Smokey eventually went to his forever home, with a doggie playmate more his size. But the memories of Smokey and Eli will stay with me forever!
Vote for Karla Dempsey and Eli »
Names: Susan Ruderman, Bradley and Lupe
Location: Arlington, MA
Contestant: Animal Rescue League of Boston, MA
Category: Foster
Shown in this picture are two (Bradley and Lupe) of the three orphan kittens I bottle fed, toileted, and weaned from September 2 through October 23 for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. These kittens and their 15-day-old sister Angelina were abandoned on the streets of Dorchester, MA. A concerned citizen called ARL of Boston, and a rescue technician was dispatched to bring them to the Boston shelter. They were healthy but too young to be in a shelter environment. Fortunately, the strong foster care network of ARL was able to activate, and so the trio was saved. They grew and returned to the shelter for neutering/spaying and were promptly adopted. As a former staff member of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, I saw every day the dedication, commitment, and technical knowledge of all the direct animal care staff and volunteers. It was all about the animals, as it should be. As previously noted, shelters don't save animals, people do! I am proud to be one of those people helping the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Vote for Susan Ruderman, Bradley and Lupe »
Names: Tricia & Abbie Jackson and Thomas
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Contestant: McKamey Animal Care & Adoption Center, Chattanooga, TN
Category: Return-to-Owner
My daughter Abbie and her cat Thomas became best friends after he showed up at our house in October 2007. They did everything together. In May 2010, Thomas went missing. We looked everywhere. I sent a photo and description to all the area shelters, and visited the shelters to see if someone had brought him in. There were several false leads, but no Thomas.
On August 7, 2010, three months later, I received a message on my cell phone from Amy at McKamey Animal Care & Adoption Center. She said there was a cat matching Thomas' description. I was afraid to get my daughter's hopes up, so I told her we'd go to McKamey again and see if Thomas was there. When Amy brought Thomas out, Abbie knew it was him immediately. The whole staff came out to see the reunion. (I asked the shelter how he got to them. He was found at a woman's house over seven miles away, across two five-lane highways. She decided to take him to McKamey with hopes that he would be adopted.) This picture was taken the day after he came home. I can�2019;t thank McKamey enough for recognizing Thomas and getting him home to Abbie!
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Names: Agnes Lingauer and Edward
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Contestant: Irvine Animal Care Center, Irvine, CA
Category: Foster
This cute little fella (Edward) was walking aimlessly through the streets of Orange County, CA. Fortunately he was picked up by the Irvine Animal Care Center. My husband and I quickly reacted and fostered the adorable Pit Bull pup. He immediately felt right at home, and enjoyed playing and snuggling up with our two dogs. He was so quick and eager to be an obedient dog, and he quickly became potty trained and learned sit, stay and down. He was too good to be returned to the shelter, but we knew our roles as foster parents. The day after we returned Eddie to the shelter, he was adopted.
My inspiration for helping the Irvine Animal Care Center during the ASPCA $100K Challenge is the continued and everlasting love towards animals whose lives have been sorely affected due to the misjudgment and misguidance of humans. The Irvine Animal Care Center helps suffering animals who have been otherwise neglected, and finds them lovable families with whom they can live their lives to their full potential.
Vote for Agnes Lingauer and Edward »
Names: Maria Joslin and Onyx
Location: Erie, CO
Contestant: Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Boulder, CO
Category: Adoption
This is a picture of my newly adopted, 10-year-old cat Onyx (formerly A.J.). I have been volunteering at the Boulder Valley Humane Society for more than two years and work mainly with the dogs, but I always spend time going through the cattery to see the cats and kittens waiting for adoption. I grew tired of seeing this poor old guy with few remaining teeth being passed over for cuter and smaller cats and kittens (in addition, he shared my son's name). Finally, one day after working my normal Saturday shift, I told my husband about Onyx and we both decided to go meet him. It was love at first sight and we brought him home that very same day.
Vote for Maria Joslin and Onyx »
Names: Lindsey Fry and Ditto
Location: Wichita, KS
Contestant: Kansas Humane Society, Wichita, KS
Category: Adoption
This photo is of me and my new love, Ditto. We were adoption number 200 at the Kansas Humane Society's "We won't close until we adopt 200 animals" weekend event. A fellow volunteer and her daughter were carrying this little Papillon mix out to potty and it was love at first sight! I went over to them and was sad to watch him stand and shake in the grass from fear and anxiety. I took this scared and shaking boy home and it took him 2 days to learn to walk around outside and go potty he was so scared. Ditto came around and fit right in so we decided to adopt him during KHS's �201c;200�201d; adoption event.
He is now a great member of the household and a doll to have around. We are so happy with our new addition and to help in the ASPCA Challenge!! What a great experience and tremendous effort for our Kansas Humane Society and all the other shelters who participated!
