Help the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter Win an Extreme Shelter Makeover!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2007

For more information, contact:
Laurie Ringquist, Director, Animal Care and Control, City of Bloomington, 349-3870
Sarah Hayes, CEO, Monroe County Humane Association, 332-0123



Bloomington, IN -- The City of Bloomington Animal Shelter and the Monroe County Humane Association (MCHA) are joining forces to mobilize Bloomington’s animal-loving community to help our shelter. The groups are asking for the public’s help to be eligible to win an extreme shelter makeover from Zootoo House TM, a national organization dedicated to improving the condition of animal shelters, facilitating adoptions, and making shelter visits a positive experience for youth and adults.

“A portion of the existing shelter facility is more than 30 years old,” said Laurie Ringquist, Director of the City’s Animal Care and Control Division. “It would be a dream come true to be able to renovate the portion of the building that houses our stray dogs and cats.”

Zootoo House was launched earlier this year by Richard Thomas, former CEO of Meow Mix. To celebrate the launch, the group announced the first-ever Shelter Makeover Program in America. Zootoo House will provide one shelter makeover, valued at up to $1 million, one cash prize of $10,000 and 18 $5,000 prizes to shelters nationwide.

To qualify to receive a makeover, shelters and their supporters are encouraged to register at Zootoo.com TM, an online community established in 2007 to provide a forum for discussion about pet-related issues, care and products. When first-time visitors go to Zootoo.com, they can select a shelter of their choice to support. Every time they visit the site — whether it is to share an opinion, post a photo or refer a friend — they will automatically earn points for their designated shelter.

The contest is open from now until March 31, 2008. At the end of that time, the 20 shelters with the highest number of points will be selected as the finalists. Shelters must accumulate at least 25,000 points to qualify as a finalist.

“A renovation to the Shelter would be life changing for the staff, community and the over 5,200 animals that come to the Shelter annually,” said Sarah Hayes, CEO of the MCHA. This could be one of the greatest contributions to local animal welfare that we can make.”

The City and the MCHA are asking the community to help us make that dream come true by going to Zootoo.com, select the “City of Bloomington Animal Shelter” and begin earning points. It’s easy, it’s fast, it’s important and it’s free!



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