PHS earns $5K from zootoo but doesn't make final top-10

Sadly,the Potsdam Humane Society was not selected as one of the finalists in the Zootoo Million Dollar Makeover Contest in Las Vegas last Tuesday (4/7/09), but still feel like winners. The Humane Society has won $5000 as a result of the community voting them in to the list of top 20 shelters out of over 2900 participants nationwide.

"It could be that Mr. Thompson was so impressed with our operation and the progress of our capital campaign that he felt we were capable of building a new shelter on our own. He did remark that we had a very good organization and seemed impressed with fundraising efforts on the local level", said Board President, Bonnie S. Boyd. Linda Camaano noted that there certainly were shelters represented that were in as much need, if not more, than we. It is good that animals, no matter what part of the country they are in, are being helped by this prize money.

Heartfelt thanks are in order for everyone that helped build the points on zootoo.com, contributed to the special fund to send the representatives to Las Vegas, showed their support during the founder's visit on March 17th, and those who will support us in the future. People are encouraged to continue to blog on the zootoo sight.

Jefferson County ASPCA did make the top 10, securing $10,000 in the makeover contest. All of the Potsdam HS supporters are urged to go on line and vote for Jefferson County from April 13th through the 19th. Northern New York has worked hard to support two winners! Jefferson County SPCA, with the support of the Potsdam HS supporters, just may make it into the big prize category.

It was very enlightening to find out animal shelter representatives from all over the US that the Potsdam Humane's Society has protocol and programs in place that they are just now talking about implementing. It was the impression of PHS director and animal behavior specialist, Anne Smith, that "We are probably one of the best shelters in the nation. You just can't tell a book by it's cover!"

The Potsdam Humane Society's staff and board of directors are always trying to improve conditions for the animals and the public. It seems it has paid off in programs that have been implemented in the past two years. However, many structural problems with the aging building cannot be seen, but are felt by the cleaners and staff. The layout of the facility and its poorly functioning drain system, electrical problems, and general aging will be changed in the new facility.

Zootoo's prize of $5000 will be added to the Labor of Love Capital Campaign, but the effort to raise $250,000 by June for the new shelter adoption wing and renovations continues in full force. Carrie Tuttle, Board Member and civil engineer, has informed the rest of the board that it would be best to build this year. The rising costs of materials each year, and possibly higher contractors' fees at a later time, would make the project more costly next year.

Fundraising events will be held throughout the year, the next being a prefixe $20 dinner on Sunday April 19th at Angelo's Fresh Seafood Restaurant on Maple Street. Angelo, as in the past, is giving all proceeds to the PHS capital campaign.


Bonnie S. Boyd, Board President
Potsdam Humane Society, Inc