The 2011 SPCA Poster Contest in honor of American Humane Association’s “Be Kind to Animals Week”, which is May 1st through the 7th, is always a lot of fun for staff and volunteers at the local shelter.  “We all really enjoy seeing the creativity and love that really come through in the poster entries,” said Brenna Ewing, Humane educator for the SPCA.  This year, they got an extra treat when several posters depicted SPCA alumni, via written names or statements, running and playing with their new family. The first group of posters turned in showed Coffee, a Pomeranian mix adopted from the SPCA at the beginning of April 2011, running alongside Chipmunk, adopted from the SPCA in 2010.

   This year’s theme was “Show us what you like to do best with your pet(s)”.  “I loved seeing so many different kinds of pets depicted,” said Ewing, “and while there were a lot of playful, fun activities shown there were also simple acts like feeding and hanging out with the animal.” Ewing is glad to see all the activities depicted showing that SPCA education about animal care, respect and guardianship is reaching so many families, not only in the school presentations they offer but in the adoption process that happens when families come into the shelter to adopt a pet.

   There were 255 posters entered in this year’s contest and one winner from each grade with entries was chosen as well as one overall winner that judges believed had the best combination of art and theme.  Judges were SPCA staff and volunteers from the Chanticleer Avenue shelter who have been judging posters over the past few days.  The winners will be recognized in an awards ceremony to be held in the meeting room of the Santa Cruz Central Branch Library next Wednesday evening at 5pm.  Winners will receive a prize as well as a certificate.  Winning posters as well as many of the other North and Mid-county poster entries will be on display at the Central Branch Library through the month of May.  South County entries will be on display at Watsonville Library’s Freedom Branch through the month of May.  Thank you to all the Santa Cruz County students who participated this year!  For more information about the contest or how to retrieve posters you can contact the SPCA Education Department at 566-3753.