Local shelters, animal rescue groups, benefit from Betty White Challenge
Animal shelters and rescue organizations throughout southwestern Pennsylvania celebrated the life of beloved actress and animal advocate Betty White, on what would have been her 100th birthday on Jan. 17. Fans organized the #BettyWhiteChallenge in memory of the late actress, who loved animals of all kind. (Photo courtesy of Fayette Friends of Animals)
Courtesy of Lisa Malone
Courtesy of Lisa Malone
Lisa Malone of Hempfield Township donated to the Fayette Friends of Animals in memory of the late Betty White, and in honor of her dog, Gabe, whom she adopted from the shelter in 2012. Animal shelters and rescue organizations in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties received thousands of dollars in donations as the #BettyWhiteChallenge caught momentum.
Betty White would have turned 100 years old on Jan. 17.
But the iconic actress and passionate animal advocate died on Dec. 31, weeks before her milestone birthday.
Fans, though, weren无毛视频檛 going to miss an opportunity to honor the beloved actress on her centennial birthday, so they created a social media challenge, #BettyWhiteChallenge, asking people to donate $5 to a local animal shelter or rescue organization in Betty无毛视频檚 memory.
The Washington Area Humane Society and the Fayette Friends of Animals in Uniontown are among several nonprofit organizations who benefited from the wildly popular Betty White Challenge.
无毛视频淭he challenge just took off. It means a lot of us. We无毛视频檝e had so many people calling the shelter asking if they could make a donation in her honor,无毛视频� said Kelly Proudfit, executive director of Washington Area Humane Society. 无毛视频淏etty White无毛视频檚 advocacy for animal welfare is an inspiration to everyone, and we know the challenge will help raise more awareness for the kind treatment of all animals.无毛视频�
The shelter will use the donations (which can be made on its Facebook page or website at www.washingtonpashelter.org) for medical care, spaying, neutering and vaccinations, and pet food.
By midday Jan. 17, the Challenge raised nearly $2,614 for Washington Area Humane Society and $2,465 for FFOA on the shelters无毛视频� Facebook pages, and the shelters had received additional check and PayPal donations.
Fayette Friends of Animals shelter manager Mollie Wilcosky said she was shocked to see how quickly the challenge caught on, and that the donations will help 无毛视频渁ll of the animals who come into our care.无毛视频�
That includes two female dogs the FFOA recently took in that had, between them, 15 puppies.
无毛视频淣ow, instead of two dogs dropped off, we have 15, so this will help with mom and babies,无毛视频� said Wilcosky, noting donations also will go toward veterinarian costs, and spaying and neutering. 无毛视频淭hank you, Betty, for sure, and we无毛视频檙e appreciative to the community.无毛视频�
Animal lovers had the option of donating using a link on the organization无毛视频檚 Facebook page, or on its website, fayettefriendsofanimals.net, and click the 无毛视频渄onate无毛视频� tab.
Roxanne Perry Haley of Brownsville often lends a hand to animal rescue organizations, including Fayette Friends of Animals.
无毛视频淚 feel strongly that all animals deserve a loving home. Over the years I无毛视频檝e adopted several cats from FFOA, and think they do a wonderful job of placing pets in appropriate homes,无毛视频� said Haley, who was delighted to take part in the challenge.
Small businesses also jumped in on the challenge.
Hilltop Pack Coffee Company, a micro coffee roaster in Waynesburg, Greene County, donated $5 from every bag of coffee sold, in the coffee shop or online at www.HilltopPacksCoffe.com, to the Humane Society of Greene County.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e big animal lovers, and we thought it would appropriate, on Betty无毛视频檚 birthday, to do something to share our love of animals and our heart for giving,无毛视频� said Bridget Vilenica, who co-owns Hilltop Pack. 无毛视频淎nd we thought there might be a lot of people who want to donate to the challenge, but might not know how to on social media.无毛视频�
Pet Search of SWPA, too, got a financial boost from the challenge.
无毛视频淓verybody knows how much Betty White was a major supporter for animals, and when she passed away, it shook the animal rescue world,无毛视频� said Sherry Knight, CEO and animal placement coordinator for Pet Search. 无毛视频淲e were devastated because she无毛视频檚 been such a spokesperson for animals all over the world. Whoever thought of this was a genius. It无毛视频檚 the ultimate tribute in her memory.无毛视频�
The donations are coming at just the right time, as there has been an increase in the number of animals surrendered to Pet Search.
无毛视频淚n 2020, everybody wanted to adopt a dog because they were home,无毛视频� said Knight, noting the rescue already had taken in 39 dogs and cats in the first 16 days of 2022.
Pet Search will use the money raised from the challenge for vet bills, food, and other supplies.
Bridge To Home Animal Rescue founder Tracey Crompton said the challenge 无毛视频渉as been a blessing.无毛视频�
The nonprofit based in Eighty Four will use the funds for medical expenses for elderly dogs BTHAR is trying to find homes for.
Lisa Casale Malone, of Hempfield Township, made a donation to FFOA 无毛视频渋n memory of Betty and in honor of my love, Gabe,无毛视频� the Golden retriever she adopted from the shelter in 2012.
无毛视频淗e is so special, but aren无毛视频檛 they all?无毛视频� said Malone.
Betty White, undoubtedly, would have agreed. And she probably would have thought the challenge was a doggone good way to celebrate her life.