Sterling Shelter's Photo Contest and Fur-Raiser contest runs from October 1st to December 31st!

Attention all adopters and alumni, we are looking for a NEW NOSE (or NOSES) to represent OUR Shelter in our marketing efforts. So many of you write and email wonderful letters and pictures of the pets you have adopted from our shelter—even more of you have asked HOW you could help our shelter—so we have decided to follow your suggestions and create an easy fundraiser for our Shelter and a great way for YOU to brag about your adopted furkids!

With our slogan "Every Nose Needs a Home", our Shelter is looking for one or more of YOUR shelter alumni to represent our Shelter for 2008. YOU can have a famous pet(s), enter as many photos, and enter as many times as you like. The cost is $10 per photo and the winning photo will be part of our new marketing campaign. Your furry, four footed friend will be featured as the new nose on our homepage, http://www.sterlingshelter.org/homepage.htm. It will also be included in our marketing collateral, which ranges from cards to posters.

Our Grand Pet Winner (dog or cat) will win 1 year off Hill’s Science Diet FOOD worth $500!
What better way to help the animals in our shelter AND have a famous pet/s?

Rules of Entry

• Open to owners of any pet (dogs/cats included) adopted from the Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling.
• You must be the photographer or have the photographer’s written consent to submit the photo.
• You may enter as many times as you like.
• Please DO NOT add any borders or other alterations to the photo.
• Photo must be of good, clear quality (color photos only) in a jpeg format, not over 1 MB.

How to Enter (email photo)

• Email your photo(s) to photos@sterlingshelter.org.
• In the SUBJECT line of the email, include your pet's FIRST AND LAST name.
• In the body of your message, include:
  - your full name
  - address (street, city, state, zip code)
  - phone number
  - email address
  - pet's name and adoption date (and where your pet was rescued from-if you remember)
• We would also love it if you would include a story about your pet (as short or long as you wish!) Share your stories and heartwarming details of how your Shelter Alumni has made your family time more enjoyable OR chaotic! We’d love to share with our rescue partners!

We can accept Visa, MasterCard, or Discover for your entry. The credit card number AND expiration date must be included in your email OR you can pay online at https://www.merchantamerica.com/www.sterlingshelter.org/echopay/ in the comments section add PHOTO CONTEST SUBMISSION (please include your pets name)

Disclaimer: By submitting your photo, the Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling has the right to use your photo for promotional purposes.

We look forward to seeing all your noses and reading your happy endings!

From all the staff and noses at the Shelter, much love, woofs and purrs!

Mark your calendars! The Shelter will be holding our 1st Annual Whisker Walk on Sunday, June 8th, at the Lancaster Fairground in Lancaster, MA. Stay tuned for more information on how you can help our Shelter continue our programs and have a great day of contests.

Great fun for both you and your pooch! This is a walk-a-thon fundraiser that provides a wonderful opportunity for the rescued pets and community to come together, take a walk on acres of beautiful and scenic recreational trails in Lancaster, MA, and enjoy a fun filled morning. We will have entertainment, great incentive prizes, and contests. The Whisker Walk is our 1st attempt at a walk to help end the tragedy of pet homelessness. The Whisker Walk is all about families and their pets. In today's world, family means different things to different people.

How do you know if this event is for you? If you care for your pet (with or without fur) then you must come to this event!

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

• Individual walker: Walk with your community, raise money for The Animal Shelter Inc of Sterling’s Shelter animals and programs, you can win exciting prizes!
   
• Virtual walker: Can’t make it to the walk? You can still create your own fundraising page and the money you raise will help more than 3,500 animals whose lives are touched each year by our Shelter in Sterling, MA.
   
• Teams: Join a team or create your own! Teams are groups of two or more walking together for the cause. The options are limitless and very fun – team ideas include coworkers sponsored by their supportive companies, community organizations, neighbors from specific local streets, memorials, and friends walking together just for the fun of it! Many teams identify themselves with signs or matching outfits - providing a great opportunity for companies to show their support for the animals in our community.
   
• Schools: Students, tell your teachers! Teachers, tell your students! Schools can have a great time walking together to help the animals and receive recognition for being a powerful source of service in our community.

HOW YOU CAN HELP?
Calling all Shelter supporters, alumni parents, pet lovers and donors!

So many wonderful families have touched the lives of our Shelter adoptees. Many of you have asked HOW you can help the Shelter throughout the year. Well, here is your chance to give us a helping paw!

• Do you run a business or work at a pet friendly business? We are making a plea for goodies for the raffle and silent auction that are people or pet-related! Here are some ideas:
   

  Gift baskets or bags A weekend away Coupons or gift certificates A dinner at a nice restaurant Doggie grooming

  Boarding for a pet Hair products for people or pets Carpet cleaning Tickets to a museum or other event ...you name it and we'll love it!

We can and will also provide a receipt for your taxes!

• Create YOUR OWN fundraising page to help our pets! It is easy, click here for more information: http://www.firstgiving.com/sterlinganimalshelter. Be creative!!! On your customized webpage or website, you can raise money for the pets and programs at our Shelter.

Prizes and awards will be given to top fundraisers, top team fundraisers, top fundraiser for kids 16 years and younger,
most creative, and unique webpage created for this fundraising event!

All our love, The Shelter Staff and resident pets!
 

STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE OFTEN FOR MORE INFORMATION!
 

Want to help the Shelter? Have you considered our Recurring Giving system. This convenient system allows you to automatically make a donation to the Sterling Shelter every month via credit card or checking account. This is an extremely powerful fundraising method that can allow the Shelter to save thousands of additional animals every year with a donation as small as $2.00 per month from you. Thank you for your support!