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The local Northwoods Humane Society, on Hwy 8 in Wyoming, has been awarded a $50,000 prize after being featured in  an essay writing contest.  The competition was to be a story about a pet that has “changed a life for the better.”  The foundation arm of pet products giant, Petco,  along with Halo Pets, announced details of the essay contest last fall (Press October 22) calling for entries.

Winning essayist Kacie Carlson had visited Northwoods Humane Society to see if there might be a companion there for her, and saw Maple “sitting patiently... with her head tilted as if asking pet me?”

Carlson was approved to adopt her dog in January 2012.  Her story entry about “Maple” making Carlson a better person every day hit all the right notes with judges.

Maple had been at the Northwoods shelter, on Hwy. 8, for two months, Carlson wrote.

Until recently Carlson was  Park Naturalist at Wild River State Park in Almelund.  She has relocated to northern Minnesota.

In the essay, she wrote that she and Maple spent a lot of time together outdoors. One particular day Maple attracted another dog, and when that dog’s owner came along to collect his pet-- this led to pizza together and now there’s somebody who is a special part of Carlson’s and Maple’s lives.  

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