Wow! The official announcement is out and our humble little Rolling Dog Ranch came in second nationwide in the Shelter Challenge, winning $5,000 for the animals! Awesome! Alayne and I are so grateful to each and every one of you who kept voting for the ranch, day after day for all those months. THANK YOU!!!
It's no surprise that Best Friends came in first, given their size and reach, but I think the thing that struck me the most about this particular contest was that of the top 3 winners in this round, two focus exclusively on disabled animals as their mission. (And of course, Best Friends does take in some disabled animals as well.)
I think that says quite a lot about how far all of us have come in championing these special animals and helping people understand that they really can have a wonderful quality of life, if they're only given a chance.
On behalf of all the animals here at the Rolling Dog Ranch, thank you for making this amazing win possible!
Here's blind Widget doing a victory lap around the front yard:
I found myself looking forward to the daily reminder emails just so I could vote for you!
Posted by: Carrie Phelps | January 09, 2011 at 10:27 AM
A very MERRY CHRISTMAS! to you, Alayne & all of the dogs, cats & horses. God is truly watching over you and providing you the means to continue giving a wonderful life to everybody. To further expose the Ranch, I'd like to suggest you contact CBS to see if they will do a story on their Sunday Morning Show & with Steve Hartman on the nightly news.
Posted by: Kathy Hertzel | December 25, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Congratulations. If only there were more opportunities like this...you deserve so much more.I am in awe of what you do. Thank you
Posted by: KARLA | December 24, 2010 at 06:40 PM
Hip Hip Hooray!!!!
Posted by: Sandy Shubert | December 23, 2010 at 09:35 PM
Hooray! I'm absolutely thrilled you guys took second. I put that address up in my hotlinks bar and visited it first thing every morning to vote -- it became sort of a ritual, so I'm almost a little sorry it's over!
Congratulations. You guys absolutely deserve every penny.
Posted by: Chaeley | December 23, 2010 at 08:23 PM
Really glad to see it! And hoping 2011 will be more generous, so that maybe we can get back to contributing some, now and then.
Posted by: Vicki Small | December 23, 2010 at 07:50 PM
COngratulations to all of you - you most certainly deserve it. Clicking every day is the least we all can do to help a little.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Sandra | December 23, 2010 at 02:35 PM
Totally awesome! Congrats on winning $5,000. I know it will help tremendously!
Merry Christmas Steve, ALayne, and all of your furkids!
Posted by: Doe George- Indiana | December 23, 2010 at 01:38 PM
Congratulations for a contest well won. I also love the "Dark Horse" awards for rescue groups that haven't ever won before. What a great contest.
Merry Christmas from me in Tacoma, WA to all of the pack/herd at RDR, NH
Posted by: Ev | December 23, 2010 at 01:16 PM
YAY!! I was so happy to see RDR take the $5000 prize, would have loved even more to see them take 1st, but next year!! Congrats to Alayne and Steve and all the little lovies at RDR.
Posted by: DeEtte | December 23, 2010 at 01:01 PM
Wahoo!! A nice Xmas present for all our four and three-legged animals!
Posted by: Laura, Levi & Timmy | December 23, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Congrats!
Posted by: Oustcat | December 23, 2010 at 12:38 PM
Merry Christmas to all of you guys humans and animals. Enjoy your 1st new hampshire christmas.
Love, Kevin Cheryl Elena Alexandra Daniel and our crew of animals!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Cheryl Pohl | December 23, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Yeaaaah!!!!
Posted by: Clay | December 23, 2010 at 11:16 AM
WHOOPIE!!! CONGRATULATIONS! I got the email last night & couldn't have been happier to see RDR win so much $$$ to help all the furry friends. You all deserve it. And, I'm so glad to see that the public is becoming more aware of the wonderful lives disabled furry kids can live if given the chance!
GO WIDGET GO!!! VICTORY FOR SURE!!!
Posted by: Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin | December 23, 2010 at 11:06 AM
Congratulations from NJ! All of you deserve the very best! Thank you for having such a special place and such huge hearts.
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | December 23, 2010 at 10:03 AM
Merry Christmas Alayne, Steve and all the animals!
Posted by: Kristi Gross | December 23, 2010 at 09:56 AM
Congratulations! I discovered you a little late in the game, but once I did, I voted every day! It is well deserved, for everything that everyone there does. I enjoy reading about the work you do and the animals you care for, my heart and well wishes go out to you for the holidays and the new year. I think of your animals everytime I cuddle with my own three-legged wonderbeast, um... dog, at home. Congratulations again!
Posted by: Tracy B | December 23, 2010 at 08:31 AM
WooHoo!! Have a very Merry Christmas Steve, Alayne and your furry children.
Posted by: Lynda | December 23, 2010 at 08:23 AM
My heartfelt congratulations, dear Alayne & Steve! You two guys deserve this prize and oh so much more!
Keep up the great work and God bless you.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | December 23, 2010 at 03:32 AM
Woo hoo! I knew we could do it! Thanks to everyone who voted so RDR could get $5,000 to help their crew!
What a great Christmas present!
The new $300,000 shelter challenge starts on January 10th. I believe since it is a new year that RDR will be eligible for the grand prize. Let's vote, vote, vote to make RDR #1!
Happy holidays to Steve, Alayne and the crew from South Carolina!
