. Kern County Animal Control is getting set to kick off the Rachel Ray $100,000 challenge. 

With the communities help, Kern County Animal Control is in the top 50 and beat out more than 700 other shelters nationwide for the right to participate in the challenge.  Now their task is to compete against 49 shelters other nationwide and adopt out more than 2,000 animals before Oct. 31 to win the grant money. 

As an community incentive to reach that goal, Wednesday, all adoptions at the shelter will be free. 

"I think we are going to make their goal. I think what they are doing tomorrow is out standing. They have a lot of wonderful animals to pick from and they all need forever homes," said Penny Holland, volunteer at K.C. Animal Control. 

The contest was sponsored by the ASPCA and TV personality, Rachael Ray. Communities nationwide voted for their local shelters to participate in the contest and Kern County ended up in the top 10. The aim is to save lives and find loving homes for animals in shelters. 

"We were lucky enough to have community support. If you remember, everybody cast their vote to get our shelter in to the top 50. Now we are getting ready to kick off the challenge, adopt out and save lives," said Maggie Kalar, of K.C. Animal Control. 

Officials say, now the community needs to put their money where their mouth is, not literally however. Because Wednesdays adoptions are free. Now the challenge is for the community to get out and adopt pets from the shelter.

"So we thought this was the perfect opportunity, animal control is moving in a new direction. We had a lot of great changes in the last year and we are looking to make more changes. If we win the $100,000 top prize, we can make more positive changes," said Kalar. 

The word is already out about the challenge and free adoptions. Many came by the shelter Tuesday to preview what animals were available.  Nadine Johnson and her daughter came from Frazier park, looking for a German Shepherd to adopt. 

"You get all the benefits, you don't have to worry about the spay or neutering. You don't have to worry about the licensing. All of those things are already done for you," said Johnson. 

Officials said, this is the perfect opportunity to adopt a pet. Usually it costs $85 to adopt animals from the shelter. However, if you can't make it out Wednesday for the free adoption event, other low-cost adoptions are coming up. Including the shelter's Fabulous $5 Fridays. That event starts this Friday and runs through Friday, Oct 26th.