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It’s Official: 2nd Place and $5,000!

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:

Widget racing 1

 

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48 responses to “It’s Official: 2nd Place and $5,000!”

  1. betherann Avatar
    betherann

    Awesome! Congrats!

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  2. consuelo Larrabee (seattle) Avatar
    consuelo Larrabee (seattle)

    YES! YES! YES! Congratulations! You certainly are deserving of this reward!

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  3. Maree In NZ Avatar
    Maree In NZ

    Wooo hooo!!! Congrats guys you deserve it!!!

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  4. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    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.

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  5. Angela Avatar
    Angela

    GO WIDGE!! – HOORAY, WOOF, WOOF!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

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  6. FELICIA Avatar
    FELICIA

    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!

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  7. Nina Avatar
    Nina

    Congratulations! You do amazing work at the ranch!

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  8. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    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!

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  9. Nichole Avatar
    Nichole

    AWESOME – congrats and well deserved!

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  10. wendy greenspan Avatar
    wendy greenspan

    congrats – i am glad i could be a part of helping – looking forward to the next round

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  11. Gena Avatar
    Gena

    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……

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  12. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    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.

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  13. Sarah W Avatar
    Sarah W

    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?

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  14. Betsy Olson Avatar
    Betsy Olson

    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.

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  15. Penny Avatar
    Penny

    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!!!!

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  16. Cathy Silvestro Avatar
    Cathy Silvestro

    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)

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  17. Linda Murphy Avatar
    Linda Murphy

    It’s wonderful! Merry Christmas!

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  18. Miranda Avatar
    Miranda

    A very merry Christimas indeed!

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  19. Sharon Avatar
    Sharon

    Congratulations – I voted for you every day from California! Widget’s happy dance is way too cute. Merry Christmas~~

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  20. ginger Avatar
    ginger

    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

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  21. Rich Y Avatar
    Rich Y

    Woo hooo!

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  22. Leila - Washington Avatar
    Leila – Washington

    So happy for all of you! Well deserved…….have a celebration party – party hats on all the critters! Merry Christmas to you and Alayne.

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  23. Colleen & Wes Vermillion Avatar
    Colleen & Wes Vermillion

    HURRAY!!! And on that note, Merry Christmas and Happy New New Year to all of you at RDR:-)

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  24. Mary Ellen Avatar
    Mary Ellen

    Congrats…I am so programmed to vote every morning it takes me a few days to remind myself not to click.

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  25. Dr. Joyce Pigge Avatar
    Dr. Joyce Pigge

    The best deserve the best—richly deserved—Merry Christmas from Kansas!

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  26. Rosemary Avatar
    Rosemary

    Bless you all!

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  27. Lynn (in Louisiana) Avatar
    Lynn (in Louisiana)

    {happy dance}

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  28. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    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!

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  29. Carla Polastro-Nigro Avatar
    Carla Polastro-Nigro

    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.

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  30. Lynda Avatar
    Lynda

    WooHoo!! Have a very Merry Christmas Steve, Alayne and your furry children.

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  31. Tracy B Avatar
    Tracy B

    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!

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  32. Kristi Gross Avatar
    Kristi Gross

    Merry Christmas Alayne, Steve and all the animals!

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  33. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    Congratulations from NJ! All of you deserve the very best! Thank you for having such a special place and such huge hearts.
    Melissa

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  34. Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin Avatar
    Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin

    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!!!

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  35. Clay Avatar
    Clay

    Yeaaaah!!!!

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  36. Cheryl Pohl Avatar
    Cheryl Pohl

    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!!!!!!!!

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  37. Oustcat Avatar
    Oustcat

    Congrats!

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  38. Laura, Levi & Timmy Avatar
    Laura, Levi & Timmy

    Wahoo!! A nice Xmas present for all our four and three-legged animals!

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  39. DeEtte Avatar
    DeEtte

    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.

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  40. Ev Avatar
    Ev

    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

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  41. Doe George- Indiana Avatar
    Doe George- Indiana

    Totally awesome! Congrats on winning $5,000. I know it will help tremendously!
    Merry Christmas Steve, ALayne, and all of your furkids!

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  42. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    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!

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  43. Vicki Small Avatar
    Vicki Small

    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.

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  44. Chaeley Avatar
    Chaeley

    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.

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  45. Sandy Shubert Avatar
    Sandy Shubert

    Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

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  46. KARLA Avatar
    KARLA

    Congratulations. If only there were more opportunities like this…you deserve so much more.I am in awe of what you do. Thank you

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  47. Kathy Hertzel Avatar
    Kathy Hertzel

    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.

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  48. Carrie Phelps Avatar
    Carrie Phelps

    I found myself looking forward to the daily reminder emails just so I could vote for you!

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