Yes, it's official — the ranch won the Shelter Challenge Grand Prize and will get $20,000 for the animals!  This is truly one of the most humbling things that has ever happened to us.  Wow — what a phenomenal Christmas present!  For a small sanctuary in a remote part of Montana to win out over thousands of other shelters and rescue groups around the United States is just incredible.  It blows us away.  Thank you!

It is a testament to all of you who faithfully voted daily for months on end to make this happen.  Alayne and I were just astonished at the sheer number of people who told us they were voting for the ranch every day and had enlisted their family, their friends and their colleagues at work to vote, too.  And many of these were folks we had never heard from before — but they were voting for the ranch and doing as much as they could to get others to vote for us, too.  Not only here in the United States, but in Canada, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa and in other countries around the world.  Just knowing that so many people were not only thinking about us but were doing something every single day to help us win that Grand Prize — well, that is the humbling part. 

It is also a reflection of how much our disabled animals can inspire — with their zest for life, their strength in overcoming adversity, and their playful, silly antics that keep us laughing.  When we started the sanctuary nearly 10 years ago, we never realized just how much these animals and their stories would resonate with people.  We had no idea.  But these remarkable animals are, of course, why so many of you were voting in this contest — so they could benefit.  They touched you in some way, and you have touched them.

We are more grateful to you — to every single one of you — than you can possibly imagine.  Thank you … thank you … thank you!!!

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108 responses to “Woohoo! $20,000 For The Animals!”

  1. Marla Avatar
    Marla

    Best Christmas present E-V-E-R!!! I am so very happy for every human and fur-kid at RDR. I know this takes much of the stress off of you guys in the declining economy that has hurt donations. Still, it is a drop in the bucket compared to all of your expenses, especially the medical ones. We have to all keep giving what we can when we can. God Bless You!!

    Like

  2. Dusty Avatar
    Dusty

    WOOT!! I made my husband vote as often as i could! Plus I have 2 work computers and a personal computer at home I’d vote from! Love to hear your stories. So glad to be a part of helping you win the $$ for you and those wonderful animals that we love to hear about! Merry Christmas!

    Like

  3. Maree in NZ Avatar
    Maree in NZ

    Ginger said it all really.. Congrats you two and to the animals too. You have touched hearts even down here in New Zealand. I applaud you for all the hard work and love you give.

    Like

  4. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Congratulations! You guys certainly deserve such a wonderful Christmas present. A very Happy New Year to you and your furry kids!
    HOHOHO!Michelle and Poppy in Edmonton.

    Like

  5. Marcia Hughes Avatar
    Marcia Hughes

    YES!!!! this just made my holiday season……..and renewed my faith in humanity once again! These precious guys are supposed to be able to count on us and they can more and more thanks to people and voters like us!!!
    Yahoo RDR!
    You all rock and Merry Merry Christmas!

    Like

  6. Libby Avatar
    Libby

    Yay yay yay from Canada!!! I’m sure there’s so many of us that are addicted to your blog…your ability to share your emotions about these inspiring animals makes us laugh and cry-THANK YOU!
    I have “visited” you every day for years now and it’s always an easy click to help support your sanctuary in the contest.
    Merry Merry and Ho Ho Ho!
    Libby

    Like

  7. Michele Troxel Avatar
    Michele Troxel

    YES! I couldn’t think of a thing I wanted more for Christmas this year! (well it would have been nice if the Griz would have also taken the National championship!)
    It’s a testament to the great work you guys do. Merry Christmas Steve and Alayne.
    Michele

    Like

  8. Helen Avatar
    Helen

    Hi Alayne and Steve.Add The Netherlands to your list of daily visitors.Congratulations on your well deserved win.Your dedication to all your animals is an inspiration to us all.So glad that we could help with a click a day.Well done and happy holidays to all.

    Like

  9. Bibi Edwards Avatar
    Bibi Edwards

    NO ONE deserves this honor more that you two angels… Steve and Alayne……….I am proud to be a tiny part of RDR
    This is a gift to you and all of us devoted fans !
    Happy Christmas

    Like

  10. Ellie Rose Avatar
    Ellie Rose

    Great thanks for being there for all of us to be able to vote for. What a Merry Christmas for all of you at the ranch ,and all of us who Love You ,and every cat,dog, horse, goat every living thing that lives on the Rolling Ranch.. I hope to be able to visit in the late spring or early summer.It is the one thing I want to do before I cross over the Rainbow Bridge to be greeted by all those wounderful aniamels…..MERRY CHRISTMAS>>>….

    Like

  11. Nina and the girls! Avatar
    Nina and the girls!

    We are soooo thrilled to hear that the animals at the ranch won the grand prize! You are all so deserving! We, too, voted many times each day at different locations…from home, work, and at school.
    Steve and Alayne: Merry Christmas and many blessings to you both in the New Year. You are truly an inspiration to us all!

