Local shelters in Best in Shelter dog competition - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Four local shelters are participating in the Best in Shelter online dog show. Voting takes place from June 14-17 at www.bestinshelter.com. 

Participating shelters are the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, The Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, The Washington Animal Rescue League, and  Washington Humane Society.

Best in Shelter is sponsored by best-selling mystery author and animal rights activist Martha Grimes, who was inspired to create the event after seeing animal rights commercials during one of the annual televised "Best in Show" dog shows.  Grimes established "Best in Shelter" to bring public awareness to the plight of homeless dogs and help educate the public about the wonderful dogs in need of caring families who are available in area shelters.

The first place dog will win $50,000 for his or her respective shelter.  Second prize is $25,000, while third prize is $15,000.  All dogs featured in the competition are available for adoption 

CLICK HERE TO VOTE>>>

FROM BEST IN SHELTER
"Best in Shelter" was inspired by one of the major "best in show" dog competitions. Or rather, inspired by the commercials between events. The commercials featured dogs behind bars; in other words, shelter animals. The contrast between the pedigree dogs, so well-trained, so well-taken care of; so admired; so worthy was in such contrast to the dogs behind bars that it seemed like two different dog-worlds.

The aim of "Best in Shelter" is to raise awareness of animal shelters and what they have to offer. We want to blot out the stereotypes of shelter animals as being the opposite of show dogs— as being untrained, unkempt, unworthy. This is far from the truth. Not all the dogs you see in shelters are there because they were unmanageable. Most are there because the shelters have rescued them from the street, from abuse, from "hoarding", from puppy mills.

"I can't go into those places," a friend of mine said of shelters. I don't think people avoid animal shelters because they don't care, but because they do. They don't want to walk away feeling guilty about all of those animals they couldn't do anything for.

You can do something for the featured dogs on this website and their shelters: you can vote for the dog you would adopt if you were able to.  "Best in Shelter" is a virtual dog show, but the dogs are real.

– Martha Grimes