Best in Shelter Announces Winners for 2015 Farm Animal Show

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Best in Shelter (www.bestinshelter.org), a nonprofit organization aimed at raising the public's awareness of animal shelters and sanctuaries, is pleased to announce the winners in its 2015 Farm Animal Show. 

Animal Place (Grass Valley, CA) won first prize in the "Best Sanctuary" category, earning $50,000 for the organization.  Marji Beach, Education Director for Animal Place, said they were grateful for the support they received from the public.  "We also want to send a special thank you to Martha Grimes and the team at Best in Shelter for hosting the competition," added Ms. Beach.  "We will place the money in a Special Reserve Fund which will aid in saving the lives of so many needy farmed animals, who deserve compassion and respect as much as dogs and cats."

Second place and a $30,000 prize in the "Best Sanctuary" category went to the Pig Preserve (Jamestown, TN.) The Pig Preserve is unique in that the sanctuary is designed and operates so as to provide the rescued pigs the freedom to roam the entire sanctuary and the ability to live their lives much as they would live in nature.  Richard Hoyle, Director of the Pig Preserve, said "The Best in Shelter prize money will allow us to provide a new barn for several newly arrived pigs and make needed repairs on our older barns."

Milagra, a mini donkey living at the Barnyard Sanctuary (Columbia, NJ,) won first place and $25,000 in the Favorite Farm Animal category.  Tamala Lester, Founding Director of the Barnyard Sanctuary, said "none of this would have been possible for any of us without Best in Shelter and its founder Martha Grimes. We will use our award to expand our donkey area and pay for part of our winter hay requirements."

Second place in the Favorite Farm Animal category went to Blossom, the orphaned calf slated for slaughter, who found a home at the Catskills Animal Sanctuary (Saugerties, NY.)  Founder Kathy Stevens said "Woo-hoo! We are so excited to be a winner!  The $15,000 award will help cover the cost of hay for a couple of months."  Ms. Stevens went on to thank Martha Grimes and Best In Shelter for providing "the opportunity to share the sanctuary love and introduce people to farmed animal sanctuaries they may not be familiar with."

Each sanctuary was given a $1,000 grant for participating and an honorable mention grant of $2,000 each will be awarded to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary (Poolesville, MD), Kindred Spirits Sanctuary (Ocala, FL), and the Cow Sanctuary (Bridgeton, NJ) to continue their work on behalf of farmed animals.

Best in Shelter founder and President Martha Grimes said "Congratulations to all the sanctuaries who participated in the show.  Farm sanctuaries and the people who run them are to me the unsung heroes of the animal world."

Videos depicting the sanctuaries and the animals they selected to participate in the Best in Shelter Farm Animal Show can be found at www.bestinshelter.org/competition.

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SOURCE Best in Shelter

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