Butte Humane Society BHS)has been working hard to compete in the shelter makeover contest and supporters have enjoyed participating with zootoo activities. Unfortunately, the only daily newspaper is irresponsible and desperate for attention. Thus, the Chico Enterprise Record (locally known as Enterprise Wretched) published on the top left of page one a photo of the rally and a scathing attack on the validity of the zootoo shelter makeover. The article used information from last year's contest winners who hold grudges based on their own false expectations of what winning the contest meant. The article totally overlooked the hard work and compassion of BHS staff, local supporters including a large number of zootooers, and the benefits already received from joining up with zootoo.

BHS has been fully aware of what "winning" the contest involves and was not interviewed by the newspaper to help balance the vitriol of "sore winners". Geez, you'd think that last year's winner would be grateful for the attention to that shelter alone. They received much money, donations, materials, and work help, even though they did not receive a check for one million dollars, which was never promised by zootoo.

So, I would like to apologize to zootoo and all who have enjoyed participating in the makeover contest and many other activities on zootoo for the irresponsibility of the Chico Enterprise Record's unbalanced reporting. Unfortunately we do not expect balanced reporting from that newspaper and I'd found it most useful to line the bottom of my bird cages. Until they shrunk the paper size so that it no longer is large enough to cover the cage bottom. With the shrunken page size, I've not found any use for the newspaper now that I don't have a wood stove needing fire-starter paper.

BHS is fully aware of zootoo contest details and has been grateful for the attention we have received through zootoo. Our local efforts include many supporters both zootoo members and others - 500 people came to the rally when zootoo filmed us for the contest. This is a huge percent of the local population, and there are no other cities within 100 miles of BHS so our support base is limited to our poor, isolated, rural county in northern California's Cental Valley. Poor economically, but rich in community action.

Given that BHS is #2 in the voting so far, that helps to refute the negative image the newspaper attempted to promote. Unfortunately, the article also discouraged too many people who had been full of enthusiasm to support BHS but were not well-informed about the contest and what BHS expected from winning.

I was at the rally. The shelter, local businesses, Chico's mayor, and many others greated zootoo with fervor, free pizza, snowcones, and other treats. It was an incredibly heartwarming experience that was not fairly reported by the Enterprise Wretched.

So, I hope all zootooers will not view BHS and Chico CA by the local newspaper but by the local people and the shelter's staff and efforts. Seems like there is always a reason to apologize for that newspaper and it could be a full time job to comment on the false reporting and skewed information contained in that newspaper each day.