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Dear Wonderful Randy !
You are so worthy of winning this makeover contest and I applaud you for all that you do, you are in my eyes A GOD!!!! A SAINT!!!! and just a REALLY GREAT MAN! Congratulations!!!! And if by chance I am ever in your neck of the woods , you can bet I am going to come and visit you and give you a big hug! Know that you are admired by so many ~
All the Best to you and may you continue to have a full and happy life with all your animal friends.

Thank You Randy Grim for what you do for the animals in your area and especially what you do for the animals there that no one else will touch. You certainly deserved to win the Zootoo makeover. You are truly an Angel and may God Bless You for your dedication to these homeless animals. It would be real nice if Oprah would do a show about you and your shelter.

THank you Randy for caring about all those "throw-away" dogs. You did it in a big way, it really inspired me, I have had up to 14 at my home and now have 9, made me think if you can do it, maybe I can do it also. I tend to take it personally that the dogs at the shelters have no homes and that they can't figure out what happened to their home they were living at or why they went for a car ride and was suddenly left by the road. Thank you again for what you are doing. I now know that there are a lot of homeless ones taken care of.

Randy~
We wanted to extend you a HUGE congratulations. Although our group didn't get to spend a lot of time with you in FL, I could see your passion and love for animals from anywhere in the room. I truly admire your dedication, and I know that many groups and MANY animals will benefit from this wonderful makeover.

All of us our winners~~~those wet kisses from the dogs and the purrs from the cats prove it every day! Let's all keep working to make animals lives better.

I can't wait to visit when you get your new facility!

Lorri Hare
Director
Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society
Bowling Green, KY

A big thank you to zootoo! Congratulations to everyone. I believe an awareness of what all the shelters do all over the country was a great benefit. It helps to show people what these shelters are all about and the work that is being done to help the animals on very slim budgets. Hopefully the communities will continue to help each of their shelters and save more animals.

Thank you from all the shelter dogs.

OMG, I was so excited to hear Stray Rescue won, I cried!! Randy and everyone with Stray Rescue are so amazing!! p.s. Randy, your grammar is just fine!! :-) I am so so proud of everyone in his organization and all of the support from our wonderful community. I just knew he was going to win, I just know his passion and drive would not fail him! I think Zootoo is amazing too...........WOW, I cannot wait to see all the changes that will be happening!! Randy, I just want to say "thank you so much for doing what you do, everyday, sometimes 24 hours a day :-)" YOU ROCK!!!!!

Congrats!!! You deserved it. Everytime I read a story and just your response you posted brings tears to my eyes because you are out there saving them everyday. Again I'm so happy for you.

Hi everyone! Please excuse my bad grammar (I should have paid more attention in High school) and I have a bit of a cold and feel a bit shy about even writing this thank you. I am so honored and humbled that Stray Rescue won the makeover and want everyone to know that I will make sure that Stray Rescue makes all of us zootooers proud. I know the street dogs are dancing in the streets and wanting us to hurry up. (they are giving me looks)

The new shelter will house not just Stray Rescue but other groups as well that I can share our good fortune with. An awesome group called the Cat Network (yes I love cats too!) Operation Spot, an educational group, and Pound Pals, a low-cost or free spay/neuter for the poor. They needed homes too and I really believe it does take a village (or army) to see change.

I was so fortunate to meet so many amazing folks from all 20 top shelters. Carrie, you just plain rock, Cheryl from Ohio- wow, I feel like I made a friend for life, Linda from New York, you are an inspiration and to survive in animal welfare for over 30 years, you are a saint or have a lifetime supply of Valium! Little Shelter, thanks for the kind words and wish we had more time so we could visit! My Henderson girls- hang in there, and can’t wait to see you on Sunday, Bobbi, you are one class act.

When Richard talks about community support at first I thought he meant support from just my own community. But if there was a lesson I have learned through this rollercoaster ride by zootoo (I like rollercoaster’s) I think he means all of us. All of us working together be it rural or urban or east coast or west coast. This isn’t about winning it is much deeper than that ….it is about all of us supporting each other so the animals win in the end. It is about building bridges not knocking them down.

