Engineer's $250,000 quiz show win saves El Salvador dog shelter
David Blunden's quarter-million prize will buy a property for a shelter rescuing 280 street dogs.
David Blunden, an engineer from Adamstown, won $250,000 on Millionaire Hot Seat when his episode aired Tuesday night. The show was filmed almost a year ago, and he kept the result secret from everyone, even hinting to friends to watch without revealing why.
Blunden plans to use the money to help Mi Jardin de Peludos, a dog shelter in El Salvador facing eviction. The shelter cares for about 280 dogs, mostly rescued strays.
He hopes to buy a rural property and give the shelter operator a permanent lease, ending the threat of eviction and giving the dogs more space. Without the shelter, the dogs would have been released onto the street or killed, as El Salvador has no government pound or animal welfare system.
- $250,000
- Prize amount
- 280
- Dogs in shelter
- David Blunden
- Winner
- El Salvador
- Shelter location
Why it mattersA critical shelter housing 280 dogs now has the emergency funding to stay open and expand.
AustraliaLocal Newcastle man directs his winnings to international animal welfare instead of keeping the prize.
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