May 16, 2008

ORLANDO -- What better place than Disney World to set up a fairytale ending.

After months of anticipation and thousands of increased animal adoptions resulting from the publicity, Zootoo’s Shelter Makeover contest reached its final stages Thursday, with three finalists learning they are still in the running for the $1 million grand prize.

“Some of you didn’t know what to do with it, but a thousand of you did and today we have 20 shelters here,” said Zootoo founder Richard Thompson, the contest’s creator. Thompson was referring to a makeover contest kit that enabled some 1,000 shelters to enter the competition last October.

That field had been whittled to 20 shelters, with representatives of each on-hand here, as more than 200 people eagerly gathered to hear Thompson announce the three finalists.

“Jefferson County, come over here!” Thompson shouted, as the Jefferson County SPCA of Watertown, N.Y. was the first named to the final group.

Asked why her Jefferson County facility wants the makeover so badly, “Need, for one, stability,” said Linda Miles. “We’re 120 years old and the fastest growing county in the U.S.”

Then Thompson was at it again, ala Bob Barker, formerly of The Price Is Right fame, telling another shelter finalist representative to come on down.

“Human Society of Ohio Valley!” he bellowed.

“No, I can’t believe it!” said Cheryl Byres of the Ohio Valley shelter. “We’re so fortunate, I mean, the entire animal community is fortunate.”

Then Thompson pulled one last card from his magical deck of finalists.

“Stray Rescue of St. Louis!” he yelled.

“This would really be a dream come true, and I’m gonna start crying again because so many animals are depending on that million dollars in St. Louis, and all over the country too,” said Randy Grim of Stray Rescue.

The finalists and other prize winners were announced at the Animal Care Expo 2008 Convention. Thompson says the contest celebrates the shelters and the people behind them.

“The idea isn’t so much for me, one person winning up to a million-dollar makeover, but the fact that all communities are getting recognition and getting support they’ve never seen before,” he said.

“If you have a beautiful humane society, it says the community cares about kindness and animals as well, so that’s very important,” said Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States, which is partnered with Zootoo.com. “Zootoo is a great partner and we’re glad to have them here at Animal Expo.”

Regardless of the contest’s eventual grand prize winner, the competition has already had a major impact on its participants.

“Once Zootoo came to town and left, in 48 hours we adopted over 60-some dogs in two days,” Grim said. “Our adoption rates have gone sky high, everything has been elevated.”

The contest winner will be announced next Wednesday, May 21 in USA Today and on FOX TV’s The Morning Show with Mike and Juliette.

“The attention we’ve received, first and foremost, we’ve already won,” Byres said.

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