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KING WILLIAM – Thousands of dollars could go a long way at the Regional Animal Shelter, and residents can help win that prize with just a click of their computer mouse.

The shelter is participating in a national contest called the All-Star Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter Challenge. The challenge is being offered by www.theanimalrescuesite.com in conjunction with petfinder.com.

Voters can go online to the animal rescue site and vote daily for their favorite shelter. The shelters with the most votes could receive weekly prizes of $1,000 or grants ranging from $2,000 to the grand prize grant of $10,000.

“We could spend that money on many different programs,” said RAS manager Lauri Betts.

During the contest, 77 grants will be awarded for a total of $100,000. Prizes will go to weekly winners, top state winners, most touching story winners, and finally to the shelter with the highest accumulative votes overall.

“Sadly there will always be homeless animals and programs that need money,” said King William Assistant County Administrator Terri Hale. An avid animal lover, Hale noticed the contest online and thought it was a wonderful opportunity for the RAS.

“I’ve even gotten in the habit now of when I come in to go and vote,” she said. “This would be something great for the shelter.”

The contest runs until midnight August 22. Both Hale and Betts urge residents to get involved. The animal rescue site offers an option to send an ecard to friends to spread the word about voting.

The site says shelters can pull ahead even in the last few days with enough support.

To vote, visit www.theanimalrescuesite.com and click on the big purple button to provide free food and care for homeless animals at the top of the screen. Then click on the All-Star Challenge “vote today” banner at the top of the following page. Search for the RAS and vote daily.

“This could help support our efforts to care for and re-home these unwanted animals from our community,” Betts said. “If we win it would also help prevent litters of unwanted animals from being born by providing additional funds for our spay/neuter programs.”

The Regional Animal Shelter serves both King William and King and Queen counties and is located at 20201 King William Road in King William. For more information call 804-769-4983, email animalshelter@kingwilliamcounty.us, or visit the county website at www.kingwilliamcounty.us.