How you can participate in the Betty White Challenge with San Angelo animal groups
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SAN ANGELO — After Betty White's death on Dec. 31, 2021, social media started planning a challenge to donate to animal organizations on what would have been the icon's 100th birthday, Jan. 17, 2022.
As part of the Betty White Challenge, here are some San Angelo area animal rescues people can support in White's honor:
Cassie's Place
About: Cassie's Place, aims to "rescue and rehabilitate animals who suffer from life-threatening accidents, cruelty, neglect and abuse in order to find them the perfect family and a loving forever home," according to their mission statement.
"The Betty White Challenge is an amazing way for all of Ms. White’s fans to continue to support animal rescues all over the country just as she would do," said Michelle Zrubek, executive director. "I cannot imagine a better way to honor her 100th birthday. We are blessed to have the opportunity to participate and receive an outpouring of support because of her compassion living on."
The rescue has made headlines before. In 2018, it rescued a poodle who had been hit by a car. That poodle then nursed orphaned kittens. Another adoptee from Cassie's, named Poppy, made a run for the local stage as Toto and found a home instead in 2020.
Donate: PayPal.me/cassiesplace or Venmo @cassiesplacellc. People can also donate money or items at Westlake Ace Hardware, 1821 Knickerbocker Road. Fostering and adopting is also encouraged.
The rescue has wishlists at amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/HHJFZTN4L3H0?ref_=wl_share and chewy.com/g/cassies-place_b73276021 for online shoppers, and an account at Grogan's Feed Store, 3744 Summer Crest Drive.
Donations can also be made to Knickerbocker Road Animal Hospital, San Angelo Veterinary Hospital, Western Veterinary Hospital and Southside Animal Hospital. Cassie's Place uses these locations for veterinary care and have accounts.
Read more about their work:
Dec. 21, 2020: Poppy's rescue tale: San Angelo shelter dog takes theater stage and finds her furever home
Sept. 26, 2018: Poodle nursing kittens recovering from surgery after she was hit by car, broke front legs
Jan. 14, 2017: Thanks, Washington, for saving San Angelo's dogs
Concho Valley PAWS
About: Concho Valley PAWS operates with the city animal shelter and met their goal to make San Angelo a kill-free community in 2021. The group also works with fosters, organizes adoption events and has taken in injured animals to help with their care.
"I think it is a tremendous honor that a fan-made challenge would recognize Betty White's love and passion for animals in this way," said Jenie Wilson, executive director of PAWS. "We are proud to participate in this challenge and honor Betty White. I think she would be thrilled with the work PAWS and the City of San Angelo are doing for our local shelter and pets. Together we have ended the killing of healthy, adoptable pets."
PAWS also needs short-term fosters due to a transport delay. About 30 dogs were set to leave San Angelo on Jan. 17, but the trip has been postponed until Jan. 31. Fosters are needed for those 13 days. Apply at cvpaws.org/foster-application/.
Donate: Cvpaws.org/give or mail donations to 3134 N. US Highway 67, San Angelo, 76905. People are also encouraged to foster or adopt.
Read more about their work:
April 3, 2019: San Angelo organization breaks record and drastically lowers shelter kill rate
March 13, 2019: Spock, the puppy who had his ears cut off, will live long and prosper in his new home
Jan. 8, 2019: Longest resident of San Angelo Animal Shelter finally finds home
Cow Dog Rescue
About: When dogs were dumped for months along rural West Texas roads in 2019, Cow Dog Rescue jumped in to help any way they could. The organization also noticed a pattern - groups of dogs were being dumped monthly. Their efforts, along with social media and the Standard-Times, led to the convictions of a South Texas couple who had been taking dogs from a shelter and dumping them.
Many of the dogs CDR take in find homes across North America, from Canada to Texas.
Donate: Reach out to the rescue at facebook.com/cowdogrescuesanangelo. People are also encouraged to foster or adopt.
Jan. 28, 2021: Rescue dogs from West Texas find new homes in Canada
Nov. 14, 2020: 1 year later: Couple sentenced in West Texas dog dumping; changes made, dogs rehomed
Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue
About: The rescue has been around for 21 years internationally and has 61 locations, with corporate headquarters in San Angelo. Mark Meyers, executive director, and his nonprofit are stubbornly dedicated in giving donkeys and mules a happy life.
Betty White had been a donor since 2006, and after her death, the rescue decided to honor her memory by naming their newest foal after her. They also named their newly constructed nursery in her honor.
People are welcome to visit the rescue, adopt donkeys and mules and donate. The rescue created a YouTube video about them and more on how to help during the Betty White Challenge.
"Donkeys have very few advocates," Meyer said in a January 2021 interview. "Just be one for them."
Donate: donkeyrescue.org/donate.
Read more about their work:
Jan. 6, 2022: Betty White donated for years to this Texas animal sanctuary. Meet her namesake baby donkey.
Nov. 20, 2020: San Angelo donkey rescue earns global recognition as Equine Sanctuary of the Year
Dec. 8, 2019: Mark Meyers doesn't win CNN Hero of the Year but the quest to save abused donkeys continues
Alana Edgin is a journalist covering Crime and Courts in West Texas. Send her a news tip at aedgin@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Betty White Challenge in San Angelo: Animal groups look for support
