TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Shelter In Running For Million-Dollar Makeover

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: January 23, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando's Humane Society is in the running for what could be called an extreme makeover for animal shelters.

ZooToo.com, a gathering site and clearinghouse of information for pet lovers, is giving away a $1 million renovation to one animal care facility in the United States.

The three-phase selection process is under way, and the Humane Society of the Nature Coast in Brooksville already has a great chance thanks to support from the community, said Executive Director Joanne Schoch.

"We are so pumped up," Schoch said. "We've been climbing at a meteoric speed."

With 50 days left in the first phase, the shelter was ranked 33 out of some 2,600 organizations in the contest. That's only 13 places away from the next round.

Here's how it works:

In the first phase, visitors log on to the site and register, including the shelter they are supporting. Visitors earn points for their shelter simply by registering, but earn more points by being more active on the site.

The point accumulation phase ends on March 13.

The top 20 point earners become semi-finalists. During phase two, ZooToo and its advisors tour all of the shelters to get a sense of their needs and select 10 finalists.

In the third phase, the public votes for the most deserving shelter.

The dream for Schoch's undersized and perennially full shelter, of course, is the $1 million renovation. The shelter has already started a building fund with the goal to expand.

But there are plenty of other incentives to compete. The first runner up wins a whopping $195,000. The second runner up gets $25,000 and the rest of the seven finalists get $10,000. The other 10 semi-finalists receive $5,000 each.

The Humane Society is enjoying support from local businesses, county government workers and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Schoch said.

Schoch said she's happy that ZooToo is a site she would refer people to even without the potential to win the contest. The registration only requires a username and a Zip Code, so Schoch doesn't have to worry about feeling responsible for piles of spam in supporters inboxes.

The site offers chat groups according to pet type. Pet lovers can post journals and photos, ask questions and browse classified ads, among other features.

"They've done a good job of making it about the pets," she said.

Whatever the results of the contest, Schoch plans to build a wall at the shelter that will feature the names of all the people who registered to help the humane society.

On the Web

To find out more about the shelter makeover contest and where the Humane Society of the Nature Coast ranks, visit www.zootoo.com.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT