May
2
2008

4:30pm

Double Dogs and a Hare 4/30/08 Visit # 18

Posted by Richard t. (topcat) in Shelter Makeover

37 comments

Yes we started out at Double Dogs Restaurant with some amazing chocolate milkshakes. And yes, the pounds keep coming on. The owner of Double Dogs, John Morrison, met us at the airport in Bowling Green, Kentucky and drove us to a very exciting welcome with fire trucks, and a roaring crowd of hundreds of volunteers and supporters.
The Bowling Green Humane Society is located on a divided 4-lane highway with great exposure but a very little sign…but I knew I could fix that! The first thing I did was speak to the crowd, which included shelter director, Laurie Hare, Mayor Elaine Walker and Senator Brett Guthrie. I gave them the challenge of getting more animals adopted if we could work together to get one great big sign on the busy throughway so everyone could know where they could get their next “best friend.” Before the day was over, the mayor reported back that she had been caucus with other city and county officials and they agreed they’d “get ‘er done!”
Lorrie gave us a tour of the shelter. It was well operated and maintained. She said that the boy scouts even came and did yard work for badges- what great community involvement! There was also a part-time vet, Dr. Karen Henkles-Klusty that worked in a clinic on-site. There were also some of the largest dog runs I have seen! Lorrie and her staff are doing such a great job for the city!
HSUS’s Pam Rogers was able to visit with us again and we wrapped up our tour and inspection with Culver’s Custard and another Zootoo cake.
Thanks, Bowling Green, for a wonder experience and a beautiful, sunny day!



Discussion

Comment on this entry


37 comments found.
Good Luck to Bowling Green, even though you are competition in this contest, your "sisters and brothers" at Danbury Animal Welfare Society wish you the best. We love when we get your "overflow". This whole Zootoo experience has been wonderful for all the shelters involved. - On to Orlando for the next round!
Even thought I could not be there physically ( I am in PA) I was there in spirit for BGWCHS. The animals there so deserve this makeover. We are sitting on pins and needles waiting for the results. My boy Eric came from here. He and all the animals that go through this shelter are the BEST!

Sincerely,
Bonnie Girard
Just want to say again-thanks to everyone who supports our humane society. I know there are many shelters out there that need this makeover and no matter if we get the million or someone else does I know whoever gets it will use it wisely to save more animals
Thanks also to the Zootoo team who really has brought communties together.
Richard and the Zootoo team, You made everyone in Bowling Green Ky area very happy. We hope you found everything you was looking for. The shelter means so much to this community. The speech was amazing. I hope you come back to visit us soon. Thanks for your consideration for the $1,000,000. You guys will for ever be in hearts.
Morgan
Morgan (moranml)
1 week ago
Reply
Thank you Richard and the Zootoo crew not only for coming to see us, but for starting zootoo.com in the first place!!!! The past few months have been a wonderful experience for me and my shelter family. We have wonderful community support and have seen it grow even larger during the contest and the weeks leading up to your visit. I have been a volunteer, an adopter and am an employee at the shelter. We have such a vision of the future for our shelter and specifically our spay and nueter clinic. We know that the only way to save all of the animals that come into our care is educating our community and surrounding communities about spay/neuter. We have to lessen the pet overpopulation in our region. We would like to expand that program and have a larger facility so that we can continue striving to reach our goal. I have read all the journal entries and watched all the videos from your travels these last weeks. I have seen so many wonderful pet lovers and so many shelters in need. I know that all the shelters are in such need of the million dollar makeover. I have also seen how each community has come together to support that shelter. No matter who wins I know that each shelter has benefited from your contest from higher community support, to media coverage, to adoption rates. I hope that you continue to challenge us in the future. Sometimes it takes new eyes to see that little things like a larger sign can make a big difference in our exposure to potential adopters, voluteers, and supporters in the community.

