Mid-Valley animal shelters flooded with donations, thanks to viral #BettyWhiteChallenge

Donations have been flooding into local animal rescues and shelters, thanks to a viral social media trend in honor of the late Betty White.

The beloved "The Golden Girls" star died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home on New Year's Eve.

In honor of what would have been her 100th birthday on Jan. 17, fans began a trend on social media called the #BettyWhiteChallenge to support White's passion for animal welfare. The challenge was simple: Donate to any animal shelter, rescue or agency in White's name by her birthday.

The challenge called for people to donate $5, but many individuals went above and beyond, said Erin Weldon, Willamette Humane Society development and community engagement director. The pet adoption agency, which serves Marion and Polk counties, received more than $13,500 from 375 donors.

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Donations inundated the non-profit's email inbox. Others donated over the phone and some came in to drop off money.

"Every time I refreshed my inbox, there was a new donation," Weldon said.

Many of the donations came from Salem-area residents who were first-time donors, she said.

It was an "organic, community-led way to support the shelter," Weldon said. "It made our day amazing."

Weldon said monetary donations are impactful because the agency can spend it where they're most needed, which could include animal food, litter, veterinary care or other medical expenses.

The humane society said the donations will go a long way to support animals like Tuna, a "spunky and energetic" kitten who broke her tibia after falling off a table. Tuna, who is in a foster home, needs weekly splint changes because she gets her bandages dirty with food, treats and litter.

"This sweet kitten is thriving because of this community!" Willamette Humane Society executive director BJ Andersen said in a statement.

Marion County Dog Services received about $1,400 on Jan. 17 from about 36 donors, director Melissa Gable said. The shelter will typically get one or two donations in one day.

The donations will go into a general fund and will allow the shelter to keep the dogs longer for behavior modification and enrichment, so they have a better chance of being placed in a home with a family.

Kota, for example, was with the shelter for nearly two months. His high energy level, jumping and sometimes hard to manage behavior made it tough to find him a home.

But the community support allows the shelter to have a team of staff who work on modifying these difficult behaviors in the hopes of getting a dog adopted, Gable said.

Kota recently found a home.

USA Today's Jordan Mendoza contributed to this story.

Virginia Barreda is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: #BettyWhiteChallenge inspires donations to Mid-Valley animal shelters