Community Corner
Animal Shelter Hopes to Race to Top of Polls
The Animal Rescue Site's Shelter Challenge could bring money for Mansfield Shelter.
Voting for The Animal Rescue Site’s quarterly Shelter Challenge is under way and the is asking for your help to push them to the top of the polls.
The Animal Rescue Site was established in 2002. It is a charity site that raises money through advertising and sales. They currently provide $1 million in funding per year to animal rescue charities nationwide, according to Rosemary Jones, PR representative for The Animal Rescue Site and its parent company, GreaterGood Network.
The majority of the fund distribution is determined by The Animal Rescue Site but they set aside $300,000 annually and allow visitors of the site to decide how the money will be allocated in four, three month long voting periods.
Visitors can vote daily for a specific shelter as long as that shelter is a member of Petfinder.com, a free site that helps get animals adopted. There is a $5000 Grand Prize for the shelter with the most votes and 60+ other shelters are awarded $1000-$2000. Each state is promised at least one grant, according to Jones.
To vote, visit theanimalrescuesite.com, click on the Shelter Challenge tab on the right side of the screen and search for the Mansfield Animal Shelter. There is a limit of one vote per computer, per day.
The Mansfield Animal Shelter has been the recipient of two $1000 grants in approximately the last year, according to volunteer and Mansfield Shelter Friends, Inc. member, Mary Andrews.
“All incoming money helps,” said Andrews in an email. “The town doesn’t pay vet bills for shelter animals, which can average $4000 per month since all the animals get vaccinated and spayed or neutered if they haven’t been already, and then there are illnesses and medications to pay for.”
The Shelter Challenge is a great way for all members of the community, even those who cannot contribute financially, to help pay the vet bills.
Voting ends September 18.