Vote for Lindsey Fry and Ditto »
Names: Allison Sanders and Mike
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Contestant: Western PA Humane Society, Pittsburgh, PA
Category: Foster
I have fostered eight kittens since August 1 for the Western PA Humane Society because I deeply believe that open-door shelters need help from the community to save lives. Being an open-door shelter and not turning away ANY animal in need, the shelter often receives too many animals to house in its building. Mike, as seen in this photo, has been my favorite foster kitty during the Challenge. He's a very affectionate little guy! After about four weeks, he recovered from a URI and gained enough weight to be put on the adoption floor at the shelter. He found his forever home the very next day!
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Names: Jeffery Tye and Drake
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Contestant: Arizona Animal Welfare League SPCA and HALO Team, Phoenix, AZ
Category: Volunteer
I volunteer for the HALO shelter every Saturday, and they inspire me with their dedication to the welfare of the cats and dogs that they rescue. The staff and volunteers are totally committed to this life-saving and happiness-creating work. And we have a lot of fun!
In this photo, I am working at one of HALO's "Empty the Shelter" events, and was saying goodbye to one of the puppies I placed, Drake. He is an adorable Pit Bull/Lab mix who had waited a while to get his forever home. He was so happy�97;he knew he was leaving the shelter and gave me a big kiss! I'll never forget his show of appreciation.
Vote for Jeffery Tye and Drake »
Names: Gini Moncur and Annie
Location: Irvine, CA
Contestant: Irvine Animal Care Center, Irvine, CA
Category: Adoption
Annie was the first adoption at the Irvine Animal Shelter on August 1, the first day of the Challenge. Annie wasn�2019;t considered adoptable because she was older, sick and scared. Kelley, a staff member, rescued her, named her Annie, and will forever be Annie�2019;s angel. She was around eight, had ear infections, bad teeth, kennel cough and was likely from a backyard breeder that dumped her since she was no longer useful. Her ears and kennel cough were treated, 11 teeth were removed, and after she recovered, she got spayed. My daughter and I volunteer at the shelter and we asked if we could foster her during her recovery. We fell in love with her, and she joined our pack of three other dogs (pictured from left to right, Angus, Timmy, Annie and Molly) who have taught her how to be a dog. We can�2019;t thank the shelter enough, for giving Annie and other dogs and cats a third chance. Every day she makes me smile.
Vote for Gini Moncur and Annie »
Names: Jamie Martin and Mandy
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Contestant: Southern Pines Animal Shelter, Hattiesburg, MS
Category: Adoption
Because of our interest in Southern Pines Animal Shelter, my husband and I offered to host an adoption event at our restaurant. Little did we know we'd fall in love with sweet Mandy and be the first to adopt from the event! As I took pictures for the shelter's Facebook page, Mandy managed to make her way into nearly every one. As my husband spoke on the local news about the event, she caught his eye. We had no intentions of adopting another pet that day, but it was without a doubt meant to be. We are so happy to have saved Mandy's life, and she has brightened ours!
Vote for Jamie Martin and Mandy »
Names: Kim Potter, Gandolf and Willow
Location: Granite Falls, WA
Contestant: N.O.A.H. Adoption & Spay/Neuter Center, Stanwood, WA
Category: Adoption
On August 27, I was doing a double shift as a volunteer at N.O.A.H.�2019;s reception desk when Gandolf (a Siamese mix) came out of the spay/neuter clinic and past my desk. I went back the next morning and picked out a second kitten (you can't have just one) and adopted Willow. It has been a little over a month and the kittens have brought so much fun and love into our house; it's a wonderful thing. These kittens came out of N.O.A.H.'s new foster program and they are very socialized and trained. It has been a great experience for me, both as a volunteer and as an adopter. I cannot sing too loudly their praises. I have been happy to help and take on additional hours, because I believe in what the organization is doing. As for the adoption, it was love at first sight.
Vote for Kim Potter, Gandolf and Willow »
Names: Linda Sifford and Sasha
Location: Wichita, KS
Contestant: Kansas Humane Society, Wichita, KS
Category: Foster
Our dog Dinky, whom we fostered and adopted in 2007 from the Kansas Humane Society, has now became a foster daddy dog to all of the homeless kittens we take in. (In this photo, Dinky is loving foster kitty Sasha who had a viral infection). Dinky socializes with the kittens which helps with their adoptability and also saves more lives.
Helping homeless animals seems so natural because of all the love and joy they provide me personally as well as our community. The staff and volunteers work so hard for our animals, and I will do whatever it takes to end euthanasia of all adoptable pets.
Vote for Linda Sifford and Sasha »
Names: Laurel Abreu and Tatum
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Contestant: Southern Pines Animal Shelter, Hattiesburg, MS
Category: Foster
My husband Manuel and I volunteered at an off-site adoption event (our first) for Southern Pines on October 2. We were just sure someone would adopt Tatum that day, since she was the calmest, sweetest dog. However, at the end of the day, no one had picked her. She had already been at the shelter for over a month, and we just could not bear the thought of her spending another night at the shelter. The director of the shelter and the adoption coordinator agreed for us to take her home as foster parents, and she settled in just fine. On Monday, I put out the word on a listserv at work, and a family came to meet her that same day. They decided to adopt her.
