Arlington Dog Charity Wins Online Essay Contest

FAIRFAX, VA, October 26, 2010 (Press-News.org) Homeward Trails, a dog charity headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has won a $1500 grant from the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners, the groups announced today. Homeward Trails claimed the grand prize in "Joys and Responsibilities of Pet Ownership" essay contest after receiving 1,862 online votes for its submission "The View from 4 Legs,"

Dogs Deserve Better, also of Arlington, claimed the 2nd place prize of $750 after receiving 339 votes for its essay "Chain-ging Lives." The Pet Assistance League, based in Stafford County, claimed the 3rd place prize of $250 after earning 333 votes for it's essay "For Pet's Sake... Be Responsible and Clean Up."

"When you take good care of your dog, you are also helping keep our local streams free of disease causing germs," said Laura Grape, who chairs the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners.
"Our voters responded to Homeward Trails' moving plea to keep pets in loving, sanitary homes."

"It was so nice to have a local competition that focused on the importance of responsible animal ownership," said Sue Bell, executive director of Homeward Trails. "We appreciate the opportunity to get the word out that caring for your pet and doing your part for clean water, too."

The Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners conducted the essay contest in August and September to draw attention to the Northern Virginia Dog Blog, which the partners launched this year to reach out to pet owners and encourage proper disposal of dog waste. The contest was open to organizations as those currently registered as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations, which promote the welfare of dogs and, promote responsible pet ownership, especially the proper disposal of dog waste, and are based in and operate primarily within Northern Virginia.

To download photos of the winners and to read the winning essay and others, please visit http://www.northern-virginia-dog-blog.com/essay-contest/

Contact
Laura Grape
Northern Virginia Regional Commission/Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners
703.642.4625
lgrape@novaregion.org

Sue Bell
Homeward Trails
202-486-7077
sueb@homewardtrails.org

Eric Eckl
Water Words That Work, LLC
703.829.6732
eric.eckl@waterwordsthatwork.com


The Northern Virginia Dog Blog is your source for K9 fun, information, and entertainment in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission sponsors the Dog Blog on behalf of its member jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. Our goal with this blog is provide an informal channel for an informal discussion with our citizens about dogs in our communities. Last but not least, we want to encourage you to be a good neighbor and pick up after your dog, both on and off your property!

The Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners is a project of local governments in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. The partners encourage local residents to do their part to reduce water pollution by adopting environmentally behaviors -- such as proper disposal of pet waste. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission, a political subdivision within the Commonwealth of Virginia, chairs the partnership.

Homeward Trails Animal Rescue provides pet adoption in Virginia, Washington, DC and Maryland. Visit http://www.homewardtrails.org to learn how you can help a dog, cat, puppy or kitten rescued from an animal shelter or whose owners could no longer provide care.

Water Words That Work, LLC is a boutique environmental communications and marketing agency. We help our clients modernize and professionalize their pollution prevention, fundraising, and issue advocacy campaigns. Our clients include the National Park Service, the Ogeechee Riverkeeper, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, American Rivers, the Ohio Environmental Coalition, Save Georgia's Coast, and many other nature protection and pollution control organizations.