Dearborn Animal Shelter in the Running for Free Dog Food for a Year

The Dearborn Animal Shelter's staff could get a lot of help feeding stray and lost dogs through an online feeding competition sponsored by Pedigree.

The shelter is one of three in Michigan featured in the national competition. The other shelters include the Michigan Animal Rescue League, and Genesee County Animal Control.

Voting started on Facebook March 28 and continues until 11:59 a.m. April 12. Each Facebook account is allowed one vote per day, and two of the five proposals will win the food based on votes received and Pedigree's determination of which community can benefit from the program the most, according to rules for the competition.

"If we win, the money we could save on dog food would be freed up to pay for medical supplies and medical equipment. We could also expand our outreach programs, including our low cost spay and neuter and microchip clinics," shelter spokeswoman Sandra Boulton said.

She said the shelter cares for roughly 2,500 to 2,600 dogs and cats annually.

"Dog food makes up the lion's share of our food budget. It would be a relief to have that taken off our bottom line for a full year," Boulton said.

To vote for the Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, log on to your Facebook account and navigate to the contest page. Click on the "Detroit/Flint" link to cast a vote. Participants can only vote from a desktop or laptop computer. The contest link is not accessible through smartphone web browsers.

"It's an honor to be a finalist," Boulton said. "Dog lovers from across the country were called on in January to nominate and rally support for their community. Nominations were received during a five-week period from every corner of the nation, representing hundreds of communities. Dearborn Animal Shelter, and the entire Metro Detroit area, received an outpouring of support from loyal staff, volunteers, adopter families and Dearborn residents, which helped the shelter rise to the top."

Other cities fighting for votes are Wasusau, Wis.; Erie, Pa.; Jackson, Miss.; and Jacksonville, Fla.