First State Animal Shelter and SPCA needs to adopt out a few hundred more animals to be recognized in a national adoption contest.
The Camden-based organization is taking part in the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100,000 Adoption Challenge, which encourages shelters to top their numbers from 2013.
It also takes into account how many animals were reunited with their owners. Early figures for the shelter show more than 860 adoptions and returns.
Public Relations Director Lisa Strong Chase says they’re grouped in with larger organizations in the challenge that face less competition.
“A lot of the shelters we’re competing against, they’re the only animal shelter for hundreds of miles in a state and [here] you’ve got four within an hour of each other,” said Chase.
If they reach just over 1,000 adoptions and returns by the end of August, the shelter will qualify for a $25,000 award. About 1,400 would net the top prize of $100,000 dollars.
Chase says it would be a “miracle” if that happened in the next week, but notes the challenge has had a great effect on the organization outside of saving animals.
“We have really looked at our internal processes of how we do things and we’ve just streamlined operations and I think it’s just made us a much better shelter," said Chase. "We have 2,500 more Facebook friends, so it’s working.”
Chase adds they’re also on track to break 2013’s adoption record this year.
Adoption fees for adult cats and dogs are waived through the end of the month.