Every year, Pet Rock Fest's proceeds benefit a variety of New England area animal organizations. We research our beneficiaries each year, and absolutely welcome suggestions (do YOU have an organization that could use a donation? tell us about it).
Proceeds from Pet Rock 2009 Benefit:
NEADS
MSPCA Leader's Circle
Foster Parrots
New England Primate Sanctuary
Humane Society: Youth (KIND News subscriptions)
Worcester Animal Rescue League
Second Chance Animal Shelter
Cocker Spaniel Rescue
Echo Dog Rescue
Commonwealth Cats
Animal Legal Defense Fund
Maple Farm Sanctuary
Proceeds from Pet Rock 2008 benefited:
Avian Welfare Coalition Foster Parrots/New England Exotic Animal Sanctuary New England Primate Sanctuary
Humane Society Youth
MSPCA Circle of Friends
Animal Legal Defense Fund
Worcester Animal Rescue League
NEADS
Second Chance Animal Shelter (earmarked for cat program)
Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare
Cocker Spaniel Rescue
International Animal Rescue
EchoDogs
ASPCA small animals/bird program
Commonwealth Cats (winner of the lottery)
American Poodle (winner of the lottery)
Pug Rescue of New England (Adoptable Pet Parade winner)
Forever Home (Adoptable Pet Parade winner)
Proceeds from Pet Rock 2007 benefited:
Humane Society: Youth - Their statement: "We educate young people about kindness and respect for all animals and their natural habitats, activate youth in efforts to protect animals, and provde teaching materials, professional development and support to teachers and humane educators. Our exciting new Mission: Humane program engages youth to actively help animals where they need it most. Fun rewards are given for projects completed. It's a great resource for classroom teachers, animal sheltering professionals and others to guide youth animal protection clubs. We also have a newly revamped Web site just for teens, www.humanesociety.org/teens. We public KIND News, an award-winning classroom newspaper and the most weidely used humane education resource. KIND News is aligned with National Education Standards for the major subject areas and is used by teachers across the curriculum. Through our Adopt-A-Classroom program, humane agencies, civic groups, parents and businesses 'adopt' elementary school classes by providing them with gift subscriptions to KIND News.
Animal Shelter Inc. in Sterling - Often referred to as the Sterling Animal Shelter, this shelter in Sterling is a leader in humane sheltering, with an on-site VCA Clinic as well as programs to rescue ababdoned animals from places such as Virginia and Puerto Rico. Its director, Leigh Grady, is a founding partner in the Pet Rock Fesitval, as well. Donations from Pet Rock help benefit her programs each year.
Foster Parrots, Inc. - Fighting for the plight of birds. Not only does it help find homes for neglected and abused birds, but promotes doing away with the cruel practice of trapping and breeding birds for "domestic pets."
From Marc Johnson, founder: "Foster Parrots is one of only a handful of parrot rescue organizations in the world that has opposed the pet trade in parrots from day one of our inception. Keeping flighted animals as pets is inherently cruel. The imprisonment of birds by caging and physical alteration, for our own need to possess the very symbol of freedom, was an obvious injustice that has fueled our efforts to end the commercial breeding of parrots for the pet trade. Foster Parrots strives to act as advocates for the innocent and as a sanctuary for the homeless and unwanted parrots of New England. Our new sanctuary, The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary or NEEWS, will soon offer a permanent "retirement" home for parrots."
Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) - This wonderful organization provides support in the courts to help bring those who have committed acts of animal cruelty to justice.
Each year, all participating animal organizations are entered into a random "lottery," and two $500 awards are granted to the winners. Many rescue groups and shelters have reaped the benefit of this drawing.
PAST RECIPIENTS FROM THE PET ROCK FESTIVAL PROCEEDS INCLUDE:
Thanks to The Pet Barn for sponsoring this event, providing the judges as well as some fantastic prizes. If you were not present, visit the Pet Barn location on 1393 Grafton Street, Worcester, for your prize. ALL contestants can claim an honorable mention prize from the Grafton Street location, as they are all winners. Call Mike at the Pet Barn at 508-752-0544. Charlene is mailing back photos, certificates and ribbons for the winners.
Winners are also posted on the flickr page, but here they are (photos of the winners will be up soon, as well):
Here are a list of shelters, rescue groups and animal welfare organizations signed up so far to participate in Pet Rock 2010:
If your nonprofit group is interested in signing up, please email Charlene Arsenault at
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2010 
