Feline Fundraiser, Plato, Attends Tally Top Pet Check Presentation

A culmination and celebration of the annual community pet competition

Plato, a one-eyed street cat, likely never imagined he would win a contest, let alone be featured on the cover of a magazine. Fortunately, the Tallahassee community recognized something special in this fantastic feline who was voted the 2024 Tally Top Pet.

On July 18, 2024, Plato’s victory was celebrated at the Tally Top Pet check presentation. The event, hosted by Tallahassee Magazine, took place at Sweat Therapy Fitness, where a check for $23,554 was presented to Be The Solution, a nonprofit that works to combat the unwanted pet problem in Tallahassee and the Big Bend region through spay and neuter vouchers.

Plato, accompanied by his foster parent, Elisabeth Draper, posed for more photos and enjoyed meeting the Tallahassee Magazine and Be The Solution teams.

“The check ceremony was a lot of fun for Plato,” Draper said. “He does very well being in the limelight and enjoys all the attention.”

While Draper loves being Plato’s foster, he’s still on the hunt for his furever home. Draper hopes his status as the Tally Top Pet gets him adopted and raises awareness for community members to foster, volunteer or donate to local rescue groups like Be The Solution and Extended Circle Animal Haven (ECAH), the organization through which Plato is available for adoption.

When Plato arrived at ECAH, he was unneutered, had a skin condition and needed surgery on his eye. ECAH gave Plato, a cat who might have been euthanized at other shelters, a second chance at life.

“I think what made this year so remarkable is that Plato could be the poster cat for all the animals at risk because of pet overpopulation,” said Gerry Phipps, founder of Be The Solution. “He made it through abandonment and a tough life because of ECAH, but many stray pets live lonely painful lives on the streets with euthanasia at the end. So while we celebrate Tally Top Pet for raising spay/neuter funds, we also have the opportunity to thank ECAH and all our local rescues who work tirelessly helping the homeless cats and dogs.”

Plato’s journey to the top began in November of 2023, along with the dozens of other competitors. For a dollar per vote, readers selected contestants in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Fur and finally the winning pet – Plato.

Of the $23,554, Plato raised $1,040 on his own, receiving 1,317 of the 5,193 votes across four rounds. All of the money raised per round was donated to Be The Solution.

“Be the Solution creates opportunities for people to own animals in a safe way so they don’t populate in poverty situations that then end up on the street and in turn in the shelters,” said McKenzie Burleigh, associate publisher of Tallahassee Magazine. “This nonprofit has made a tremendous impact in the reduction of animals in shelters.”

The 2025 Tally Top Pet contest will begin in January 2025. Stay tuned to all Tallahassee Magazine channels and visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/Tally-Top-Pet to nominate your pet in the new year.