$100,000 Shelter Challenge

There are so many good things that could happen with $100,000...let's try and win this thing!

Kern County Animal Control (KCAC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new campaign to promote all three shelters among Kern County residents. The “Did You Know?” campaign is being launched in September and will run through October hand-in-hand as part of the national competition that KCAC has been selected to participate in – the ASPCA’s 100,000 Challenge!

As one of just 50 organizations who made it into the Challenge, KCAC will be competing with shelters across the country to save at least 300 more animals—during the months of August, September, and October 2010—over the same three-month period in 2009.

There are two prizes in this contest: $100,000 for the shelter that achieves the greatest increase in lives saved during that three-month period over last year, and $25,000 for the shelter that engages the largest number of community members in saving more lives. KCAC intends to win both, and they will be calling on the community to help.

“KCAC is excited to be part of this national competition and we are thrilled to be able to get the word out to the community about the benefits of adopting from a shelter as well as the importance of responsible pet ownership,” said Matt Constantine, Director of Public Health Services. “Although the campaign officially kicked off last month, KCAC has slowly been promoting its campaign to save lives out of respect to the many residents recovering from the life-changing disasters over the past few weeks. Our staff has been working hard to prepare for the competition and we are ready to win!”

KCAC will be promoting the shelter, services and adoptions with a series of informational postings via Twitter, Facebook and brand new to KCAC, the popular YouTube site where KCAC will have their very own informational channel.

All adoption fees for cats and dogs have been reduced dramatically through the months of September and October to celebrate making “adoption your first option,” which is the official slogan for KCAC during the competition.

Also on the horizon will be the first ever pet adoption festival. KCAC will be hosting this new event, scheduled for October 17th, to encourage the bond between animals and humans, provide information for pet lovers and of course find homes for some of the many wonderful animals in the shelter.

“We have some new ideas that we hope will help us win this challenge, but it will take more than just innovative ideas for KCAC to clinch the top prizes,” added Kalar. “We need the communities support and participation so we are looking for volunteers ready to commit and assist us in several areas. Volunteers that are at least 16 years of age, are highly organized and motivated and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment should contact our office for more information.

“We are very excited about the potential the Challenge has for affecting tremendous change,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “Shelters from every part of the country have stepped up to the Challenge, and when they engage their communities to save more lives – everyone will win, especially the animals.”

For more information about Kern County Animal Control and their role in the competition, please visit www.co.kern.ca.us/acd or call 661-868-7104. For more information about the ASPCA $100K Challenge, please visit www.aspcapro.org/challenge.