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Save More Lives Challenge

Save More Lives $100K Challenge

August 1 - October 31, 2010

The Challenge - What Is It?
By the Numbers
What Are We Doing to Win?
What Can YOU Do?
The $25K Community Engagement Award
The Counting Starts August 1st

The Challenge - what is it and what does it mean?

In May, the ASPCA issued a challenge to animal shelters across the country to increase the number of dogs and cats saved during the months of August, September and October, calling it the Save More Lives $100K Challenge. Over 700 shelters from across the country applied in just the first two days after the challenge was announced. The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society is honored to be one of only 50 shelters selected to participate. We are excited, but we cannot succeed alone; it will take the support and assistance of everyone in the community to win. This is an incredible opportunity for the entire Capital Region to shine in the national spotlight.

To qualify for the grand prize, shelters must save (adopt or return to owner) a minimum of 300 more cats, dogs, kittens and puppies from August through October 2010 than they did during the same three-month period last year. The winner of the $100,000 prize will be the shelter that saves the most additional animals from August through October 2010. This is a straight number - no percentages.

The goal is high, but we want to win the contest so we can help even more animals!

By the Numbers

1 of only 50 groups nationwide selected to participate
900 cats and dogs adopted or returned to owner last August through October
1,200 is the Challenge minimum (at least 300 more than last year)
1,800 is our ultimate goal...and we have stiff competition!

What are we doing to win the challenge?

We have a new page on our web site with a photo of every stray animal brought to the Society. This gives lost pets a better opportunity to find their way back home.

We are "taking it to the streets." In addition to our daily adoption clinics at the PetSmart stores in Glenmont and Latham, we have increased the number of off-site adoption events we hold or participate in throughout the Capital Region. See our Event Calendar for a complete listing.

You may see some lawn signs popping up around town asking the question "Got Pets?" We hope those signs will lead people to our web site, where they will see all the wonderful cats and dogs looking for forever homes.

Added adoption incentives! As always, the pets we adopt from our shelter have been spayed or neutered, received vaccinations for rabies and distemper, and come with 30 days of free pet insurance and a bag of Science Diet pet food. During the challenge, adopters will also receive an iSmile coupon for a free 8x10 pet portrait and discount coupons for Hoffman Car Wash and Jiffy Lube - PLUS a lifetime of love and affection!

What can YOU do?

More than you can imagine! You can make a real difference right here and right now.

Got Pets? Come get a lawn sign and put it in your yard to promote shelter adoptions. Get your neighbors and employer to do the same.
Take photos of those lawn signs and email them to us with the location. Take photos when you attend our events and send them to us so we can share them.
Know of someone who is looking for a pet? Send them to us! Shelter animals make wonderful additions to a family. We need more people to open their hearts and homes to a new pet. We have wonderful cats and dogs are just waiting for a new forever home.
Share stories and photos about shelter pets you, family members or friends have adopted.
If you are having a special event, let us know and we would be happy to participate.
Do you know of a place where we can hold an off-site adoption clinic?
Can you provide an incentive to those who adopt? iSmile Studios has generously agreed to give each new adoptive family a coupon for a free 8x10 portrait of their new pet taken at in Colonie Center studio, and Hoffman Carwash/Jiffy Lube is donating discount coupons that will be in every adoption packet.
Do you have ideas on how to get the word out?
Can you donate printing or photocopy services?
Volunteer! If you have even a little spare time, we are looking for more volunteers to help at events, off-site adoption clinics and more.
Become a foster caregiver. We need foster families to care for animals until they are ready for adoption.

$25,000 Community Engagement Award

Three of the 50 participating shelters will be selected as finalists for this phase of the program. And, yes, the same group can win both awards! The three finalists will each have had to adopt or return to owner at least 300 more pets than last year.

The Community Engagement Award will go to the organization that engages and mobilizes the most people in the community in a wide variety of programs, both existing and unique new programs. The community that exhibits the most enthusiasm for the challenge via news coverage, stories, letters, photos, blog entries and attendance at the various events will be in the running for the Community Engagement Award.

From October 15-31, 2010, the ASPCA will also ask the community to vote online for their favorite shelter. You can vote once per day, every day. The voting part of the contest will be judged based on the number of votes the shelter receives and the number of unique votes (how many different email addresses those votes came from). We know this community has the heart and enthusiasm to help us win!

The Counting Starts August 1

As a non-profit organization, winning $100,000 for the animals would be an extraordinary accomplishment. It is all of you -- the time, effort and support you give to us -- that helped establish us as an organization worthy of taking up this challenge.

We cannot do it alone. We need you to take on this challenge with us. To win $100,000 would be amazing, to win $25,000 would be awesome - but the journey to the goal is equally important. Together we can save more lives now and help even more animals in the future!

To keep up on the latest challenge news, check our web site, follow us on Facebook and read our Challenge Page.

Thank you for your support!

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