Click on ZooToo.com, vote for Humane
Society of the Nature Coast
By Joanne Schoch, 4/13/2009
Mahatma Gandhi once said “The greatness
of a nation and its moral progress can
be judged by the way its animals are
treated.’’
Starting today, Floridians have a terrific opportunity
to prove Gandhi was right and to show
the rest of the United States just how
great and progressive our state has
become.
The Humane Society of the Nature Coast is a top-10
finalist in a contest sponsored by the
pet-networking Website ZooToo.com. More
than 2,800 animal shelters from all over
the nation entered the contest, and
Brooksville’s facility is the only
shelter in Florida that remains in
competition for the grand prize of a
$1-million makeover.
In the first phase of the contest, 20 shelters were
selected based on the number of votes
that were cast by supporters of those
shelters. In the second phase, ZooToo
officials visited each of the sites and
chose the 10 finalists based on need and
community support. Apparently the ZooToo
representatives were moved by both the
conspicuous need to expand our no-kill,
no-time-limit shelter, and with the
enthusiasm of Nature Coast residents who
turned out to greet them at the annual
Pet Expo on March 21-22.
Now the third and final phase has begun, and the
outcome will be based solely on how many
votes are cast for each of the 10
finalists. The Humane Society of the
Nature Coast is competing with shelters
from California, New York, Missouri,
Georgia and Wisconsin, to name a few. To
be sure, the competition is stiff and
each shelter is deserving.
Some of the finalists are in areas much more populous
than ours, which makes it imperative
that we draw support from pet lovers
everywhere in Florida, and even from
other states. That’s why we need you and
everyone you know who loves animals, to
help us realize our dream. We
desperately need to modernize and expand
our safe haven to accommodate the
increased numbers of abandoned, abused
animals, and to broaden our pet welfare
programs. In addition to adoption and
sterilization services, programs at our
shelter include:
-
providing foster homes for pets of
women and children who are victims
of domestic violence while they are
seeking protection at abuse
shelters;
-
running a pet food bank that
provides donated food for people who
have fallen on hard times and cannot
afford to feed their pets;
-
a foster program for military
personnel who are called to active
duty and need someone to care for
their pets while they are away.
Besides becoming better protectors
of animals, there are other reasons
for Floridians to get behind our
shelter’s effort. In addition to
calling favorable national attention
to Florida, there will be a tangible
economic stimulus to the Nature
Coast’s economy, providing work for
those in the building industry.
And pet owners should be relieved to
know the Humane Society intends to
build its new facility to withstand
a Category 3 hurricane, making it
the only bona fide animal evacuation
shelter in this area.
But we need you to make this happen.
More to the point, the animals need
you. Not just the ones that we’re
caring for now, but the ones that
will find their way to our door for
many years to come. You can give our
rescue pets the biggest treat
they’ve ever had by setting aside
just a few minutes of your time for
each of the next 7 days. Here’s how
it works:
After noon today, go to
www.HumaneRescue.org and click on
the ZooToo logo. (While you’re on
our Website, take a minute to look
at our pets and learn more about our
non-profit organization.) There are
detailed instructions about how to
register and cast your vote. Once
you have created your free profile,
which requires a picture of you,
your pet or the Humane Society
facility, you will be eligible to
cast 10 votes per day until voting
ends at midnight on Sunday, April
19.
We are hopeful that everyone who
cares enough to register and cast
votes for “Florida’s shelter,’’ also
will tell everyone they know to add
the link to ZooToo.com to their
social networking sites, such as
Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Votes
for the Humane Society of the Nature
Coast can be cast by anyone from
anywhere in the world. It’s all
about spreading the word.
The staff and volunteers at our
shelter thank our supporters for
bringing us this far; now we call on
you again. At the same time, we ask
every Floridian and animal lovers
everywhere to join us as we try to
be heroes to the thousands of pets
who are depending on us to rescue
them.
With your help, we promise to find 1
million ways to say thank you for
making Florida a state that, as
Gandhi imagined, knows how to treat
its animals.
Joanne Schoch is executive director
of The Humane Society of the Nature
Coast. You may reach her at
www.HumaneRescue.org or (352)
796-2711.
