Official announcement from USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-04-26-zootoo-contest_N.htm

Congratulations and thank you, everyone! We did it!  A press conference is scheduled for tomorrow at 9:00 AM at the shelter:

Central Missouri Humane Society
616 Big Bear Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65202
(573) 443-3893
staff@cmhspets.org

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2009

CMHS finishes number one in Phase I of the Zootoo.com Million Dollar Shelter Makeover and Phase II plans begin!

(COLUMBIA, Mo.) March 16, 2009 – On Thursday, March 19, 2009 the Central Missouri Humane Society will receive a very special visit from Zootoo.com founder and CEO, Richard Thompson. He is scheduled to arrive at 10:45 a.m. and will be welcomed by Mayor Darwin Hindman. Thompson will then address the community before interviewing shelter staff and conducting a shelter tour.

“Community support is an essential part of Phase II,” said Patty Forister, CMHS Executive Director. “They need assurance that the public will help us through such a large renovation project.” The CMHS would like for the community to show their support again by wearing blue. The White Knight trolley will take Thompson through town via Hwy. 63 N. to Broadway to Providence Rd. to Vandiver Dr. to Rangeline Rd. to Big Bear Blvd. People are encouraged to stage themselves along Broadway or join the welcoming committee at the shelter at 10:45 a.m. to wait their arrival.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for CMHS and the community,” said Maria Furey, President of the CMHS Board of Directors. “Bring your posters and wear blue and help us get to that next phase.”

The top 20 shelters will receive a personal visit this week from zootoo.com. At the end of phase two, zootoo.com will announce the top ten shelters on April 7, 2009 in Las Vegas. Voting for phase 3 begins on April 13th and ends on April 19, 2009. The shelter with the most votes will receive a shelter makeover.

Donations to help the animals can be made to Central Missouri Humane Society, 616 Big Bear Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202, by phone at (573) 443-7387, or at www.cmhspets.org
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Contact: Patty Forister, Executive Director
Central Missouri Humane Society
(573) 443-7863
(573)443-PETS
Patty@cmhspets.org

Here is a link to ALL the coverage from the Columbia Daily Tribune on their site.

Below are a few of the most recent articles.  Coverage posts are in reverse chronological order (most recent first):

3/17/09 1:36 P.M.  
Columbia Daily Tribune:  "Animal shelter wants big turnout for million-dollar tour" by Sara Semelka

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3/14/09 7:48 A.M.
Columbia Daily Tribune:  "Humane efforts" 

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3/9/09 1:42 P.M.
Columbia Daily Tribune:  "Animal shelter No. 1 in national makeover contest"