And now for the really fun part of the Walk with The Herd Contest for Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation – announcing the winners.

The grand prize winners are obvious – the dogs and cats that will be saved from euthanasia and will find forever homes because of the fantastic work that Sarge’s does.  They are driving down the euthanasia rates at our local shelter in a dramatic way and we are incredibly proud of their work (especially Cheoah, Qannik and Ruby – all of whom came to us via Sarge’s).

The whole story is that Sarge’s lost one of their $5,000 sponsors and they were very afraid that they would fall short of last year’s accomplishment.  Coupled with a tight economy, they needed the many “smaller” donors to come through.  And did they.  Despite losing that key sponsor, Sarge’s was still able nearly to raise the same amount as last year’s Dog Walk – almost $25,000.  As the single largest fundraiser every year, the success of this walk fundraiser is critical to their goals.

And The Herd is very proud – VERY PROUD – of their readers who stepped up.  Ready for this?  Thanks to your terrific generosity, The Herd was $1,110 of that total number.  When we started the contest, we told the people at Sarge’s that we might only raise a few dollars, but we would do it anyway.  $1,110.  We are very humbled and thank you.

Ok – and to the winners.  A twist – we have TWO runner-up prizes we are adding to the drawings.  We received these beautiful duffle bags as prizes for being the team that raised the second most amount of money (yep – a team beat us AND an individual raised more money and was the top fund raiser – what awesome people they all are).  We thought it only fitting to put these prizes into the drawing.

Perfect for carrying all of your canine supplies!

With a cool embroidered patch on the side!

The TWO runners-up are – Becky of Merritt Island, Florida and Carolyn of Brevard, NC ( http://ncmountainwoman.blogspot.com/ – a terrific blog with two awesome Golden Retrievers, Ellie and Lucy, and lots of stories of our beautiful mountains).  Check your mail in the next few days for your package.

The picture of the Grand Prize will come shortly, since it will need to be created.  As promised, we are taking a picture of The Herd walking with the banner and, through the magic of PhotoShop (which the hu-dad now must learn how to do – chuckle), the winner will be walking with us.  That picture will be placed on a t-shirt and mailed to the winner.  Cool, huh?  The winner is – Daniela and Shawnee the Shepherd of Rahway, NJ (  http://shawneetheshep.blogspot.com/ – another trail hiking canine!).

Again, thanks to everyone for making this event so much fun.  We had a blast with it and look forward to next year.

Rooster says the walk was fun!

The walk went really well yesterday and, yes, we have pictures.  But due to some technical difficulties (namely a tired hu-dad), we don’t have all of the pictures ready to go yet.  More pictures coming soon as well as the announcement of who our winner is!

Hope your weekend is going well!

I know from following so many blogs out there that many of you are active – some, like Phyll at Khyra’s Korner, amazingly active – in helping to change animals lives.  Each person may think their activities mean little, but collectively, we make a huge difference in the lives of our furry friends.

Be the Change for Animals is an interesting concept where bloggers are challenged to take a post and explain what they are doing to help animals – and to inspire others to get involved.

Regular readers know that The Herd is passionate about rescue, as all of The Herd and The Herd Annex are rescued dogs (except Natasha).  We are, in particular, passionate about the excellent work done by our local all-breed rescue, Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation, who last year saved over 2000 dogs and cats from euthanasia.  Think about that – 6 dogs and cats EVERY DAY of the year saved by this organization.  Please check out the Walking with The Herd Contest and help Sarge’s save more homeless dogs and cats.

And the contest is a great example. A simple contest and several of you have already mentioned it on your blogs providing links back to the contest page.  That is the whole point of “Be the Change for Animals” – 1 day, once a quarter, set aside for bloggers to talk about their passion for changing animals lives and providing others a chance to help in that cause.  Be the Change is new, so no telling where it will go.  But we think the idea is great.

So our passion is Sarge’s and promoting our contest.  What is your passion?  Create your post, join the link, and let us know.

Natasha is dreaming of a better world for ALL dogs and cats.

Check out some of the other blogs participating today:

Contest time! This is your opportunity to win a “Walking with the Herd” Contest – even if you are not physically close to us. Through the magic of the internet, you will have an opportunity to Walk with us as we raise money for Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation. Please read this post carefully.

As you read through our adoption stories last week, you saw our friends at Sarge’s, our local all-breed animal rescue, many times.  Sarge himself was a young, healthy, purebred German Shepherd who was taken in by Haywood Animal Shelter and identified for rescue by a volunteer.  But transport arrived an hour too late because Sarge had been euthanized to make room in an already overcrowded shelter.  SARF was formed as a 501(c)3 charitable foundation to reduce the unnecessary destruction of healthy animals in Haywood County North Carolina (where we live).  Though separate organizations, SARF works closely with Haywood Animal Welfare Association, an organization dedicated to providing low cost spay and neuter program to local residents.

Milling about waiting on the Dog Walk

SARF and HAWA have been very effective in reducing euthanized animals in our county.  In fact, in 2009, over 50% of all of the animals impounded at our shelter were rescued.  Over 2,000 dogs and cats were rescued, including 320 dogs and cats that were transported via the Dixie Transport to our friends in the Northeastern states that are way ahead of us in reducing euthanasia of healthy animals.

Tartok, Natasha, Kiska and Qannik in the Dog Walk

But much work remains to be done.  Sarge’s goal is to increase that adoption rate north of 90%.  As one of its fundraisers each year, Sarge’s sponsors the annual Downtown Dog Walk that parades through Waynesville (six – count them – six grueling blocks!) and then ends on the Courthouse lawn where contests and social events happen.  The Herd has proudly marched in the walk all except one year and became a sponsor last year (and is a sponsor again this year).

Kiska, Qannik, Rusty, Natasha and Kodiak in the Dog Walk

We were stunned when Sarge’s reached out to us and asked that we lead the parade this year with the banner.  We are also a little concerned that some Herd antics might kick into gear knowing that people will be lining the street, taking our picture, and cheering us on as we lead a couple of hundred of our closest canine friends down Main Street.  For once, the police escort will be a good thing!

Cheoah and Rusty showing off their stylish Sarge's Dog Walk bandanas

How can you participate?  If you are anywhere close, come march with us.  Register online or print this form, and then have your friends sponsor you, and come march with us on August 7.  Please, please, please stop by and introduce yourself to us.  We are usually pretty easy to spot in a crowd, for some reason.

Come walk with Kodiak - and support our walk!

Can’t come to Waynesville?  How about sponsoring us?  AND HERE IS THE CONTEST PART You might even win a t-shirt with a picture of us marching down Main Street with the banner (or picking pockets, or shoplifting from storefront displays, or peeing on a parked car – we are The Herd after all and the photographer will be following us).  Through the magic of Photoshop, you will be able to be in the picture with us as an Honorary Member of The Herd.  Yep, for every $5 donation, we will be throwing your name in a hat and very scientifically drawing a name to see who our lucky winner is.  Just CLICK THIS LINK, complete the form, write a check to SARF – of any size – ALL donations are welcome and tax deductible – and you might win a genuine Thundering Herd t-shirt commemorating this year’s walk.

Picture YOU and The Herd in the picture on a t-shirt this year!

So fill out the form, whip out the checkbook, save some dogs’ and cats’ lives, and you might even win a t-shirt with you walking in the Dog Walk with The Herd.  What could be better?