Thanks Again,

Morgan Moran
Thank you Richard and Zootoo for coming to visit our shelter. I hope you enjoyed your visit and Bowling Green. Thank you for what you are doing for shelters all over america.
Thank you Richard and Zootoo team. April 30, 2008 will be a very memorable day for everyone here in Bowling Green and at the BGWCHS. Your speech was sooo inspirational and a big boost for our team. I thank you not only for coming to "our house", but for giving us all the opportunity to be in the running for a million dollar makeover. I know the choose won't be easy. But thank you again and god bless.

Sherri Beard
kgarrett
kgarrett
1 week ago
Reply
Thank you Richard and Zootoo, for a truly memorable day. I hope you know how excited we were to see you. I would like to thank you, not only for our shelter, but for all the shelters in the US that are receiving much needed exposure in the media for their tireless efforts. Many lives will be saved thanks to this contest and your website. Winning this contest will allow BGWCHS to expand their clinic and be able to service, not only the city/county, but the region through spay/neuter. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Kathy Garrett
I was so impressed with your speech and what you got the big wigs to do in such a short time at your Bowling Green visit. Your ideas and spirit was inspirational, and its was so great to see the community come together to support not only the zoo too event, but also the shelter and the staff. I often wonder if the staff knows how proud the community is of their efforts. Its a emotional roller coaster to do what they do, and not many can make the decisions they are forced to make everyday. Its just amazing how many lives they work so hard to save. When you came to the shelter it shed the light on their efforts...Well if the community didn't know what a great shelter and staff we have, they know now! I was so proud of all the Zoo too signs all over town, on business, the TV and Radio coverage, the topics of conversation everywhere you went and even the kids knew about it. You are doing a great thing, and I can tell the awareness you have brought to not only our community by national is just awesome. You and your crew are making differences in the lives of so many animals and the people that care for them, and I truly feel that your making brownie points in heaven!

Thank you so much for the visit, the sign, the inspirational speech, the motivation, and for shedding light on the efforts that our shelter staff. You are truly someone to aspire to be like.

Tracy Moser
RePets
Lisa H.
Lisa H. (pj04)
1 week ago
Reply
Dear Richard & all of Zoo Too,

Unfortunately I was not able to be at the celebration last wednesday because I had already planned my vacation & bought plane tickets for that very week! I was quite disappointed... I adopted my first 2 dogs from the shelter 10 years ago, and became an employee almost 6 years ago, so the shelter is VERY close to my heart! I also worked tirelessly to keep us in the top 20! The long nights on here were definately worth it! Picking the shelter to win the $1 Million Makeover will be a very tough decision for you I am sure, because every shelter across American is in need of more help & awareness. I am praying that last wednesday you were able to see the vast potential of our shelter! We have completely changed our shelter since Lorri became director and have grown so much in that time, and our goal is to continue to grow & expand our program of adoptions and spaying/neutering. Of course the $1 Million would tremendously help us reach our goals. The animals of south central Kentucky desperately need our help and the staff at BGWC Humane Society will always be there to take care of them until we find their forever homes!
hgtrader
hgtrader
1 week ago
Reply
Richard and Zootoo Team
We could not attend the celebration at BGWCHS but we keep up with all the happenings on the website daily. You all are doing a great job across the various states. The top 20 shelters are already winners and whoever you choose as#1 deserves the makeover.Of course we are praying for you to choose us as Lorri and her staff are #1 in south central Ky.They do a great job and are good at what they do.Anytime you save a dog or cats life you are a winner.This venture of your has really opened eyes of many pet owners and others. good luck
Harold & Velva White
lharlow7
lharlow7
1 week ago
Reply
Richard and Zootoo team-I hope you found everything you were looking for when you visited Bowling Green Warren Co. Humane Society. This is a number one shelter with a number one staff.Lorri and all the staff do a outstanding job when it comes to saving a pets life and finding them loving homes.Please take this into consideration when making your dicision on the winner. I know it is going to be a hard choice because all the top 20 are in need of extra help. Thanks from the bottom of my heart and you and the Zootoo team are in my prayers.
Linda Harlow
glenda
glenda
1 week ago
Reply
Richard and Zootoo team-I want to commend you on your great work with shelters across the US. Of course I am pulling for BGWCHS to be in the winners circle. Of course everyday they save a pets life and find them loving homes.the staff at the shelter are winners.Thanks for your input on a sign. Take care and visit us anytime.
Glenda
Good luck with your decision on the make-over winner.I know it is going to be a tough task. All the 20 finalist are in need of help in what they do for homeless animals.
BGWCHS is a hard working group and of course I hope they win- but they are already winners the day you visited the shelter. I understand the shelter is getting that much-needed sign because of you.THANKS
Lorri and staff do a great job and they give 110% in finding homes for pets and saving lives.
God Bless you and Zootoo for the job you are doing and do come see us anytime
Moriah
Thank you Richard and Zoo Too team! We really appreciate what you are doing for shelters across the US!

