American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced that a total of 56,232 pets found homes during the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, a three-month competition where 50 US shelters worked to increase the number of animals saved in order to win a portion of the more than US$500,000 in prize grants from ASPCA and petfood brand Rachael Ray.
Shelters competed to place more animals in homes, either by adoption, alternative placements or being reunited with their original owners. During the competition, contestants saved 14,376 more cats and dogs from August through October as they did in the same three-month period in the 2011 competition.
ASPCA and Rachael Ray awarded the following prizes:
•US$100,000 Grand Prize and South Central Division Prize: City of San Antonio Animal Care Services in San Antonio, Texas, USA
•US$25,000 2nd Place Prize and $20K West Division Prize: Canyon County Animal Shelter in Caldwell, Idaho, USA
•US$25,000 Community Engagement Award: Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
•US$20,000 Southeast Division Prize: Humane Society of Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
•US$20,000 North Central Division Prize: Toledo Area Humane Society in Maumee, Ohio, USA
•US$20,000 Northeast Division Prize and $10K Most Improved Player: Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
•US$10,000 Most Improved Player North Central Division: Medina County SPCA in Medina, Ohio, USA
•US$10,000 Most Improved Player Southwest Division: Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA in Phoenix, Arizona, USA
•US$10,000 Most Improved Player Central Division: Animal Outreach of the Mother Lode in Diamond Springs, California, USA
•US$10,000 Most Improved Player Southeast Division: Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Wellington, Florida, USA
Applications for the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge open on January 3, 2013.