The Shelters We Love campaign was developed in an effort to celebrate our shelters and bring awareness to the shelter crisis in NC. The goal is to ask animal advocates and animal welfare workers to nominate shelters and animal control agencies for the Shelters We Love award. To qualify, a shelter must excel in forming coalitions, creating and/or supporting policy to improve the lives of animals, fostering community relationships, and working on innovative ways to help combat our shelter crisis. The first Shelters We Love award winners received their award on April 12, 2011 at Humane Lobby Day in Raleigh.
Shelters We Love would not be the same without their hardworking volunteers. Please send us your volunteer story or nominate a friend. We want to hear why you or your friend should be one of 4 Volunteer Award winners. The winners will receive their awards in Grassroots/Sheltering/Community meetings this summer. Their stories will be posted for all to see on the Shelters We Love webpage! Volunteers help our shelters everyday…let’s celebrate them!
2011 Award Winners:
Candace Christopherson (Carteret Humane Society): Candace works to create policy to improve the lives of animals and builds coalitions with rescue groups, her community and other animal welfare agencies that further her mission. Candace is always willing to assist other agencies in crisis and has become known for her ability to handle just about any animal related task..regardless of the size! Her “can do” attitude seems to be contagious among her volunteers and staff. The Carteret community and the animals are incredibly fortunate to have a strong and dedicated leader in animal welfare.
Mark Balestra (Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control): Char/Meck Animal Care and Control is a leader in our state and a wonderful example of what can be accomplished if we work together. Mark has created a top notch animal welfare agency with a robust volunteer program and too many outreach programs to list. Having the title of the largest animal welfare agency in the state is not by any means an easy task but Mark still takes the time to share his knowledge with other agencies. Based on the nominations from the animal advocates in the Char/Meck community, it is clear that Mark builds strong coalitions and has a great deal of respect from the community. Char/Meck offers resources and assistance to agencies across the state.
Ernie Wilkinson (Johnston County Animal Services): Johnston County Animal Services is an amazing example of what can be accomplished with determination and a love for animals. Ernie has worked to create robust volunteer and community outreach programs. Ernie is always willing to reach out to other agencies to share knowledge and build coalitions to benefit the animals in NC. His nominations were not only from the animal advocate community, but from Animal Control Officers in other counties. This speaks volumes about his coalition building! Ask Ernie about his spay/neuter program! He is truly a community leader and an asset to our animal welfare agencies throughout the state.
Marsha Williams (Guilford County Animal Shelter): Marsha Williams received more nominations than any other shelter. Why? Marsha has made the Guilford County Animal Shelter a community place. Her work with injured and abused animals has been front and center in the animal advocate community. Marsha’s team is always ready to help other agencies in crisis and has offered assistance during several large cruelty cases. Marsha also ensures that the Guilford community is informed of what is happening at the shelter, creating a great deal of support for her team. She is determined to improve animal welfare policies and has strong coalitions locally and statewide. The Guilford County Animal Shelter is proof that if the animal shelter is a community place there is no limit to what we can accomplish.
The complete list of Shelters We Love nominated by animal advocates:
County Nominations:
Polk
Brunswick
Horry
Cumberland
Yancey
Franklin
Henderson
Cabarrus
Hertford
Wake
Moore
Dare
Organge
Edgecombe
Caswell
Watauga
Pitt
Durham
Carteret
Guilford
Johnston
Carteret
Durham
Mecklenburg
Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love, Mecklenburg County
Nash County Animal Friends
Friends for Animals, Burke County
Paws 4 Ever, Orange County
Humane Society of Charlotte, Mecklenburg