It was great having you visit us at the BGWCHS. It was a real morale boost for the staff, volunteers, and the community. I hope the excitement carries on and we can channel it toward saving more lives.

I am sure during your visit you were able to see how hard Lorri and the staff work to keep our shelter in top shape. It would be wonderful to see Bowling Green win the prize because I just know they will put it to good use and maximize the effect of that money for this area. It would be great to see this area of Kentucky achieve a shelter and clinic that can support a huge spay/neuter effort and be an example to other communities what can be done for animals if everyone works together.

Thank you for considering us!
Pam Brown
Dog's Day Out
Richard and Team,

Thank you so much for visiting our shelter. It has been a joy being apart of this contest these past few months and I am sure you will choose a deserving shelter. Each day I go to the shelter I love and care for all the animals. It is great to see there are other people, outside out little shelter, who cares for our animals just as much as we do. Just today I had the chance to assist a volunteer group of children walk dogs. You should have seen the beautiful sight of teenagers scattered about our lawn, each with a different dog, playing, brushing and just enjoying their time with a pet. Thank you for the big sign! We can't wait to see what it it is going to say, and watch lives saves because of a sign.

You're visit to our shelter was truly special for everyone involved and we thank-you for your efforts in animal awareness.
~Amanda Hughes
Thanks to the Zoo Too people for the chance to be involved in the make over contest i know hiw every body at the BGWCHS must have worked for this chance my wife and i worked our fingers to the bone on our computers and walking door to door to bring the word to our neighbors and friends every shelter should get a make over with the money our goverment waistes every day they could help every shelter to at least provide a safe haven until a loving home can be found i thank God for the chance to help and Thank You Again to the Zoo Too. com people and every body in the area for their support . The fight is over but not the war against animal abuse and the need for birth control of our pets , and a real need for homes for our friends love and wet kisses from diablo and shida and our new baby vidly a puggle we are forstering and will probably keep .Love shihtzu dad
rflowers
rflowers
1 week ago
Reply
Thanks for visiting our shelter Wednesday. I could only stay for a few minutes, but I was really pleased to see so much of the community out. Thanks for all your good work through the zootoo website!
Richard & the Zootoo Team,
Thank you soooo much for coming to the beautiful area of Bowling Green, Ky to see our shelter. We are so fortunate to have such great workers and volunteers at the shelter that love and care for the animals and that is why the shelter runs as smoothly as it does. Thank you also for the BIG SIGN!!! Our community believes in the welfare of our animals and finding them forever loving homes. I hope you enjoyed your visit and will choose the Bowling Green/ Warren County Humane Society as the final winner. Thank you for everything you do for animals everywhere.
Sincerely,
Sherry L. Cockrill
Warren County is very lucky to have such caring people. Zootoo could make such a huge difference for the area. There is such a problem here with the pet population and animal abuse. Luckily, we do have people that genuinely care about the animals. A lot of people in rural areas don't understand the need for regulations and spay&neuter programs. I'm proud to live in an area that has a no-kill shelter. If they won the makeover I think it would encourage surrounding counties to do more for the pets in their area.
Thank you for visiting Bowling Green and please consider their outstanding need when you decide who gets the funding. I'm proud to know the people who run the shelter and proud to have my dog Coffee who is a BG transplant living in Chicago!