Richard and his staff are awesome- I am not just saying that so I can win more money for the shelter haha. After spending time at their offices (There is many cool companion animals there- my favorite is a character named Tank or Tankenstein (a bulldog), spending time with his staff and their families- I can tell you with 10000% certainty that zootoo is in this for all the right reasons, all the same reasons we all are- the animals. Richard doesn’t need to make anymore money (but he can if it means giving out more to all the shelters , ha!) the man does it from the heart. He is an awesome mentor.

Zootoo is for all of us to connect with each other and kick some major butt in saving lives so stay positive, dodge the negatives and let’s fight the fight as one community- the zootoo community. Thanks for all the love and support –the zootoo community rocks!

Woof
Randy Grim of Stray Rescue (who needs to go back to grammar school and relearn English)

Since the 1st place pts shelter was in many violations its no surprise 2nd place shelter would win the million.

ZOOTOO = All Politics.

Happy squrimy Puppy dance! to all those not in st Louis know that every dime of the $ will be use to help dogs that other people gave up on.

Tears of joy when I heard the news! I am so happy for the animals in need in St. Louis! As one that keeps Randy and the crew even busier than they normally would be (I must call at least once a month when I see those homeless babies on the city streets...their number is in my contact list on my cell phone), I am so so very happy. If only all of the shelters could have one a million!!

Congratulations Stray Rescue! I was so touched when I watched the video of your shelter that it brought tears to my eyes. Although the HSOV did not win the makeover (2nd place is still something to be VERY proud of!), I truly believe that your shelter was the most deserving and I know you will be able to continue the work you started and improve the lives of so many animals in need. Awesome job! :)

I am SO excited that Stray Rescue won! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! This will enable Randy Grim to save even more dogs like Irwin and Nia, my WONDERFUL Stray Rescue dogs! The great thing about this contest is that everyone really is a winner, because it brought more awareness to the homeless animal problem. Hopefully more people will realize that there are so many PERFECT dogs out there who would never have a chance without people like Randy Grim, and maybe more people will adopt.
I just can't believe Stray Rescue won, and I'm THRILLED! This is wonderful for St. Louis, Stray Rescue, and Randy!!! WOO HOO!!!!

Congrats to Stray Rescue and Randy. A Big Thank You to Zootoo and everyone who participated to make this dream come true for many stray pets.

Congrats to Stray Rescue. And a huge thank you for those that helped make this possible. As another person had stated in their entry.....all the shelters are winners everytime a homeless animal gets adopted.

Ste Genevieve MO

Congrates Randy...it was very nice to meet you in Florida...Good Luck.
~Kristen
Second Chance Animal Shelter, Inc.
East Brookfield, MA

Stray Rescue was fortunate enough to become the winner of the grand prize we all strived for within our community shelters..
Congratulations to your lucky four-legged companions...altho i was saddened when the finalists were picked and my local shelter in spite of coming in first amongst the voting public wasnt awarded a finalists spot, i recognize all the hard efforts that folks in these shelters put forth unselfishly to try to make these animals a better living environment. Stray Rescue may have gotten the million dollar prize....but the rest of the shelters are million dollar winners in my book everytime they achieve their goals by having another animal adopted to a loving family...everytime an animal looks to their companion with unconditional love and a wag of the tail....no amount of money can ever grace you with the loving feeling those animals give to you when you give of yourself and time to make their surroundings a little more comfortable....so altho there may be many who feel saddened that they were unable to achieve that ultimate grand prize...remember those kisses as you wave good-bye to a favorite shelter animal as he goes to their new loving home... Once again, Congratulations to Stray Rescue...i do hope you will update everyone as you improve your facility with your prize winnings...

