Nearly 40,000 pets adopted so far as part of ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge

With less than two weeks remaining in the challenge, the ASPCA Rachel Ray $100,000 Challenge has been successful at saving nearly 40,000 animal lives in two and a half months. 

The Challenge is a groundbreaking contest, running June 1 to August 31, 2013, that challenges animal shelters across the country to come up with more innovative ways to engage their communities and get more homeless cats and dogs into loving homes. Forty-nine U.S. shelters are competing for a piece of more than $600,000 in ASPCA prize grants, including a grand prize of $100,000. 

Contestants are working to save more animals during the three-month period than they did over the same period in 2012. Last year's competing shelters adopted out or reunited more than 56,000 cats and dogs, an increase of 14,376 over the same months in 2011. 

ASPCA RACHEL RAY $100K CHALLENGE

Current division* toppers: 
Division One (1,500-2,500): Washington Animal Rescue League 
Division Two (2,501-4,000): Texas Humane Heroes
Division Three (4,001-7,000): Halo Animal Rescue
Division Four (7,001-11,000): Citizens for Animal Protection
Division Five (11,000 +): Riverside County Department of Animal Services

*Ten shelters compete in each of five divisions. Divisions are based on annual cat and dog intake. 

Pets Add Life campaign wins 2013 PR Daily Award

American Pet Products Association's Pets Add Life campaign received top recognition for its strategic communications and encouragement of multiple pet ownership when it was awarded the 2013 PR Daily Award for "Best Viral or Word of Mouth Campaign."

Bob Vetere, APPA president and CEO, said the ultimate goal of the PAL campaign is to spread awareness of the joys and benefits of owning pets of all types and to get more deserving pets into homes. "We are honoured to see our efforts and dedication recognized," he said. "The PAL campaign has really taken off and only continues to grow."

Pets Add Life was recognized for its strategic communications and use of multiple social media platforms including YouTube and Facebook to promote the joys and benefits of owning pets. One element of the PAL campaign was a series of viral videos on YouTube. The most recent video "Dog Wants a Kitty" instantly hit millions of views upon its debut and was featured on top online outlets including Huffington Post, Yahoo, MSN and Chicago Tribune.

2013 PR DAILY AWARDS WINNERS

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