When we fostered Tatum and were able to find her a family, it felt like I had helped in a very concrete way, taking a dog who had been overlooked and getting her placed in a forever home. Plus, by fostering her, another dog had a chance to come into the shelter and be adopted.
Vote for Laurel Abreu and Tatum »
Names: Lindsey Heinrich and Sake
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Contestant: Wisconsin Humane Society, Milwaukee, WI
Category: Adoption
After adopting a kitty nearly four years ago from the Wisconsin Humane Society, we decided it was time to get a brother for our little Neko. After a few different visits over the past year to find a best friend for Neko, we learned about the new ASPCA Challenge and thought, what better time to go again than now?!?! There was no question about when we should go! Despite our original plan to adopt an older cat, we found pure kitten happiness when we entered Sake's room. By his cuddles and purrs, it was clearly evident that the WHS had taken excellent care of him and he was ready to find his home.
This is Sake with his new forever home mom! He's a very energetic (and extremely chatty!) little bundle of joy who is now learning how to get along well with his older brother at home. We love him dearly and can't thank the Wisconsin Humane Society enough for their efforts in bringing in so many great animals for adoption to find loving, forever homes! Way to go, WHS and ASPCA, for teaming up in the Challenge!
Vote for Lindsey Heinrich and Sake »
Names: Elizabeth Piotrowski and Elsa
Location: Lakeland, FL
Contestant: SPCA, Inc., Lakeland, FL
Category: Adoption
As a regular volunteer at SPCA Lakeland, I walk so many wonderful dogs every week, but with Elsa, a black Lab mix, it was love at first sight! She is three years old, has pins in her back leg from an apparent break, and has heartworms, for which we are now halfway through treatment. Not only is she a wonderful gentle creature, but she has worked miracles on the reclusive abused beagle, Lucy, whom we adopted 18 months ago. Lucy used to be fearful of any attention and has gradually come out her shell to trust us, but now she has blossomed with confidence, running around the house, barking and playing!
Anywhere you go in Lakeland you are likely to see SPCA volunteers with educational and information tables and/or animals looking for forever homes. This caring attitude inspires me to help our local SPCA shelter during the ASPCA Challenge and in any way possible.
Vote for Elizabeth Piotrowski and Elsa »
Names: Katie Kimbrell and Livvie
Location: Homewood, AL
Contestant: Greater Birmingham Humane Society, Birmingham, AL
Category: Foster
I'm a law student, and can't afford to permanently adopt any more animals (I have two!). But what I can do is foster babies who might otherwise not have a chance in life. Looking at my foster cat Livvie before broke your heart. She was scared of everyone and everything. She spent weeks under my couch, only coming out in the middle of the night to eat.
It was during the night Livvie met my 9-year-old cat Reilly. Slowly but surely, Reilly won her trust. He bathed her, played with her, and mostly he showed her the world wasn't so bad. Then Livvie began to trust me. It took weeks, but Reilly never left Livvie's side. Reilly even taught her the art of drinking out of the toilet! Livvie went to her new fur-ever home as a loving and trusting little girl. She's living proof of the power of patience.
Vote for Katie Kimbrell and Livvie »
Names: Laura Moody, Laci and Ramona
Location: Buckley, WA
Contestant: Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County, Tacoma, WA
Category: Foster
Pictured here are shelter dogs Laci (left), Ramona (front), my daughter Amber, and our dogs Sunny and Duke. During the Challenge, I fostered five dogs with three going to loving homes. These remaining two will stay in my home until adopted. The photo represents the family unit I provide for these dogs. They learn to interact with other dogs, children and learn manners in and out of the home. My daughter is 10 years old and also loves dogs. It�2019;s important that my daughter learns compassion, empathy and responsibility. She is a great helper and assists with feeding, training and bathing the dogs.
Foster dogs blossom in a loving environment with exercise, routine, and structure so they will become a successful family member. I enjoy watching them become physically fit and mentally confident and trusting. I learn about the dogs to determine the ideal family situation for them. I particularly enjoy knowing what joy that dog will bring to his or her new family.
Vote for Laura Moody, Laci and Ramona »
Name: Thomas Pierre
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Contestant: Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA and HALO Team Phoenix AZ
Category: Volunteer
I have been volunteering in the clinic at the Arizona Animal Welfare League for over a year. As the Arizona Animal Welfare League copes with the increased supply, we are also trying to heighten the demand in our community. That�2019;s why the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA and HALO combined our efforts for a 12-hour adopt-a-thon on August 21. This event was a key part of our joint entry in the ASPCA Challenge.
Our goal was to empty the shelter by placing nearly 200 animals in permanent homes in 12 hours. With an army of volunteers and the dedicated and tired staff, we DID it! As a volunteer, the event was extremely fulfilling, especially when I walked the kennel lines and saw the placards that were placed on each kennel when a dog was adopted. Each read: I Got a New Home Today! Adoption Saves Lives! This was also a way to spread the message that adoption not only saved one life, but actually two as it opened up a kennel for another dog. What was even more gratifying was when I walked the kennel lines around closing time and heard only the soothing sounds of the Arizona crickets.
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