Green Daily

There's been a lot of talk about shelters since the Obamas got their adorable new dog, Bo. Whether you agree with the decision to get the First Dog from a breeder or not, you're probably pro-shelters. Everyone is pro-shelters, right?

Zootoo is an online community dedicated to pets and petlovers, and they are definitely fans of shelters. So much so, that they're holding "elections" to pick the shelter that will get a a million dollar makeover. Nineteen other shelters will also receive prizes ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. And this is the second year that they're holding this contest!

This week is the third and final phase of the contest, when America gets to pick the winning shelter from the top 10. Want to have a say in which one wins a million bucks? Visit the Zootoo Shelter Makeover II site, register (it's free, but they insist that you upload a photo) and you can vote up to ten times every day, between now and Friday.

I grew up volunteering at the local "Animal League," walking dogs on Saturday mornings. I remember my mom helping to organize bake sales and flea markets to help raise money for the basics. Small, local shelters depend on the kindness of neighbors to survive. Fifty dollars is a big deal to most of them, so even that $5k prize will make a huge difference somewhere!

Really, all of the shelters deserve your love and assistance. Since I'm a big believer in acting locally, I'm giving my votes to my (sort of) local choice, the Butte Humane Society in Chico, CA. Above is a video explaining why Butte is the most deserving of the top 10, and I hope you vote for them, too!

The Humane Society of the United States and Pedigree are partners in Shelter Makeover II, and co-sponsors include PETCO Foundation, HomeAgain, and more. Check out the page of organizations supporting this great contest and give them a little reciprocal love in return for helping so many pets who are still waiting for their forever homes.