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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PICK US........................

I am so happy that Marietta's shelter is receiving the much needed attention it deserves! I cross my fingers and say a prayer each night that you win the million dollar makeover. I even prayed to the Pope when he was here!

Every animal deserves a warm and loving home but we all know that is not the case. The ZOOTOO website and shelter makeover contest has definetly helped open my eyes to the thousands of issues that impact animals everyday in the world around us.

I have two wonderful dogs that I love dearly and take loving care of but I guess I just never got more involved in the lives of other animals. ZOOTOO has made me think about and question how I can make a difference in the lives of animals.

I live in Waterloo Iowa and our town is trying to get a dog park put together. Now that I have seen what people can do when they set their minds to it I am going to see what I can do to make this happen.

I am inspired and proud of what all the shelters have accomplished!

Before ending, I would like to mention a very special person in my family. Her name is Debbie Kelley of Marietta Ohio and she is the most passionate and loving animal advocate that I know. Debbie does not drive a fancy car (though she once did), or live in a grand house (though she once did), or have a six figure income (though she once did).........

What Debbie DOES have is twelve beautiful cats (she lost one during the ZOOTOO contest) and I think nine feral cats that she takes care of everyday behind th Dairey Queen in town.

She'll probably be mad at me for writing this journal but I just wanted her to know that I am very proud of what she has accomplished in her life.

Debbie has few material possessions now, but what she does have she shares with her family of cats (or kids as she calls them). She goes without so that her cats are fed and taken care of. Most of these cats were abandoned or left at her house.

Months ago Debbie heard an ad on the radio for ZOOTOO.s Shelter Makeover and said we can do this! And you did, all of you!

Debbie, you are a wonderful friend to animals and I know that your only regret in life is that you can't save every animal and give them a good home.

Debbie & I will be there for the ZOOTOO announcement on May 15th. I could not let her miss this once in a lifetime event.

Please, if there is god (and has four legs) let Marietta's shelter win the makeover!

Thanks for listening,

Pam Bolick
Waterloo, Iowa

THANK YOU! My wife drug me into this whole thing about animals. At first, I didn't "get it". But, now, I do. We need this makeover so badly. These beautiful animals need our help. They are very important, and worth all our efforts to help them. We have adopted many homeless, abandoned adult animals, worked hard for the shelter, and will always continue to do so. Our house is full, and they are OUR masters!!!! These animals have become my children. I love them. Thank you so much for coming to our small community, bringing more awareness, and doing what you do. I hope we win, because we need more help to s/n and rescue abused animals. I also know that whomever wins, animals win. Again, thank you for bringing more awareness to the cause of these animals. You are a true champion of animals! Thank you.

What a great day! I was so proud of our shelter, and still am! We were so happy to meet you, Richard, and the Zootoo Crew. Thanks so much for all you do, and for making this contest become so much more than a contest. You have changed many of us in this small rural community by being who you are and creating such awareness to animal issues. We will make life better for our animals and shelter no matter who wins. We have won. THANK YOU.

I want vey much for our shelter to finally get the help they so deserve. I had to move away, for health reasons, but I lived in Marietta for 20 years, and care so much about the hard work the people there try to do, and the animals at the HSOV. They really care, and really need help. They need a s/n clinic so badly. They need more humane officers. I hope they win. Thanks so much for all you do, and caring about the animals. I watch the videos, and am so greatful you guys are helping animals. GO ZOOTOO !!!!!!!

Thank you so much for creating Zootoo! This was such an incredible day that will live in my heart forever. For so long it was "the impossible dream" as I sat in my living room and typed. It almost wasn't real. Then, that morning, when I was standing along the driveway, and looked around at all the people, tent, balloons, signs, and heard the cheering as you came up our driveway to the shelter, I could not help but to cry. My "impossible dream" had come true. Listening to you speak made clear you true compassion for the animals, and gave me a greater feeling of hope for the future than I ever imagined. Never before has there been such an opportunity for those of us who love the animals so very much to be united. Zootoo has made us one loud voice for the homeless animals which will be heard where our individual voices were not. You have brought such awareness to our cause from coast to coast. Things can only get better on both the local level and the national level. I am forever thankful. The day of the visit was such a wonderful experience and I didn't want it to end. But, only that day ended. Helping the animals and the shelter more than ever is only beginning. It was such a pleasure to meet you and the Zootoo crew, and you have my utmost respect and admiration for what you are doing to help our shelters and animals and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I also wanted to let you know that since zootoo started I now have an incredible new friend that I did not know before zootoo, Sharon Paul. She and I have both agreed to co-chair the new volunteer program for the HSOV. We have such high aspirations for this program and it is our hope that with this new volunteer program more animals will be out walking on a more regular basis, that we can help lighten the load on our shelter employees and to help make their day a little better.

Mr. Thompson, I cannot tell you what a privilege and honor it was to finally meet someone who is as passionate about animals as I am. When I first started on zootoo for our shelter you were only a face with a name, since you visited our little town on the Ohio River and I had the privilege of meeting you I now know you are a true gentleman with a real passion for animals and the community that shares the responsibility of taking care of them. And it IS the responsibility of our community. Our shelter works with the bare minimums to operate on. For the first time in many years we have an incredible, compassionate, hard working shelter manager-Cheryl Byers. The passion she shows for her job leaves me speechless. There are so many incredible individuals at our shelter now, Sharon and Butch, Levi & Amy-I don't know how they get so much done in the space of one day. Because of you and zootoo, an awareness has been raised in our community that has been incredible. ALL of the shelters deserve to win a makeover I am sure, and I would not want to be in the position that you are now in of having to choose just one for the "big makeover". I can tell you though, if HSOV is chosen for the makeover you WILL see a turn-out of our community that WILL make you proud of what you do. We built an Incredible Community Playground in the span of a week with volunteers only and I know that you will have the same turnout and perhaps even more for a makeover of this magnitude. I am a local gal, born and raised here, and I know what this community is made of and I know we can work miracles just with the community awareness that you have given us. Your zootoo crew were incredible and so easy to talk to, John Anton was personality plus!!!! Our little shelter needs so much more to be able to take care of the homeless dogs and cats in Washington County. We have room to grow and the spirit to "get er' done". Thank you all for allowing us a ride on your journey for the most deserving shelter out there, thank you to your families that have shared you with us while you made your rounds to the top 20 shelters. Best of luck to all the shelters and Mr. Thompson and the zootoo crew---I will make you a kitty litter cake anytime you would like one, just let me know when and where ;-) My hat is off to you Mr. Thompson, you ARE a true gentleman!
P.S. Let me know if you need a picture of your cake-I took one just for you ;-)

Thank you to Zootoo for having this contest. It has brought so many people together and made many aware of our Humane Society. I truly hope HSOV wins this makeover. I know that Richard will pick the shelter that will make the best use of the money. One thing that I learned from this contest is how strong our community really is. I still get goosebumps when I recall the day Richard and Zootoo came to Marietta. Seeing all the children and other members of our community standing together all for the same cause is an event that will forever be etched in my memory.

Richard, It was an honor and a privilege to finally meet you in person on April 23rd, shake your hand, and thank you personally for all that you have done to help raise awareness for animal shelters across the United States. I registered on zootoo in late January in support of our local shelter, Humane Society of the Ohio Valley in Marietta, Ohio, and I can truthfully tell you that the contest was the best therapy I could have had after losing my 17-year old miniature schnauzer, Miss Daisy. Zootoo gave me a purpose in life as I was trying to make a difference to help our shelter win a badly-needed makeover. I have made so many new friends who share my compassion for animals, and we have actually made plans for our life "after zootoo" and find ways that we can work together in support of the HSOV. You are truly an "officer and a gentleman", and I am just one among your many fans back here in Marietta, Ohio. Sincerely, Sharon Paul

Wow!! What a day!! It was amazing seeing all the supporters for the HSOV!! Thank you Mom (Cheryl) for all you do. You truley have a special bond with every animal you encounter. I am so proud of you and all of your staff for what you do on a daily basis, it is amazing!! I was honored to get to be a part of the Zootoo celebration on Wednesday. I love you!! -Amber

The emotions I felt at yesterday's HSOV shelter visit by Mr. Thompson and the Zootoo crew will stay with me forever. Our community, along with the shelter staff deserves to be recognized for its tremendous heart. What I witnessed yesterday proves we are capable of accomplishing great things!