    Like

  12. Heather Reeves & Timmy Avatar

    YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! WHOOOOHOOOO!!!
    Writing your website link and telling everyone to vote daily all over in the dirt on my truck worked!!!YIPEEE!!! Nothing beats free, highly visible advertising!!
    I’d do it again in a heartbeat!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!! Yeah for you and YEAH for the animals!!!
    MUCH LOVE!
    Heather Montana & Timmy The Wonder Dog

    Like

  13. Bill Cain Avatar
    Bill Cain

    Congratulations to you. I know the animals are getting the best of care ever and now it will make it easier on y’all. I know I voted daily for you guys.

    Like

  14. Kim Johnston Avatar
    Kim Johnston

    I am sobbing so hard I can hardly type! I am so happy I don’t even know what to say except Thank you to everyone who voted! I love Rolling Dog Ranch and they deserved this award. I will continue to tell everyone who will listen about RDR and the amazing work they do to help disabled animals. Congratulations Steve and Alayne!!

    Like

  15. Elssa Green Avatar
    Elssa Green

    Congratulations to you and your wonderful friends – two-legged, three-legged and four-legged. Best wishes for a very happy New Year!

    Like

  16. Suzanne Avatar
    Suzanne

    CONGRATS, that is AWESOME!! Thanks for the wonderful work that you do to help the animals! I read (and voted) daily. I’m a beagle mom too.

    Like

  17. Jeremy Avatar
    Jeremy

    Thank you for your hard work, it was an honor to vote for you each day! Don’t forget to talk about the cats sometimes too!

    Like

  18. Sasha in MN Avatar
    Sasha in MN

    This beautiful & humble post written by Steve, along with the heartfelt responses from all over the world really makes me happy to be a part of the RDR supporters & fans.
    Wishing all of you a safe & happy holidays & cherished thoughts of those who earned their blessed wings this year.
    Sasha & Lena Malik

    Like

  19. Carrie Avatar
    Carrie

    Hooray!!! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and thank you so much for all that you do. I voted every day from here in California, once from the office and once from home. I love your blog, and find such inspiration in the work you do with your animals. Thank you!

    Like

  20. Lisa Lashaway Avatar
    Lisa Lashaway

    That is just SUPER news!! Merry Christmas!! And Oliver gets adopted…too many blessings to count this year! You deserve them all. Here’s to a wonderful 2010 to all. Lisa

    Like

  21. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Congratulations! I’ve been obsessively voting for you for what seems like forever. I’m so glad that you, and the other shelters that were able to get cash grants – have a financial boost.

    Like

  22. Kate and Luke Avatar
    Kate and Luke

    YAAAAA!!!!

    Like

  23. Leila - Washington Avatar
    Leila – Washington

    Merry Christmas, Steve and Alayne and God bless you and all the residents of RDR. May the blessings keep rolling in for you!

    Like

  24. Jill Avatar
    Jill

    So glad for you . . . get me a Kleenex, please! Voted every day – such a small thing to do to help such a great organization. Blessed Christmas and prosperous New Year!

    Like

  25. Ed Angell Avatar
    Ed Angell

    If anyone ever deserved a reward for hard work, it would certainly be the both of you for your work at RDR.
    Ed Angell

    Like

  26. melissa Avatar
    melissa

    Congratulations-I am thrilled to hear that the animals at the ranch will benefit from the grand prize! You are all so deserving! Happy Holidays and many blessings for the New Year to each and everyone of you at the RDR!

    Like

  27. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    I voted every day as my way of saying thank you to you and all the volunteers and other people involved with RDR! I’m so glad ALL our votes could make this possible. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

    Like

  28. Randi Avatar
    Randi

    Congrats to the Ranch! You all deserve it. But what i am really wondering is what does Widget and Margaret think of the Ranch winning?

    Like

  29. Mary Lou Avatar
    Mary Lou

    Great news. Keep up the good works.

    Like

  30. Billie Avatar
    Billie

    I am so, so very happy for you all! I voted every day, and I tried to vote from work, too! I know that the $20,000 will be in great hands!

    Like

  31. Jolene Avatar

    oh hurray!!!!!
    now what am I going to do every day!

    Like

  32. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    Thank you, Steve & Alayne, for the wonderful work you do. It is easy for us to sit in front of the computer & click the mouse, you 2 do the hard work. I am so glad I found your site a couple years ago. You are true heros! Yay for my home state of Montana for being the home of such a great place. Makes me proud 🙂
    Merry Christmas to you both & all the furkids too.

    Like

  33. Jennifer Avatar

    Yea!! I’ve never commented, but read your blog on my bloglines daily. We have been voting and are just so happy you won! It is well deserved!
    Congratulations and Merry Christmas.

    Like

  34. Vicki small Avatar

    O’Neil so glad to have played a small part in this result! It helps, a little to relieve my frustration at our inability to help you guys and the animals, this year. We’re hoping 2010 will be much better. Blessings to you both.