Thanks again for the wonderful thing you are doing!
Bowling Green thanks you so much for coming to visit us and we appreciate what Zootoo is doing out there. Lorri and all the volunteers here at BGWC Humane society pray that you saw the love and warmth that we have for all God's creatures (big and small). We work hard to provide care and homes for animals in warren county and many others around us. We really appreciate you and your staff stopping by our facility and helping our politicians get on their feet for our shelter. Thanks so much for helping them get that sign. It will help save lives.
Thank you so much zootoo for coming to our shelter. I really hope we win the makeover as it will not only help our county but also the counties around us as we take pets from them too. But just being in the running is great. It's brought public awareness to the shelters need for money and volenteers to help with the animals. The staff at our shelter is great. They really care about animals. I know you have a hard job in picking the winner out of the top 20 shelters. I can't wait to see who wins and to view all the videos when you are done with your visits. Thank you again for coming to Bowling Green and for geting us the new sign.
Thank you zootoo for coming to our shelter!! I personally think that Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society deserves to win since we are one of the only states in the top 20 that has such a need for help -considering our state animal laws! The BGWCHS does all it can to help as many animals as possible despite the state problems we have with bad backyard breeding, dog fighting, and abuse/neglect. -If BGWCHS won we could do so much more to make an impact on the entire state of Kentucky and what needs to happen to help the hundreds of thousands of animals in the state in peril. -Thank you again for coming to see us, and please consider us for number 1!!!!!!
Thank you so much for all that you do and for visiting the BGWCHS...everyone is so proud of the job that the entire staff does. Their committment and dedication is so obvious in all that they do. Everyone wins in this situation, and just the fact that we made top 20 is reason to celebrate. Keep up the wonderful work and continue to bring attention to the animals in need!

Cara Cave
Volunteer

I just wanted to thank you for what you have accomplished in this venture.You have brought so much attention to the needs of our furry friends(large and small).Bowling Green Warren Co. Humane Society is a hard working group and they are NUMBER1 in my book.All shelters across America are to be commended on their efforts to save animals and find them loving homes.All shelters are winners when they save a pets life.
I really appreciated the # 2 award for my work on the contest-made all those long hours on computor worth-while.
God Bless you and all the Zootoo crew. Keep up the good work
Thanks for the HUG
A freind forever Linda Bartley(linda421419)
PaulaDavids
PaulaDavids
1 week ago
Reply
Richard and ZooToo Team,
Thanks for visiting Bowling Green (KY) and our Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society. As you could see, our community really appreciates what Lorri and her staff do everyday for our "furry friends." Whether our shelter wins the $1M or not, we still win! There are no losers when it comes to helping animals.
Richard and ZooToo Team,
Thank you so much for coming to see our BGWC Humane Society in Bowling Green, KY. We are sure that all 20 finalists have wonderful groups just like ours. We recognize that a million dollars is an extraordinary gift. One important aspect of such a gift is how would it be put to use? We hope that the ZooToo Team recognizes the extraordinary collaboration between the BGWC Humane Society staff, volunteers and the community leaders. This local team has a great vision for saving animals and connecting them with "forever homes". If awarded this prize, every dollar would be utilized to further this community's vision and dream for a better future for these wonderful animals.