Cheryl Byers is my sister. I am so proud of her not only is she my sister she is my best friend. She is such a loving and wonderful person. Cheryl has overcome some very hard obstacles and remained the same loving person. She devoted her life to her daughter Amber, devoted her time as a cheerleader coach and now is devoting her life to the helpless animals all around us. It is a joke in our family that the she has her own personal animal shelter. These animals (five dogs )have their own bedroom with their little crates all set up. Not to mention the cats some which were dropped off (I think they knew her) and some that she just loved so much she brought home with her. It is really funny when we all get together at her house there are nine dogs running around there with my two and her granddogs Betty and Ringo. I love my sister so much and I am so proud of her she works so hard for this shelter. I Love you Cheryl your the best Love Paula

Wow! What a morning! I am still in shock. It was a pleasure to meet everyone fron the Zootoo "crew". We had a great day and I believe it was the start of a wake up call for the Ohio Valley regarding the plight of abandoned and stray animals. It has been a dream of the HSOV to provide spay and neutering services and one of our goals is to someday be able to provide spay or neutering to all animals leaving the shelter. Everyone from Zootoo was amazing. Richard, you have some great people in tow. We look forward to a long relationship with Zootoo. Thanks again for making it such a special and incredible day. Thank you as well to all who have and will continue to support the HSOV and all those that were able to attend the visit. Kudos to all the planners and donators of food, money buses, the tent, the children and teachers and administrators of the local schools (especially Putnam Elementary), all the volunteers that were there the day before helping us get ready, the Board of Directors, Debbie Kelley, Sharon Paul, Janie Snell, Mayor Mullen, Chamber of Commerce representatives, the media who covered the event, the Cobbs and C&C Dodge Toyota for the extremely generous and surprise donation, HSOV members and of course, Cheryl Byers, our shelter manager. I am sure that I have forgotten some so please forgive me if I did, it was certainly not intentional. Thank you all for such a wonderful event. It was a day that I will always remember.

I also want to thank Richard and his crew for all their work in what they're doing. It was such a great day yesterday. The weather was fantastic and all the community support we received from everyone. I think it is tremendous for what they are doing for all the shelter no matter who wins. All of the staff for zootoo that were present were very friendly and thanks to all of you again for opening the eyes to people of the needs our shelter has. Especially the need for adoptions of the animals. Like Logan said " You are a blessing from God!"

Wow what an amazing day! It started the night before for me I could not sleep because I was just so excited for our shelter and zootoo coming. I have learning so much from this experience I can say I am a changed person now. I have always had a love for animals but never went above and beyond like I’ve should of. I just can’t wait to do more and get more people involved. Thank you this put a fire under my behind and getting me kick started. This really has opened people eyes. You are a blessing from GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Richard and Crew! You're energy and support have revitalized our community!! I truly believe, after having heard you speak, an epiphany occurred to people who were totally oblivious to the fact of the crisis our county faces on a daily basis regarding over population and the lack of spay and neuter, which, as we all know, is the root cause of over population to begin with. Your presence around the country and through zootoo is forcing people to take a good hard look at reality!!! I don't think anyone will ever be able to put into words, barks, or meows the the amount of thanks and appreciation you deserve for what you are doing to help the homeless animals in this country. At least I know I can't. The day was superb, I was overwhelmed, and from yesterday forward, the sky is the limit for the HSOV! We Love You!

Mr. Thomas is such a great person, he has done so much with the zootoo contest, so many people have helped our shelter since the publicity we've gotten from zootoo. He got the mayor there and we will see hopefully some good will come from that.
Thank you so much for coming, you are MY HERO!!!!!! for what you are doing across the country.

I'm so glad this visit went off so well, and Janie with her zany cat poop cake! Richard Thompson really started something with this contest, and the donation by C&C Dodge Toyota put the emphasis on community support. I hope they were able to savor the unique flavor of the mid-Ohio Valley while they were here, and to see how much our shelter needs their help. Thank you ZooToo!