Posted by: Ann | December 22, 2010 at 11:41 PM
{happy dance}
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | December 22, 2010 at 09:17 PM
Bless you all!
Posted by: Rosemary | December 22, 2010 at 08:16 PM
The best deserve the best---richly deserved---Merry Christmas from Kansas!
Posted by: Dr. Joyce Pigge | December 22, 2010 at 08:09 PM
Congrats...I am so programmed to vote every morning it takes me a few days to remind myself not to click.
Posted by: Mary Ellen | December 22, 2010 at 08:01 PM
HURRAY!!! And on that note, Merry Christmas and Happy New New Year to all of you at RDR:-)
Posted by: Colleen & Wes Vermillion | December 22, 2010 at 08:01 PM
So happy for all of you! Well deserved.......have a celebration party - party hats on all the critters! Merry Christmas to you and Alayne.
Posted by: Leila - Washington | December 22, 2010 at 07:29 PM
Woo hooo!
Posted by: Rich Y | December 22, 2010 at 07:29 PM
It's wonderful to see that the money is going where it's so well deserved! I'm glad I could do my small part by voting everyday & urging my friends to do that as well. Thanks for all the work that you do, the huge hearts that you both have & the never ending labor of love that you give.
Merry Christmas to all @ RDR!
Warm hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | December 22, 2010 at 07:19 PM
Congratulations - I voted for you every day from California! Widget's happy dance is way too cute. Merry Christmas~~
Posted by: Sharon | December 22, 2010 at 07:18 PM
A very merry Christimas indeed!
Posted by: Miranda | December 22, 2010 at 07:03 PM
It's wonderful! Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Linda Murphy | December 22, 2010 at 03:55 PM
Congrats on a win that's VERY well deserved! Christmas came early to the ranch. As for the Widge, now that she's "in the money," I'm sure she's expecting something very special for herself under the tree this year. (maybe her own room so she doesn't have to share with those 3 hooligans anymore, lol)
Posted by: Cathy Silvestro | December 22, 2010 at 03:38 PM
Widget is doing her happy dance. Keep on boogie'in Widget!!!! Congrats to RDR!!!!!! What a great christmas gift. Good job evryone.... keep voting.... your vote really does matter!!!!
Posted by: Penny | December 22, 2010 at 03:33 PM
Congratulations!! Knowing you won second place just made my Christmas. I love your pictures of all the animals on your blog. It puts a smile on my face. You guys have an amazing place for these sweet animals. They are lucky to have you in their lives.
Posted by: Betsy Olson | December 22, 2010 at 03:25 PM
Yay! Congrats! I tried to remember to vote everyday, so I'm glad you at least got second. Isn't there some rule about winning two in a row? So you could win grand prize next time?
Posted by: Sarah W | December 22, 2010 at 03:05 PM
Yahoo!!! That's a nice Christmas present for you all!! Love the picture of you with the 2 little furry ones! I never had a small dog until a few years ago when we rescued a dachshund mix -- I'm a big fan now - They are so funny! Keep up the great work and have a wonderful Christmas in snowy New Hampshire.
Posted by: Lisa | December 22, 2010 at 03:02 PM
Bob @ 1:00 PM ... huh???
I thought all the RDR dogs were dachshunds and honorary dachshunds! Even the horses are just dachshunds with long legs, right? What's a beagle? LOL
Congrats on the win - money is always helpful when taking care of these special babies.
Awesome - Big High Fives from Gena and Roxie the Doxie in Michigan......
Posted by: Gena | December 22, 2010 at 02:19 PM
congrats - i am glad i could be a part of helping - looking forward to the next round
Posted by: wendy greenspan | December 22, 2010 at 01:58 PM
AWESOME - congrats and well deserved!
Posted by: Nichole | December 22, 2010 at 01:45 PM
Oh, I am most happy that you came in 2nd place...that's a good amount of money for the babies!
I voted every day - and it was fun to vote for a New Hampshire organization...
You make such a difference in the lives of these dear dogs and cats!
Posted by: Sara | December 22, 2010 at 01:37 PM
Congratulations! You do amazing work at the ranch!
Posted by: Nina | December 22, 2010 at 01:27 PM
CONGRATS ON YOUR WIN. I JUST GOT THE E-MAIL FROM THE WEBSITE & WAS THRILLED TO SEE YOUR NAME AGAIN. AFTER YOUR MOVE I'M SURE THE MONEY WILL COME IN HANDY TO MAKE EVERYONE'S LIVES ALITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE. MERRRY CHRISTMAS!
Posted by: FELICIA | December 22, 2010 at 01:19 PM
GO WIDGE!! - HOORAY, WOOF, WOOF!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Posted by: Angela | December 22, 2010 at 01:13 PM
Widget already has plans for the $5K. She was thinking of a spa treatment for her in Hawaii followed and a luau for all the RDR beagles and semi-beagles.
Posted by: Bob | December 22, 2010 at 01:00 PM
Wooo hooo!!! Congrats guys you deserve it!!!
Posted by: Maree In NZ | December 22, 2010 at 12:48 PM
YES! YES! YES! Congratulations! You certainly are deserving of this reward!
Posted by: consuelo Larrabee (seattle) | December 22, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Awesome! Congrats!
Posted by: betherann | December 22, 2010 at 12:38 PM