Becky J.

Our shelter HSOV came second and while we did receive a sizable reward for our efforts, we still have our eyes on a new shelter, better spay and neuter programs, and no furry critter left behind. I think the way we all should be thinking right now is how … Read More

Our shelter HSOV came second and while we did receive a sizable reward for our efforts, we still have our eyes on a new shelter, better spay and neuter programs, and no furry critter left behind. I think the way we all should be thinking right now is how do we build on the momentum that has been started. Without a doubt, all of our shelters (top 20 and not top 20) have gained volunteers, contacts, and publicity that we didn't already have. Let's use that wisely. Don't wait a month or two or three to look around and say what can we do now. Make those plans and put them into action at your next board meeting.

We all were discussing what to do if we didn't win while we anxiously waited for the announcement. The answer is, keep going the the direction we were going but instead of asking just for people to support us with joining, writing reviews and posting journals, ask them for exactly what we need. If you get folks involved, the zootoo part of it will become second nature. With the right attitudes, the right plans, and the right actions, many of us may not need a million dollar makeover next year. We will accomplish it own our own. Then for the next contest, we can all support the next little shelter down the road, the next county, or the next state over from us.

Many of the top 20 could still be in the same shape, with the same needs next contest but then again those same shelters could well be on their way to a better operation on their own and others could take their place. Those that finished outside the top 20 could have such a fire in their bellies that they out point the rest next time and once again the tours will show things that points alone can not. It doesn't matter that the next contest starts next month, next week or tomorrow. Just do what is in your heart.

If the final criteria is the same then we still are all on a level playing field. You have to have availibility to location, you still have to community behind you, you still have to have fiscal respondsibility and you have to have need. That doesn't matter if you live in a town of hundreds of thousands or just thousands. It's all relative and I think that Richard and his crew looked at it that way. Let's all quit worrying about how the next contest will be ran and look at how we are going to make our shelters better tomorrow.

A wise man told me once that you have to have a plan and then every little thing you do no matter how small, has to be a step toward completion of that plan. There will be more cold wet noses coming to our doors tomorrow and hopefully some going out the door to new homes. That part won't change ever so we know what we need to do. Let's just do it and let God sort out the rest.

Thank you again Zootoo. You accomplished what you set out to do this time and we will all be working toward our goals and waiting to see what you have in store for us next. One should not be content to creep when one has the desire to soar. Read Less