City of Bloomington Animal Shelter breaks record during first month of ASPCA $100,000 Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 6, 2012

For more information, please contact:
Laurie Ringquist, Director, Animal Care and Control, City of Bloomington, 349.3492
Adam Wason, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3419

City of Bloomington Animal Shelter breaks record during first month of ASPCA $100,000 Challenge

BLOOMINGTON, IN - On Aug. 1, 2012, the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter kicked off its participation in the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100,000 Challenge. The Challenge is a three-month, nationwide competition that brings shelters and communities together to break adoption records.

From Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, 2012, the Shelter is competing against 49 other shelters to find homes for more cats and dogs than during the same period in 2011. In order to be eligible to win any of the prize money, the Shelter has to save a minimum of 300 more lives than during the same three months last year. The Shelter has set a goal to save 750 more animals, doubling the number of lives saved to 1,500.

"We are well on our way to meeting our goal," said Laurie Ringquist, director of the Shelter.

During the month of August, the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter adopted 367 dogs and cats into new homes and reunited 48 lost dogs and cats with their owners, for a total of 415 lives saved. This compares well with August 2011, when 220 dogs and cats were adopted and 36 lost animals were reunited with their owners, for a total of 256 lives saved.

"The response from the community has been tremendous, and we are so thankful to our volunteers, to adopters and to the many local businesses supporting us in our efforts," said Ringquist. "We have two more months to go in the Challenge, and we hope the community will continue to help us spread the word about the great animals we have available for adoption."

The Shelter has several upcoming events showcasing adoptable dogs and cats at various venues around town:

• Sept. 8: "Bark & Wine" at Oliver Winery from 12 to 4 p.m.
• Sept. 9: "Dog Days of Summer Tennis Tournament" at the IU Tennis Center from 12 to 2 p.m.
• Sept. 16: "Wonderful Cats at WonderLab" from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Sept. 30: Adopt-a-Thon at Bryan Park from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Oct. 6: "Hops for Hounds" at Upland Brewery from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Oct. 14: Monroe County Humane Association's "Run for the Animals" at Dunn Meadow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Oct. 20: Adoptable Animals at the Monroe County Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Oct. 31: "Howl-o-ween Adopt-a-Thon" at the Animal Shelter from 12 to 8 p.m.

The Shelter is also offering various "Daily Specials" featuring different types of adoptable animals each day:

• Muttly Mondays: All mixed breed dogs are $40
• Tabby Tuesdays: Tabby cats younger than 5 years are $40; tabby cats 5 years and older are $20
• Wild Card Wednesdays: Pick a card with fees ranging from $0 to $50
• Thirty Day Thursdays: $30 adoption fee for all dogs and cats who have been at the shelter 30 days or longer
• Free Feline Fridays: Fee waived for cat and kitten adoptions
• Super Sized Saturdays: Reduced fees for all overweight cats and large breed dogs
• Scratch & Dent Sundays: For all special needs animals; $20 cats and $40 dogs

In addition to the above special events, adoptable animals can be visited at the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m., on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12 to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Additional information is available at [www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter|www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter] and at [facebook.com/COBanimalshelter|www.facebook.com/COBanimalshelter].

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