Young-Williams Animal Center is a participant in the Qualifying Heat of the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge and is competing for a chance at more than $500,000 in grant funding, including the grand prize of $100,000. To get that chance to win much-needed funds to help save more animal lives in East Tennessee, Young-Williams needs the community to vote for the animal center every day from April 5-16 at www.votetosavelives.org.

The 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a nationwide competition for animal shelters and their communities aimed at getting more animals adopted or returned to their owners than ever before. This first phase is the Qualifying Heat, during which registered shelters compete to accumulate the most online votes from their supporters. The 50 shelters with the most votes become the official contestants for the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge this fall.

"We know that the East Tennessee community cares deeply for our homeless animal population, and many people have supported our efforts through adoption, spaying and neutering pets, volunteerism and donations and much more," said Dr. Michael Blackwell, administrator of Young-Williams Animal Center. "Now, we're asking you to help us by doing one simple thing: voting. We're asking the community to vote for Young-Williams every day from April 5-16 to help us qualify to compete for $100,000 that could help save even more animal lives."

Young-Williams plans to use any prize money earned to approach some of the community's most pressing animal problems, including reducing the number of homeless pets by offering more free and low-cost spay/neuter options for the public; by enhancing the shelter's foster and adoption programs; and by strengthening the safety net for the community's neediest pet owners by expanding the pet food pantry.

Community members can help Young-Williams by voting every day from April 5-16 and by sharing the information with friends and family members via email, word of mouth and social media. Young-Williams will be posting updates and voting reminders regularly to the Young-Williams Animal Center Twitter page at www.twitter.com/YWACpets.

"Vote for Young-Williams; vote to save lives," Blackwell said. "It's that simple, but it could make a tremendous impact for animals in East Tennessee. We thank you in advance for your ongoing support."

For more information, visit www.young-williams.org and check out Young-Williams Animal Center on Facebook and Twitter.

About Young-Williams Animal Center:

Young-Williams Animal Center reminds the community to please spay and neuter your pets.

The Young-Williams Animal Center is the official animal shelter for Knox County and the City of Knoxville. The center is a nonprofit organization, community-supported through public and private donations, that turns no animal away and is dedicated to the sheltering and placement of animals, general animal welfare, and public education of companion animal issues.

Young-Williams Animal Center is located off Sutherland Avenue at the entrance to John Tarleton Park at 3201 Division St. Young-Williams Animal Village is located at 6400 Kingston Pike adjacent to Deane Hill Drive. Both locations are open seven days a week from noon-6 p.m.

For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, including detailed driving directions, call 865-215-6599 or visit www.young-williams.org.