1
million reasons to say “I love you’’ to
your pet
Humane Society of the Nature Coast is
Chosen as One of the Top 10 Animal
Shelters in America
4/8/09
Brooksville, Florida (April 7, 2009) –
Today the Humane Society of the Nature
Coast learned it is one of only 10
shelters in the U.S. still eligible for
Zootoo’s $1-million makeover. The 10
finalists, chosen from among 2,800
shelters, were announced at the general
session of the Humane Society of the
United States Animal Care Expo in Las
Vegas.
The Humane Society of the Nature Coast
was one of only two shelters that scored
a perfect score of 5.0 out of 5.0.
America now will vote for the winner
from April 13-19. Anyone who registers
online as a member of Zootoo may vote up
to 10 times per day, but must post a
photograph of themselves, their pet, a
family member or their animal shelter.
Winning the $1-million makeover will
allow the Humane Society to fulfill its
current strategic plan to expand its
no-kill services to animals in the
community.
Joanne Schoch, Executive Director of the
Humane Society of the Nature Coast, was
in Las Vegas for today’s announcement
because she was invited to present a
seminar at the convention titled
“Running Good Programs on a Small
Budget.” Making the top 10 list for
Zootoo’s makeover is a testament to the
fact that Hernando County is frugal and
forward thinking.
Schoch said the Humane Society now is
calling on all residents of Florida to
assist in bringing home $1-million in
construction to our state and local
economies. Winning the makeover contest
would call a great deal of attention to
Brooksville, the Nature Coast, and the
entire state.
In addition, $1-million in revenue will
go a very long way in providing services
to many animals in the state. The new
shelter also will meet all Hurricane 3
construction standards. “The addition
planned will serve our community every
day,” said Schoch, “but it also will be
a hurricane evacuation shelter for
animals.’’
“This is an opportunity for the entire
state of Florida to rally and show the
rest of America that Florida really does
know how to vote,” Schoch said.
To vote in the Zootoo makeover, go to
www.HumaneRescue.org and follow the
instructions. Then you can keep an eye
out for daily updates of voting results.
For more information about the mission
of the Humane Society of the Nature
Coast, visit the Website or call (352)
796-2711.
Humane Society of the Nature Coast is
Chosen as One of the Top 10 Animal
Shelters in the Nation
4/7/2009
Brooksville, Florida (April 7, 2009) –
Today the Humane Society of the Nature
Coast learned that it is among the top
10 shelters in the nation in the Zootoo
$1 million makeover. The 10 finalists
were announced at the general session of
the Humane Society of the United States
Animal Care Expo in Las Vegas. Its
annual conference runs from April 6 – 9.
The nation now will vote for the winner
from April 13 through April 19. Anyone
who is a member of Zootoo may vote as
long as they are a registered member and
have provided a profile photo of
themselves, their pet, their shelter
logo or even their children. Winning the
$1 million makeover will allow the
Humane Society to fulfill its current
strategic plan to expand its services to
animals in the community.
The Humane Society now calls upon all
residents of Florida to assist it in
bringing in $1 million in construction
to our state and local economies. The
winning of the makeover will naturally
call a great deal of attention to
Brooksville, the Nature Coast of Florida
and the state of Florida as a whole. In
addition, it is reasonable to assume
that $1 million in revenue will go a
very long way in providing services to
many animals in the state. In fact,
Joanne Schoch, Executive Director of the
Humane Society of the Nature Coast, has
been asked to speak at this year’s
annual convention and the topic of her
seminar is “Running Good Programs on a
Small Budget.” The construction planned
with the $1 million will also meet all
Hurricane 3 standards. “The addition
planned will serve our community every
day,” said Schoch, “but it will also be
a hurricane evacuation shelter for
animals. Let’s show America that Florida
really knows how to vote,” added Schoch.
To vote in the Zootoo makeover simply go
to www.HumaneRescue.org and instructions
will be provided.
For more information about the Humane
Society of the Nature Coast or the
Zootoo $1 million makeover, go to
www.HumaneRescue.org or call the Humane
Society at 352-796-2711.
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