LEWISTON — The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society has found homes for so many cats and dogs in the past month that it is in second place in a three-month national competition and has won a $5,000 grant.

“We’re super psyched,” said Development Director Donna Kincer. “We went through the roof when the news came.”

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ 100K Challenge involves a select 50 animal shelters across the country. The goal: increase the number of cats and dogs adopted or returned to their owners. The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society won a spot in the contest earlier this year when 5,300 voters supported its entry. It is the only competing shelter in Maine.

If the Lewiston shelter returns or finds new homes for 974 cats and dogs between August and October — 300 more than it did during the same period last year — it will be eligible to win $300,000 in grants, including $25,000 for engaging the community, $20,000 for saving the most animals and a $100,000 grand prize for saving the most cats and dogs overall.

On Wednesday, the ASPCA announced that the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society had saved 407 cats and dogs in August, 185 more than the same time last year, putting the shelter in second place nationwide and in first place for the Northeast.

Because of that strong showing, the shelter won one of five $5,000 Fast Start grants. The shelter plans to put that money toward its community programs, such as the low-cost spay/neuter program. 

To compete for other prizes, the shelter must increase cat and dog adoptions and the number of cats and dogs returned to their owners through the end of October. To keep its adoption numbers up, the shelter has extended hours and has waived the fee on all adult cats through September. It also has created a number of promotions, including Wacky Wednesdays, in which the shelter waives adult dog and cat adoption fees for people who dress to that day’s theme, and Magic Mutt Mondays, in which the shelter cuts in half the adoption fees for mixed-breed dogs over 6 months old and gives the new owners a 40-pound bag of dog food.

The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society will host an all-day adoption event on Oct. 29, staying open from 10 a.m. until all adult cats and dogs have been adopted or until midnight, whichever comes first.