Carroll County News: Local News: Dog Tales contest winner announced; pets adopted (09/08/12)

Troy Hayden of Springdale makes friends with Charlie Brown, the chihuahua/terrier mix whom Troy adopted when pets from the Good Shepherd Humane Society in Eureka Springs were onsite during the Brashears Furniture Big Dog Clearance Sale in Berryville. The Humane Society was invited to showcase dogs from the shelter as well as share information on their outreach programs and fundraisers the Humane Society conducts throughout the year. Charlie Brown was one of three dogs adopted during the Brashears Furniture warehouse sale. Charlie Brown also was the CCN's Pet of the Week last month.

BERRYVILLE -- Brashears Furniture, sponsor of the "Dog Tales" pet photo contest in Carroll County News, announced this week that the winner of the contest is JoeJoe, who won with 868 votes. JoeJoe's owner, Dawn Villines of Cane Hill, won a $500 gift certificate from Brashears Furniture.

"Thank you to everyone who participated in this event. It brought much needed support and awareness to our local Humane Societies," said Doug and Susan Brashears, owners of Brashears Furniture.

They noted that each of three area Humane Societies will receive a $500 donation from Brashears Furniture. In addition, $321 was raised through purchased votes --which will be divided between the three humane societies. The three local humane societies were:

* The Good Shepherd Humane Society, Eureka Springs, www.goodshepherd-hs.org;

* Shepherd of the Hills Humane Society, Branson, Mo., www.theshepherdhumanesociety.org; and

* Humane Society of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, www.hsozarks.org.

"What a great story. We're so glad JoeJoe has a loving home now. JoeJoe's parents may want buy him a new bed with their $500 gift certificate from Brashears," they said.

Doug and Susan Brashears thanked all for participating in its first Dog Tales contest.

"We were thrilled with how many people shared their photos and stories about their beloved animals, and by the large number of people who voted in support of our local shelters," they said.

"We are animal lovers at Brashears and we greatly appreciate the difficult job our animal shelters have in taking care of abandon animals in our communities. Thank you all for voting and supporting these shelters.

"It was heartwarming to read the stories about animals that have found such loving 'forever homes' and the joy they have brought their owners. We were also excited that we were able to help get three dogs adopted during our Big Dog Sale.

"For those of you that met Charlie Brown and Greta in Berryville and Nicko and at our Springdale Showroom they all found new homes! Of course the shelters have many more available if you're looking for a new companion," added Doug and Susan Brashears.

In all, more than 3,200 votes were cast during the contest. All three of the Brashears Furniture stores --Berryville, Springdale, and in Branson, Mo. -- participated in the event, which coincided with their Dog Days of Summer sales event and their annual Big Dog Clearance Sale.

Doug and Susan Brashears are major supporters of humane societies in the Ozarks.

Representatives from area animal shelters reported positive results.

"We really enjoyed Brashears hosting us, and we were thrilled with the turnout of the event. We also got lots of donations and had some sales of merchandise at our table so it was such as success in all ways for us and we would love to come back again," said JoAnn Traw of the Good Shepherd Humane Society.

Editor's note: The entries in the Dog Tales contest may still be viewed by visiting http://tiny.cc/3mu8jw.