Patty B.
WAHS Volunteer

Congratulations Stray Rescue! Thanks for all you are doing for our homeless animals Randy. Here is a Big THANK YOU WOOF WOOF MEOW MEOW from all the homeless helpless pets in St. Louis. GO STRAY RESCUE!

I can't believe it! It's a dream come true for Randy, Stray Rescue, and all the stray animals on the streets. I bet Randy and his team will be out asap to rescue all of our friends off the streets. Thank you Zootoo! What an awesome reality this has become!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU - ZOOTOO. Randy Grim and Stray Rescue have done such amazing, wonderful work and this prize will enable him and his volunteers to do even more for so many more unwanted, unloved, pets. Now, thanks to this shelter makeover win, more will be rescued and fine forever homes with forever loving families. You've made a wonderful choice out of many wonderful shelters vying for the win.

Congratulations!!! I left the TV on when I left for work today so our former Stray Reacue dogs and out current foster could watch the announcement. Having more space will be wonderful. Our current foster had had to be boarded at a vet clinic until we picked him up because there was "no room at the inn".

Congratulations Randy and Stray Rescue-you are doing a wonderful job with the animals and a makeover will permit you to do so much more. All of us in Bowling Green Ky and surrounding counties are pround of your winning. All of the shelters were winners because ZOOTOO and RICHARD have brouight so much needed attention to our furry friends needs.God Bless and keep us updated on makeover .Linda

Congratulations St. Louis! You all are so fortunate and we at HSOV are so happy for you. Haven't we all been fortunate to benefit so much from this experience? I hope the makeover process is documented and published here on ZooToo so we can track your progress, it will be the best reality show we could watch!! Better than any home makeover, that's for sure.

Congratulations Stray Rescue.

Congratulations Randy and Stray Rescue! I truly believe every shelter benefitted from this contest. I hope you guys post an update after the makeover so we can all see the new shelter! From the volunteers at DAWS in Connecticut, congratulations and good luck with the makeover!

YEAH!!! I knew Stray Rescue could do it! Our rescued babies are cheering as well! Good Job Randy!

This is what CAN happen when individuals, community, officials, and corporations work together!

I am so happy for Stray Rescue!!! Congratulations! This will make such a difference in the community! Thank you zootoo!!!!!!!!!!

Go Stray Rescue!! Bud, Mirage, and Mojave are cheering for you. Thank you zootoo for all that you have done.

Congratulations to Stray Rescue!! You are doing wonderful work there in St. Louis and I think Richard Thompson and the judges panel made a wonderful choice! We at Midwest Rabbit Rescue & Re-home were also in the TOP20 and were very happy to be included in such a wonderful group of people/rescues. Throughout this process we have learned alot and will continue to move forward applying those lessons. We wish you the best in your future endeavors!!! Congratulations again to you on your huge accomplishments!

Last night I attended the volunteer orientation at Stray Rescue because of ZOOTOO! I heard about this organization's mission to help stray animals and knew I wanted to be apart of it. I can't wait to volunteer and do what ever is needed to help this cause. After meeting some of the dogs (Josephine, Alma, Z Momma, and Claudia) I can't wait to help them find their forever homes. I am very excited about the celebrating the future of Stray Rescue on Sunday at the block party! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

Congratulations to Randy and everyone at Stray Rescue. And the animals in their care and the animals that are on the streets there that will some day soon benefit from all your hard work! I'm sure you all are in tears and SO excited.

THANK YOU ZOOTOO! I didn't believe it when I saw it on the news this morning, but now I'm sitting here just crying I'm so happy. God bless you Randy and to everyone who loves and protects animals. Thank you, thank you, thank you again and again...

Thank You ZooToo! Congrats to Randy & Jennie & all the great staff & volunteers of Stray Rescue! What a dream come true!

CONGRATULATIONS! Lolly and I are so happy for you and all of the homeless animals in St. Louis!

