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    Adoption Olympics

    Houston's BARC goes for the gold in Rachael Ray's national pet adoptionchallenge

    Tyler Rudick
    Aug 2, 2012 | 4:03 pm
    Houston's BARC goes for the gold in Rachael Ray's national pet adoptionchallenge
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    Annise Parker took to her mayoral podium with Mindy the dog to kick off one of the most competitive events this Olympics season — the ASPCA Rachael Ray Challenge to arrange 2,100 pet adoptions by the end of October for a $100,000 grand prize grant.

    After years of struggle and controversy, BARC soared through April's voter-based qualifying heat to be one of only 50 adoption centers in the nation to chase that sweet ASPCA cash.

    “BARC is taking its effort to save Houston’s homeless animals to a whole new level," said Parker. "There is no reason Houston shouldn’t win this competition.”

    On Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., the Houston animal shelter will host a special Adoption Olympics event to offer a day of festivities that includes contests, door prizes and more than 400 "gold medal-worthy" cats and dogs available at reduced fees.

    Be sure not to miss what sounds like the highlight of the weekend — the 1 p.m. opening ceremonies, parade of "athletes" and torch-lighting ceremony.

    “BARC has taken incredible strides since its 2009 transformation. I am so proud of the staff and volunteers who have built it into what it is today,” Parker said in a statement. “BARC is taking its effort to save Houston’s homeless animals to a whole new level. There is no reason Houston shouldn’t win this competition.”

    Representatives for BARC explained that if the organization wins the Rachael Ray challenge, it will dedicate the grant to securing a mobile adoption vehicle to better orchestrate the organization's weekend adoption events, all of which are currently limited to indoor climate-controlled sites within the 610 loop.

    “We are excited that BARC is at a point where it can compete in a competition of this magnitude,” said Alfred Moran, director of the the city's regulatory affairs office, which oversees the animal agency. “Now we have staff and volunteers that work hard to improve BARC every single day and a community that stands firmly behind us. I have no doubt that we can win this.”

    "This is Houston’s chance to prove that we can be the live-saving capital of the nation," exclaimed Parker.

    The Adoption Olympics will be held at BARC's headquarters at 3200 Carr Street. At the event, dogs can be adopted for $20 and cats for $10. Throughout the competition, which ends Oct. 31, regular adoption fees will be cut in half, with dogs available for $37.50 and cats for $15.

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    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Houston billionaire ranks among top U.S. landowners and more popular stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jun 14, 2025 | 11:01 am
    HMNS Great Outdoors Gala 2022 Russell and Glenda Gordy and Red FJ Cruiser
    Photo by Jenny Antill
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    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including a look at one of America's top landowners. Plus, the sad closure of a pioneering steakhouse and a popular pizzeria makes plans for Houston. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head here to plan your weekend.

    1. Houston oil-and-gas billionaire ranks among America's top 100 landowners. About one-fourth of the country’s mega-owners of private land have ties to Texas, either living here, owning land here, or both. The highest-ranked Houston-based landowner is oil-and-gas billionaire Russell Gordy.

    2. Houston's pioneering South American steakhouse will soon shutter in River Oaks. Sad news for inner loopers who are fans of plantain chips, wood-grilled steaks, and Houston’s best tres leches. The River Oaks location of South American steakhouse Churrascos will close Monday, June 16.

    3. Texas Monthly's BBQ Snob dishes on the magazine's new top 50 list. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn joins CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the magazine’s new list of the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas.

    4. 'Famous' Bronx-based pizza chain fires up 3 Houston locations. A New York-based pizza chain has big plans for Houston. Called Singas Famous Pizza, the restaurant will soon open three locations in the area.

    Singas PizzaSingas Pizza is coming to Houston.Photo courtesy of Singas

    5. Texas slides down the list of best U.S. state economies for 2025. Texas' robust economy may be showing some cracks. Texas now ranks as the state with the eighth best economy, four spots lower than one year ago, according to a new report.

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