Lynchburg Humane Society (Va.) Finishes in 2nd Place in Division One of 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that Lynchburg Humane Society in Lynchburg, Va. has won 2^nd Place in Division One of the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. They found homes for 728 pets during the three-month competition; an increase of 378 lives saved over the same period last year, and was awarded a total of $30,000 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.

“Not only did Lynchburg Humane Society win 2^nd, they were also the Most Improved in their Division with a phenomenal 108% increase in lives saved this summer compared to last, said Bert Troughton, vice president of strategic initiatives for the ASPCA. “They asked the community, “What life will you save” during their Summer of 1,000 Lives campaign – and more than 700 families stepped up to adopt as their answer.”

In addition to Lynchburg Humane Society, contestants in Division One (those with an annual intake of 1,500-2,500 animals) for the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge were:

• Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, Va., who finished in first place in Division One
• Burbank Animal Shelter in Burbank, Calif.
• City of Chico Animal Shelter in Chico, Calif.
• Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, Maine
• Humane Society Calumet Area in Munster, Ind.
• Humane Society of Delaware County in Delaware, Ohio
• Humane Society of Greater Dayton in Dayton, Ohio
• Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County in Memphis, Tenn.
• Pet Helpers in Charleston, S.C.

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.