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A Million Reasons To Help Animals

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By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: January 25, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando County'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 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 about 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 - www.zootoo.com - and register, including the shelter they are supporting. Visitors earn points for their shelter by registering, but earn more points by being more active on the site.

The point accumulation phase ends March 13.

The top 20 point-earners become semifinalists. During phase two, ZooToo and its advisers tour all of the shelters 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 is the $1 million renovation. The shelter has started a building fund with the goal to expand.

There are plenty of other incentives to compete. The first runner-up wins $195,000. The second runner-up gets $25,000 and the rest of the seven finalists get $10,000. The other 10 semifinalists 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.

Whatever the results of the contest, Schoch plans to build a wall at the shelter that will feature the names of those who registered to help the Humane Society.

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