Dearborn Animal Shelter Competes in National Adoption Challenge.

The Dearborn Animal Shelter is looking for a few good men and women to help find loving homes for its furry residents.

For the second year in a row, the shelter is participating in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. The shelter is the only metro Detroit organization in the competition.

To vie for the $100,000, the shelter must place at least 300 more animals in homes between the months of June through August as compared with the same time period last year.

There are other grants in addition to the $100,000 for which the Dearborn Animal Shelter could also be eligible, including a Community Engagement award of $25,000.

“This is an industrious goal for our shelter to place more than 300 animals compared with the same three months last year, but we can do it with help from the community," said Elaine Greene, executive director of the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter. "It means we have to find homes for 779 animals."

To help achieve that goal, the shelter is planning many activities this summer, including three large, tented offsite Adopt-a-Thons.

The first Adopt-a-Thon takes place June 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the lot in front of Goodwill, near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Military Street in Dearborn. The shelter will have 75 animals available for adoption that day, counselors on hand to help you find your new best friend, logo merchandise and adoption specials.

Two other tented Adopt-a-Thons are planned for Saturday, July 13 at the Fairlane Green shops in Allen Park, and Saturday, Aug. 17 at Westborn Mall in Dearborn.

Other fundraisers and events throughout the three-month competition will help the Dearborn Animal Shelter meet its goal as well. Those events can be found on the shelter's website and by following the shelter on Facebook.

The Dearborn Animal Shelter is located at 2661 Greenfield Road, and is operated by the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information, call 313-943-2697, or visit www.DearbornAnimals.org.