Congratulations! You are awesome and I was so moved by your story. I am on the board of the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley in Marietta and I am in awe of your dedication to these animals. I'm so happy for you, your dedicated volunteers, and the animals in St. Louis. I just may have to take a road trip to St. Louis!

Sending you heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! (Just read USA today!) I am so happy for your shelter and all the animals there! May this makeover continue to help you in your mission! You have done the shelter world proud!!

Wishing you all the best.....

Good luck to you all tomorrow!

This will be one of the greatest things to happen in MO in a long time !GO ST.LOUIS STRAY RESCUE!

The Zootoo/Stray Rescue Rally was so much fun! There are so many people in the St. Louis area that support Stray Rescue and truly care about the homeless animals. It was great to see those people showing their support at the rally. Randy Grim and Stray Rescue do wonderful work!

We had so much FUN at the zootoo.com Rally with Stray Rescue an what seemed like thousands upon thousands of supporters! St. Louis and Stray Rescue have really caught the zootoo fever!

Big thanks to Bob Bagby and AG Edwards for donating the future home of
Stray Rescue. We'll put it to good use to save more lives.

Thanks Zootoo.com for the tremendous opportunity and for taking the cause of the animals to the media and the nation! The rally was wonderful – so good to see the community support as well as many dogs that we have taken care of in the shelters with their new forever families and/or foster homes. Randy is an inspiration to all of us.

Of course we would love to win the makeover. We have a building and a tremendous, giving, community that could make this dream a reality. I see it now – kind of a Habitat for Humanity project for our four legged friends!

In the end, we all love animals. This makeover contest has brought nothing but good out of the communities in which all of these shelters operate. We hope that this means more adoption opportunities for these animals that are generally not of the designer variety. They make wonderful pets and repay their guardians with the love they have many times lived without.

Thanks again Zootoo and everyone else out their making a difference in the lives of animals. Go Stray Rescue!!!

Thank you to Zootoo and St. Louis for such a wonderful day. May 1st will be a day to remember as we guess over 1000 people came to the rally in support of Stray Rescue and to show Zootoo.com how much we love our animals. To know that so many people care about the homeless strays struggling to survive on the streets and missed work to prove it, is very uplifting and exciting. In fact, everything about the Zootoo.com contest has been energizing and positive. Thank you Zootoo.com and thank you St. Louis!!

What a terrific rally- zootoo was awesome! It would mean so much to this community if we could save more animals from a life of neglect. The animals Randy saves are ones that would be put down anywhere else. He is so brave and has a big heart. During the rally,I was impressed at the enthusiasm that Richard, from zootoo, had for the commitment to animal welfare throughout this country. He really sees from a global perspective what is needed in each small community. It has to start somewhere and I am glad to see Richard spreading this message throughout the country- which is the same message Randy has said to this St. Louis community for a number of years. Stray Rescue, deserves this makeover. I know that this community will roll up their sleeves and help build a new shelter with their hard work and big hearts. Thank you zootoo for this opportunity!

I've been following this competition for months. It was amazing to watch in 1 week's time, Stray Rescue go from #52 with 94,000 points to #2 with over 600,000 points. The support from the St. Louis community for Stray Rescue and its founder Randy Grim is overwhelming. Randy has such a genuine personality and an obvious love for animals which is contagious. Stray Rescue's volunteers and foster parents are always ready to step up to the plate when it's most needed -- in the horrible heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter, when a puppy mill is shut down in Missouri and Stray Rescue is called to help, when many dogs were brought back in Stray Rescue caravans from Mississippi's hurricane Katrina stricken area, when a family moves and leaves its dog chained to a tree in the yard with no food or water and, of course,
most recently at the ZooToo pep rally!

While walking back to my car after the pep rally, I realized the rally had symbolized everything Stray Rescue is about. People from all walks of life coming together to help our poor animals who ask for nothing more than food, shelter and love. The ZooToo pep rally was a heart-warming event.

Go Stray Rescue! Go Randy Grim!

I'm a little confused about something in the journal entry.

