Help a local nonprofit win $50,000 in Rachael’s Ray’s Mutt Madness competition

This is the last week to cast your online vote, so a local non-profit can clinch a first round victory in Rachael’s Ray Mutt Madness competition. Spay Baton Rouge aims to reduce the parish’s animal euthanasia rate by offering free or reduced cost spay/neuter services. The organization has already received $1,000 for qualifying as one of 64 animal welfare groups invited to participate in the contest. The grand-prize winner, determined by public online voting, receives $50,000.

Besides hosting a syndicated talk show, Rachael Ray has developed her own line of pet foods and a webpage that highlights animal rescues. Overwhelmed by requests from small shelters and animal welfare organizations, the celebrity chef launched Mutt Madness as a fun way to aid a multitude of organizations and draw national attention to their missions. Anyone who registers on Ray’s website is eligible to vote once a week.

“We are thrilled to have been selected to participate in this contest,” says Spay Baton Rouge Executive Director Sandra DiTusa. “With all the recent conversation about our pet overpopulation problem, we’re both hopeful and confident the citizens of Baton Rouge will take the simple step of voting for our community once a week for the duration of the contest.”

Over the past five years, Spay Baton Rouge has partnered with area veterinarians to spay /neuter more than 7,000 local animals, who would otherwise be producing litters of unwanted pets. Last year, the euthanasia rate at East Baton Rouge Animal Control actually decreased 8.4% for the first time.

“Spaying and neutering is a proven component in controlling the overall problem. We hope [Baton Rougeans] recognize this award would be a monetary gift to the entire parish, alleviating some of the burden on Animal Control,” says DiTusa.

For more information on Spay Baton Rouge, visit spaybatonrouge.org.

To vote on Mutt Madness, click here.

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