Posted: March 18, 2009, 5 a.m. EDT
Martina the dog of Isle, Minn., and Molly the cat of Norristown, Pa., are top vote-getters in an online photo contest that raised more than $550,000 to help fund spay-neuter programs for 200 organizations worldwide.
Martina, also known as “Babygirl” to her owner Roger, collected 12,268 votes in the Humane Society of the United States’ second annual Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest. Molly, a black cat also known as “Mollikens” by her owner Linn, snagged 3,305 votes.
More than 45,000 pet photos were entered in the contest. The goal was to raise funds for animal organizations as well as to fund HSUS spay-neuter projects.
Contestants who took part in the fundraising category chose the charities to get funds for each time his or her pet photo received a donation and vote online. For example, Martina’s and Molly’s choices were HSUS and Humane Society International.
As a result, Martina raised $12,268 and Molly raised $3,305. As the grand prize winner, Martina will receive a photo shoot with pet photographer Amanda Jones and recognition in HSUS publications.
The top 10 fundraising winners, including Molly the cat, receive custom oil portraits of their submitted photos and a signed copy of John Grogan’s bestselling novel, “Marley & Me.”