    Like

  35. Rosemary Avatar
    Rosemary

    So many comments…so much support and love-it proves to go a long way. I am so happy! A very, very Merry Christmas to you all, Alayne, Steve, and all my little and big friends. Here is to a happy, healthy New Year! XOXOXO…..

    Like

  36. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    Rolling Dog Ranch is changing the way humans think and feel about disabled pets. I have two myself that were lucky enough to be given a chance (and a foster home) before me.
    You do such good things for dogs who might seem disabled to us (and cost us more money to maintain their health) but who show us, day in and day out, that being disabled is a broad term that doesn’t amount to being less worthy of living a good life.
    Glad I could help in my own small way by voting. Congratulations to a clean, well-lighted place that really really deserved to win!
    Disabled pets rock! 🙂

    Like

  37. Lucie Storrs Avatar
    Lucie Storrs

    It was a pleasure and a privilege to vote for you every day. I can’t think of any two people who deserve to win more… thank you so much for doing all the things that you do!

    Like

  38. Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin Avatar
    Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin

    I just love this blog. I can’t even begin to tell you how glad I am that I stumbled across it a couple of years ago. My dream is to be able to visit you all some day but in the meantime, clicking each day to vote in a contest & recruiting friends & family to do the same is easy. You all are doing the hard work. But, the joys you also receive & share with us each & every day makes it all worth whatever we humans can do for these sweet, loving & inspiring fur friends.
    I am so proud of RDR for winning the big prize. My heart burst with joy when I saw the big announcement plastered across my screen. I feel like something is missing not voting each day.
    Thank you for all you do for the wonderful residents of RDR. And, thanks to all that voted each & every day, several times a day & made this win possible for an amazing, wonderful couple, Steve & Alayne, who give so much of their time & love to all the furry friends of RDR!

    Like

  39. Nancy Longfield Avatar
    Nancy Longfield

    Congratulations Alayne and Steve and all the animals at RDR!!!!!!
    Nancy and Buddy in SC

    Like

  40. arizonaFRED Avatar

    CONGRATULATIONS from Fred, Loretta and Charlie! Great Christmas present for the Ranch. Great present for us too – how many days have we been voting and voting and voting? But it was certainly worth it!

    Like

  41. Barbara Techel Avatar

    We are so THRILLED for all of you!! This is so well deserved! Your love and devotion to these special needs animals is a gift to watch… we love being a part of your journey through your blog. Merry Christmas!
    Barbara Techel & Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog

    Like

  42. Love of Dog Bakery Avatar

    We are so happy for RDR! You are truly deserving of this honor! THANK YOU for all that you do for the animals.

    Like

  43. Karen D. - SD Dog Mom Avatar
    Karen D. – SD Dog Mom

    Congratulations to the Rolling Dog Ranch gang. We marvel at the wonderful work you do and we’re so happy to learn you won the Grand Prize. Our prayers (and votes) were answered.
    May God continue to bless you and the aniamls and may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year. Merry Christmas!

    Like

  44. Dawn Avatar
    Dawn

    So pleased you won, a great Christmas gift, and well deserved. Happy Holidays, and thanks so much for your inspiring work!

    Like

  45. Carolina Avatar
    Carolina

    From very far away in South America, Venezuela, my most heart felt congratulations on this truly deserved prize. Your work deserves this and much more!!!
    Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.
    My best wishes,
    Carolina

    Like

  46. Kathy and Harley Avatar
    Kathy and Harley

    What better Christmas gift could you ask for…Word of mouth goes a long way!You and Alayne set out to make your dreams come true, but what you did to include all of us animal lovers in you dream is amazing also.For alot of us I’m sure, you made ours come true by letting us be a part of your ranch too.Thank-You Steve and Alayne for giving these animals a chance when others would not.I’m going to bed tonight with the greatest feeling that there are people out ther that still do care, you just have to search a little deeper sometimes. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL and STAY SAFE

    Like

  47. Kristin (in Georgia) Avatar
    Kristin (in Georgia)

    Congratulations. Well deserved and I am thrilled because I know this money will be used to save so many animals. Happy New Year.

    Like

  48. boundforglory Avatar
    boundforglory

    We all humbly say…. Thank You!
    For you dedication, loyalty and love, we wouldn’t know the faces and personalities of these precious animals without YOU!
    Wishing you continues success; we’re along for the ride with you. ; )

    Like

  49. Nancy Thomas Avatar
    Nancy Thomas

    So very happy for you. I was able to vote from two emial addy’s but I am thrilled that you received so much support. Your blogs definitely keep us in touch. God bless you, the work that you do and the children you have blessed. Nancy

    Like

  50. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    Congratulations on winning the money for the animals. I just learned about the ranch this morning, watching Jack Hanna on TV. I’m so glad to have found you. God Bless you for what you do. I’m so thrilled to know that a place like yours exists. Thank you for all you do….

    Like

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