John & Linda Grimes
We are all so glad you enjoyed your visist to Bowling Green. I think Lorri and the crew at BGWC Humane Society really outdid themselves and considering how much they already do, that's saying something. However the Bowling Green Humane Society does in the Zootoo contest, they are still my heroes. The great support they have from the community is a direct result of the hard work they do an the lengths they are willing to go to save all the animals that come into their care.
Thank you Zootoo.
A great big "THANK YOU" to the ZooToo dignitaries and everyone else who came out to support our shelter on Wednesday. It was great to see such a crowd of supporters. We're a fairly small community but we try very hard to give the animals in our charge the very best care possible. Win or lose, at this point, we've all been winners to be so involved in the ZooToo community and with the Bowling Green-Warren Co. Humane Society.
JennyLeeWallace
JennyLeeWallace
1 week ago
Reply
Thank you Richard and crew!!!!! We really were stoked by your speech. We hope that you enjoyed spending time at "our place". We hope that you could see how hard we are working to not only to get the over-population in check but also to make a better way for those who cross paths with us here in Bowling Green. We are grateful for this opportunity and want to let you know that you are doing a fantastic job bringing this up front and center. My Elly Bean sends you many, many wet kisses!!!!!
Thank you Zootoo for visiting Bowling Green! We are so proud of everyone involved with The Bowling Green-Warren County Animal shelter - simply put, they are heroes as is Zootoo for bringing the plight of animal shelters to the attention of so many!
BG-WC Humane Society has helped so many animals and I can only imagine how many more they will help in the future.
Hope we'll see you visit our shelter again soon!
vicki sharer
bencbart
bencbart
1 week ago
Reply
Thank you Zootoo for coming to Bowling Green to visit our facility. I feel we have one of the best shelters in the state of KY and I sincerely hope we left you with the same impression. Seeing all those supporters respond to your inspiring words was one of the best experiences I've had since joining this shelter. Your insite to a better future can only make it better. We'll start with that new sign! :-)

Lorri and her staff work tirelessly to care for the abondoned and unwanted animals of Bowling Green and surrounding counties. They have made it their life mission to save as many animals as possible and they all have my utmost respect for the love and dedication they show to this cause.

Let's not forget the other 900+ shelters and rescues that competed, but did not make the Top 20. With a great support network like Zootoo.com, we can all share and learn from each other which makes us all WINNERS! Good luck to all the Top 20 shelters.

Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts here in Bowling Green. I hope you enjoy all the letters.

Benita C. Bartley
Board President
BGWC Humane Society
Many thanks to Richard and the rest of the Zootoo Crew for visiting us here in Bowling Green! I was happy that we had such a beautiful day for your tour of Kentucky, and I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to our shelter and with our wonderful staff.

It was inspiring to be part of the huge crowd that welcomed you to our facility and to share in the appreciation we all have for the Shelter Makeover contest. Having looked through the other blogs and videos, I know you have difficult decisions to make, but I appreciate all your efforts on behalf of shelters across the country, and I'm very proud that BGWCHS could be a finalist in the competition.
Thank you Zootoo for viewing our facilities in Bowling Green. I admire your dedication to making lives better for all animals across the country. I know that all of the Top 20 shelters are deserving of this honor but I hope that you PICK US!

Thanks for giving hope to all the animals in Bowling Green/Warren County, Kentucky. Our animals are well cared for by a loving director and staff. We just need to continue to spread the word about spaying and neutering pets.

Lynn Noffsinger
Bookeeper
BGWC Humane Society
What an exciting and inspiring day! I am really proud of the shelter staff and volunteers. I do have to say a very special thank you to Lorri who so perfectly put into words how we all feel about the shelter and the community support we receive.
Nobody does it better!!!

Thank you to Richard and the Zootoo Crew! You were all great and we really loved having you and wish the visit could have been longer. No matter what, this is a great beginning for things to come for all shelters. It is always nice to get persective and insight from another point of view and you all certainly did that.

Thank you again for your time and commitment to saving lives.

Christine Trevino

P.S. Thanks for the push to help get the new sign!!!

Thank you Zootoo for giving us this great opportunity, and for getting more people involved in animal welfare. I truly admire your team and your dedication to help pets!

We enjoyed your visit more than words can say, and we are looking forward to seeing you again in Orlando! This has been a great experience, and we hope it has only just begun.

Congratulations to all of the hard working volunteers and facilities who have made this contest amazing! We hope that all of the shelters and organizations involved will see great improvements and involvement within your community!

Thank you again Richard & the Zootoo team :O)

Lorri Hare
Director
BGWC Humane Society

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