Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society (Ga.) Named Most Improved Division Two Player of 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society in Thomasville, Ga. has been named Most Improved Player in Division 2 of the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. They found homes for 393 pets during the three-month competition; an increase of 214 lives saved or 120 percent over the same period last year, and was awarded a total of $10,000 in grant funding from the ASPCA and Rachael Ray today.

Fifty animal shelter contestants worked to save more animals during the months of June, July and August 2014 than they did over the same three-month period in 2013.  This year’s competing shelters saved a total of 68,805 cats and dogs during the contest, an increase of 16,789 over the same period in 2013. Over the five years of the $100K Challenge – held annually since 2010 – contestants saved a total of 282,679 lives.

“Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society was determined from the start to use this competition to make a big difference for animals,” said Bert Troughton, vice president of strategic initiatives for the ASPCA. “A 120 percent increase in lives saved is incredible and we can’t wait to see how they build on their success to continue saving even more lives.

The ASPCA and Rachael Ray today awarded a $100,000 grand prize to Central California SPCA of Fresno, Calif., the shelter contestant that achieved the greatest increase in lives saved during this three-month period. Kansas City Pet Project in Kansas City, Mo., which did the best job of engaging its community members in helping to save more animals, was awarded $25,000. The organizations that did the best in their divisions were awarded $25,000 in grants. In total, $550,000 in grant funding is awarded to competing shelters in the competition for increases in animal lives saved, as well as a photo contest and general participation.

All her life, Rachael Ray has been an advocate for animals and a supporter of animal welfare groups. Her love for animals and for her pit bull, Isaboo, inspired her to create a pet food called Nutrish® to raise money for animals in need.  Ray donates her proceeds from the sale of Nutrish® to organizations like the ASPCA so they can implement programs like the $100K Challenge and support shelters and animal organizations around the country.

The ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a groundbreaking contest that challenges animal shelters across the country to come up with innovative ways to engage their communities and get more homeless cats and dogs into loving homes. For information about the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, please visit www.aspca.org/100K.