Humane Society wins $25,000 grant from ASPCA

The Toledo Area Humane Society adopted 612 more animals from August through October this year than it had during the same period in 2011. That helped the Maumee animal shelter win a $25,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and regional recognition in the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.

The Toledo Area Humane Society has received a $25,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The Maumee animal shelter was selected as the North Central Division winner in the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.

The humane society found homes for 1,190 animals in three months, an increase of 612 lives saved during the same period last year.

Fifty shelters across the United States worked to increase the number of animals saved so they could win a portion of the more than $500,000 in prize grants from the ASPCA and television host Rachael Ray, including the grand prize of $100,000.

Shelter workers were “absolutely overjoyed” with the win, said Dr. Debbie Johnson, director of operations for the Toledo Area Humane Society. Susan Britt, ASPCA senior director of shelter training, from Portland, Maine, presented the shelter with a $25,000 check on Friday.

In just the first month of the challenge, the humane society found homes for 441 pets, for which it was awarded a $5,000 “Fast Start” grant by the ASPCA. The multiround structure of the competition helped keep employees enthusiastic, Dr. Johnson said.

“It was a great motivator for our team,” she said.

To celebrate the recognition by the national humane group, the humane society will offer special adoption prices this weekend.

All cat and kitten adoption fees will be $25, and all adoption fees for dogs over the age of 6 months will be $25 off.

TAHS was one of 50 contestants that worked to save more cats and dogs during the months of August, September, and October than they did during the same period in 2011.

Combined, all the shelters saved 56,232 cats and dogs during the contest, an increase of 14,376 during the same three months last year.