The La Plata County Humane Society came up short for a $50,000 prize to renovate its facility through Animal Planet, the shelter’s executive director said Monday.
According to Michelle Featheringill, the Humane Society was notified late Friday that it was not the winner of the Pet Nation Renovation contest. The facility was one of five finalists from across the country vying for the remodel.
“I’m not going to lie, it definitely stung,” Featheringill said. “But I think what the takeaway for us is that we we’re so incredibly thankful for all of the support we got from the community. It was just overwhelming.”
Featheringill said Animal Plant did not provide any other information, such as what shelter did win or vote totals. She speculated the TV station wants it to be a surprise when the show airs this fall.
Indeed, on the TV show’s website it says to “Check out who the lucky shelter is this fall on Pet Nation Renovation!”
Other shelters in the contest included two in California, one in Michigan and another in Texas.
Regardless, the outpouring of community support to rally for the local humane society heartened Featheringill and the shelter staff. Though other shelters in the running were located in places with a much higher population, Durango and the surrounding community banded together.
“That’s really invaluable,” she said.
Featheringill said the humane society will look for other ways to renovate the 20-year-old building.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
