By Maddy Vitale
The Humane Society of Ocean City is in the running for a chance to win a $20,000 grand prize that would provide funds to feed the shelter animals for a year, plus pay for some medical expenses and help with renovating the dog kennels.
Phil Belluccio, director of operations and development for HSOC, emphasized that the shelter needs the community’s support to beat out more than 100 other nonprofit organizations competing for the money.
“We need your help,” he said in a direct appeal to the Ocean City public. “Here is a great opportunity to help raise money for our shelter. The more we raise, the more we can win for the animals. Any donation will help.”
All donations should be made to the HSOC Oceanfirst Charity Challenge page at www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/humanesocietyofoceancity-oceanfirstchallenge2018.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the HSOC had raised $4,085 thanks to donations from 45 people in 26 days.
But the shelter is a long way from its target goal of $9,500 and time is running out. They only have until June 12 before the contest ends.
“We are in fourth place. Even if we are not first, there are many chances to win grant money.” Belluccio said. “Out of all the nonprofit contestants, we are the only one from Ocean City who is participating in this challenge and one of only a few in Atlantic and Cape May counties. We are really hoping the community comes together to help out our animals.”
Last year, thanks to community support, the no-kill shelter raised $9,000 in the same contest, Belluccio said.
“We want to exceed that. We are really hoping to get the support and donations rolling in from our community,” he said. “We would like the community to know the importance of our organization and all of the benefits we offer.”
The HSOC often has at least 100 cats up for adoption and anywhere from three to more dogs available for forever homes. Of a dollar donation, 93 cents go directly to benefit the shelter animals.
Hundreds of cats and kittens and anywhere from three to six dogs are available at a time from the shelter.
Prospective owners are interviewed to make sure they are good fits for the animals. Each year, the HSOC adopts out 150 to 200 animals, provides over 800 affordable spay/neuters and fixes more than 250 feral cats.
The shelter provides affordable spay and neuter services. All adoptions include micro-chipping, spay/neuter and vaccinations.
In addition to excellent care, Belluccio said the HSOC dogs receive top training from three highly skilled dog trainers on staff.
The employees also include six certified animal control officers. Two of them are also certified as animal cruelty investigators.
Belluccio said he knows how hard his staff works. He added that the community has always been very giving and supportive of the shelter and its goals of helping unwanted animals.
This is a time when he really hopes the community will come out and show its love for all the good the shelter does for the homeless animals.
“We are hopeful, and with the help and support of our community, we can make a pretty good and respectable run,” Belluccio said. “As advocates for the animals, we are hoping that we are able to give it everything we’ve got, for the benefit of these amazing animals.”
The Humane Society of Ocean City is located at 1 Shelter Road in Ocean City. For more information visit www.hsocnj.org or call 609-398-9500.