"The Mayor even committed to getting the building permits for the building that Bob Bagby generously donated if they won."

I'm hoping that Mr. Bagby will donate a new building regardless of the final outcome of the competition. After all, if it is a new building, it won't need a makeover, and if they're planning on selling the existing buildings when move into the new one, then those buildings won't need makeovers either. The proceeds from those sales will provide funds to help animals for some time to come.

The animals in this shelter will be the big winners no matter what place this shelter finishes in in the Zootoo competition. How wonderful!

I am VERY glad the rally went so well. I would have been there if at all possible myself! I hope the show of support accomplished their goal and they are awarded the makeover as there could not be a shelter more deserving!!! I have always admired Randy and his staff for all they do for so many unfortunate animals and I can't wait to attend the volunteer training session on May 20th so I can start doing my part!

I am so glad that the rally went well. It was a very moving event and it was awsome to see everyone showing their support. Who could have imagined with such humble beginnings that Stray Rescue would grow to win the hearts and minds of so many. I hope Stray Rescue accomplishes all they set out to do. Go for the gold...I hope you get the big prize. You certainly deserve it!

We really need Zootoo's help. I volunteer for Stray Rescue; I see these animals everyday. I love them. I help them, but it hurts when I leave knowing I can't do more. With Zootoo's help we can do more. We can have a bigger, more comfortable shelter for more animals. A place open to the public so adoptions will be easier. Then we can rescue more animals in need and St. Louis will become a truely animal friendly place--- everyone can have an awesome pet! Also, Stray Rescue is the only no kill shelter in St. Louis! We need this makeover so our shelter can be the biggest and the best. All the St. Louis aniamls should be able to live "kill free" until they are adopted! Please Zootoo help us; we can't build our dreams without you.

Yesterday was amazing. St. Louis really turned out to support Stray Rescue. It warms my heart to know that so many people care about the animals as much as
I do. Thanks to Zootoo, Richard T, ClearChannel, My103.3 and all the community
leaders, celebrities, businesses and supporters that gave of their time and talents
to back this wonderful organization. Stray Rescue Rocks.

I have been a volunteer with Stray Rescue for 8 years. I can tell you from personal experience that Randy does an amazing job. No one else would risk their life on a daily basis to save the dogs wandering the St.Louis streets. He helps those that no one else will help. Stray Rescue also helps other groups in the area. I had a great time at the rally! Can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get started on that new building! There are thousands of dogs still wandering the streets waiting for their chance to be saved. All we need is the space to put them! Go zootoo!

"We (St.Louisians) will open our homes, open our hearts, but when we open our wallets.... there is not much at all to give."

Companies and Groups like Zootoo.com are the only way small groups can take that step up. SR has tried to nickel and dime St.Louis to get into their shelter. They have found that any money they could save up goes back into the system for their vet bills and kennel bills. How can they leave dogs on the streets when the weather goes into the single or triple digits! They don't.

This winter Randy asked how many dogs we can pull into foster. We told him 3 to 4 right now. That weekend there were 40 new dogs! I guess Randy has a different way of doing math. That was $10,000 for just basic vetting. Summer is just as bad, because St.Louis has more extreme hot days than cold. The cost even goes up more because of the Heartworm that SR treats and Spring TVT time is coming up as well.

There is such a need in St.Louis for Stray Rescue. They do what other don't do. They go out in the streets and take the dog's in that got dumped or were born on the street. As Chief Mokwa (St.Louis Chief of Police) said, "If we can't get the dog off the street we call Randy. He will find a way to do it."

The Downtown Shelter would be great for all. The Low/No cost Vet Clinic is what I am looking forward to. It is the small building that is off to the side. Visiting Vets could come in a use the Clinic. Community Days could be started and we could Spay/Neuter and my big thing is Micro Chipping.

