The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘March Muttness’ for CT Humane Society
For basketball lovers, there’s March Madness. For animal lovers, there’s March Muttness.
March Muttness, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, pins 46 animal shelters from around the country against each other to raise donations. The teams that raise the most money in each round advance throughout the competition. The tournament began on March 1 and will go through multiple rounds.
Connecticut Humane Society is currently one of the 32 teams in the champions bracket. The Connecticut Humane Society, with offices in Westport, Newington and Quaker Hill, aims to provide “permanent, compassionate” homes to animals in need, according to its website. The organization offers adoption services, as well as medical care to animals.
In its first year in the competition, the Connecticut Humane has so far raised $258.70, according to the March Mutness website. Once the champions bracket ends, the shelters will make their way from the Snuggly 16 to the Furry 4 and then the championship round.
“Each and every additional round creates more opportunities
to raise money for local pets in crisis,” Connecticut Humane Society said via email. “Every gift that comes in gives hope and healing to pets that need it, and March Muttness gifts will allow CHS to do even more for the pets this year.”
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona started March Muttness as a response
to fundraising events getting canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, over a quarter million dollars were raised by 64 participating teams, according to a Humane Society of Southern Arizona spokesperson. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona keeps 14.5 percent of donations made and 85.5 percent of donations
go to the participating shelters.
“With shelters from Hawaii to Vermont working together in a competitive but fun atmosphere, March Muttness is bringing great national awareness to animal welfare,” a spokesperson said.
This is not the first time Connecticut shelters participate in
an animal sporting event this year. The Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Dog Star Rescue, Lucky Dog Refuge, Pack Leaders Refuge of CT and Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue represented Connecticut during the Puppy Bowl in February, with a total of nine rescue dogs playing in the big game.