Central Missouri Humane Society has a good problem this month: it’s a finalist for a national award, and the way to help them win costs nothing but a minute of your time.
The shelter is one of the finalists for the 2026 Wagsies Animal Welfare Video Awards’ People’s Choice Award, sponsored by the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The prize is $10,000 for animal welfare work, decided entirely by public vote — once per person, per day — on the Wagsies Awards website through the contest’s close.
“We are thrilled to be a finalist for the 2026 Wagsies People’s Choice Award,” said Executive Director Julie Aber. “Hill’s Pet Nutrition has been an incredible partner for us.”
The shelter isn’t just waiting on votes, either. As part of the national Clear the Shelters campaign — running through Aug. 31 — Central Missouri Humane Society is waiving adoption fees for dogs and cats six months and older from Aug. 23 through Aug. 29, with other adoption specials running throughout the month. Clear the Shelters has driven more than 1.3 million adoptions and raised over $5.6 million nationally since it started in 2015.
So there are two easy ways to help this month: cast a daily vote for the shelter’s shot at $10,000, or clear a little shelter space yourself the week of Aug. 23.