I would have to say that my favorite part of the Pep Rally would have to have been when I meet Richard Thompson. Not just that he is doing a great thing, but because one of the Adoption Event tents blew over and hit me hard in the back. Too damn funny. Some of the other parts were seeing Tony La Russa speak about meeeting Randy in his first year with the Cardinals. The five Blues players, Rams Cheerleaders and of course the Race Car that sponsored Stray Rescue... yeah he sponsored SR!

I'm glad that the rally went so well. I was disappointed that I could not attend. Stray Rescue is such a great organization and does so much for animals that most people would just give up on. I'm proud to be an SR supporter, volunteer, and the gaurdian of an SR dog (Rosie). Keep up the good work.

My husband and I became involved with Stryay Rescue about 5 years ago when we adopted a dog from them, a year later we adopted another dog from them and a year later we started fostering for Stray Rescue. Watching the dogs recover from injuries, exposure, and malnutrition and seeing them learn to trust humans and become family members is amazing. Knowing that without Stray Rescue most of our former fosters would have died on the streets and never had the chance to live the lives they are now living with their"forever families" makes it all worthwhile.

The dogs themselves know how important Stray Rescue is, we consider our Edwina to be as much of a foster parent as we are. Whenever we bring home a new foster, she takes them under her wing, teaches them the house rules and breaks up any sibling squabbles with our other dogs before they become problems. Without her help we could not be as effective as foster parents, we really know that she is deliberately giving back to Stray Rescue to thank them for rescueing her.

I have been a volunteer with Stray Rescue for over 7 years now and what a difference it has made in my life. Thank you ZOOTOO for giving us this opportunity. Our rescue makes a difference in the lives of so many animals that would NEVER be accepted or kept alive in other shelters in this city. I am thankful and proud to be a part of this amazing organization!

It was awesome to meet Richard and the Zootoo.com team and see the compassion and caring shinning through when Richard spoke at the rally. I am amazed, humbled and thrilled at the support of the St. Louis community. Win or not I wish all 20 shelters the best of luck and I know the animals will win in the end, no matter what city gets the makeover. Zootoo is about community - what a wonderful life lesson! Many woofs and thanks to all the awesome volunteers, staff and especially zootoo.com!

Randy Grim

A KMOV news anchor said it best yesterday morning. She said something like - we all know Randy ... he's ... well, he's an angel. So true!
I hope we proved our need to zootoo.com! I know we showed our enthusiasm!
ZOOTOO pick the Lou!!!!!

I am so pleased that the rally went over so well with the community and Zootoo officials. I have been volunteering my time with Stray Rescue for over a year because I believe so strongly in Randy's mission and vision. I don't know of other shelters in STL that will actually go to high poverty and crime ridden areas (aka DANGEROUS) to seek out animals to help. This makeover could free up an amazing amount of space that we could use to rescue, treat, spay, neuter, and give loving homes to animals that otherwise would die on the streets.

I've only recently started volunteering for Stray Rescue, but I already can tell that this is going to be a very long term commitment for me. On a daily basis, I'm amazed at the community support that goes into keeping this organization going. And it all started with one person. St. Louis is so lucky to have Randy! I was so proud to be a part of yesterday's rally and see how many people showed up to support Stray Rescue! And thank you, ZooToo, for helping build such momentum.

I got my first puppy from stray rescue and I was so impressed with what they where doing and how they choices to do it that I started helping out, and for 4 year latter it is one of the best choices I very made! If this group gets the $ I know they will use every penny to help this big city and the stray animal population.

I can say it is a pleasure and honor to work with Randy, Jenny, Kelly, Jenny J. and the rest of the staff and volunteers. Myself along with Clear Channel Radio got behind Randy and Stray Rescue due to his constant showing of compassion and dedication to helping all of our forgotten friends. The rally was AWESOME, and the community support was overwhelming. St. Louis is truly a community that cares about Randy's efforts and Stray Rescue. The rally proved that. Although we are behind Stray Rescue 100%, we will walk beside them in their quest to win the $1,000,000 makeover. Thank you ZooToo for coming and the opportunity to show you what they can do.